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Plate of pasta with crab, tomato, and chiles garnished with herbs

Pasta With Crab, Tomato, and Chiles

A simple yet elegant crab pasta dish featuring sweetness from crab, a kick from red pepper, and a rich, comforting sauce.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 600 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the sauce

  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 28 oz whole peeled tomatoes, drained and broken up
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • to taste Salt
  • to taste Black pepper

For toppings

  • 2 slices rustic bread or 1 English muffin, torn
  • 2 tbsp fresh chives, minced
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, minced
  • 1 small red chili, thinly sliced

Pasta and crab

  • 1 lb spaghetti or fettuccine
  • 1 lb lump crab meat

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Heat the unsalted butter and 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat.
  • Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes; cook for about a minute until fragrant.
  • Stir in the broken-up tomatoes and heavy cream, then bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat and let simmer for about 10 minutes until thickened.
  • Add chicken broth and simmer for another 4 minutes. Adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper.
  • Blend about 2 cups of the sauce until smooth, return to the pan.

Pasta

  • In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta until just tender, reserving 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  • Add pasta to sauce along with crab meat and sliced red chili; toss to combine.
  • Adjust sauce thickness using reserved pasta water as needed.

Topping

  • In a separate pan, combine torn bread with remaining tablespoon of olive oil and cook until golden and crisp.
  • Season with salt, pepper, parsley, and chives before setting aside.
  • Serve pasta topped with crispy breadcrumbs and a sprinkle of chives or parsley.

Notes

Use high-quality crab meat for best results. Feel free to experiment with pasta types and adjust heat levels.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 600kcalCarbohydrates: 70gProtein: 25gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 600mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6g
Keyword Comfort Food, crab pasta, Easy Pasta Recipe, pasta with crab, Quick Weeknight Dinner
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