Crab Shell Pasta Recipes

PASTA WITH SOFT SHELL CRABS

Steps:

• In a very deep skillet or broad saucepan, warm oil, garlic, and chile flakes over low heat; do not let garlic brown. When garlic is soft, at least 5 minutes, add crabs (keep heat low to medium low; liquid in pan should barely bubble) and cover. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it.
• Let the crabs cook until they give up all their liquid and become firm, about 15 minutes. When crabs are almost done, begin cooking pasta. When crabs are done, use tongs to remove them and hold them while cutting up with scissors. Return to pan.
• Drain pasta when it is barely tender, a little short of how you'd want to eat it, reserving some cooking water. Add pasta to crabs and toss together over medium heat with pan juices and black pepper, adding some cooking water and a little more oil if necessary. (The amount of each will depend on how much more cooking the pasta needs, and how much liquid the crabs exuded.) Add parsley, taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. When pasta is perfectly cooked, serve.

AMAZING CRAB STUFFED PASTA SHELLS

Steps:

• Beat together the cream cheese, mayonnaise, sugar, lemon juice, cayenne, salt, and pepper until smooth using hand mixer or food processor.
• Fold in the crab meat, shrimp, and scallions until evenly combined.
• Stuff the shells with the mixture and place on a serving dish.
• Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least an hour and up to 12 hours before serving.
• Can cut the shells in half prior to serving as these are very filling.

PASTA CRAB CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a skillet, saute onions, mushrooms and green pepper in butter until crisp-tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Remove from the heat. Drain pasta; add to vegetable mixture. Stir in the crab, sour cream, salt and basil. , Transfer to two greased 8-in. square baking dishes. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and freeze one casserole for up to 3 months. Cover and bake the second casserole at 350° for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 5 minutes longer. , To use frozen casserole: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Cover and bake at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until heated through.

CREAMY CRAB AND PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta shells 10 to 12 minutes, until al dente, and drain.
• In a bowl, blend the sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, honey mustard, and dill. Season with salt and pepper.
• In a large bowl, toss together the cooked pasta, sour cream mixture, crabmeat, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and green onions. Cover and chill until serving.

JUMBO SHELLS STUFFED WITH CRABMEAT

Steps:

• Cook pasta shells, gently until al dente.
• Remove with a slotted spoon to drain.
• While still hot mix carefully with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2.
• tablespoons lemon juice and 1 tablespoon parsley.
• Drain any juice from crabmeat, discard juice.
• Mix the crab with remaining olive oil, lemon juice, capers, nuts, parsley, salt and cayenne pepper.
• Stuff shells and refrigerate until shortly before serving.
• Arrange lettuce on salad places, add 2 shells per plate.
• Drizzle lightly with vinaigrette dressing.
• Garnish with watercress and lemon wedges.
• Cooking time is fridge time.

EASY 1970S CRAB AND PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add shells and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 9 minutes. Drain and transfer to a mixing bowl.
• Mix crab and lemon juice into the pasta, followed by water chestnuts, mayonnaise, onion, salt, and pepper.
• Cover and refrigerate, 8 hours, or overnight.