Crab Pasta With Snap Peas and Mint

Crab Pasta With Snap Peas and Mint
Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times
Total Time
25 minutes
Rating
4(601)
Comments
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Sweet crab meat and even sweeter sugar snap peas are a lovely match in this green-flecked springtime pasta. Don’t overlook the final garnish of olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper and flaky sea salt – it really brings out the saline flavor of the crab. Try replacing the mint with basil or chives, or even with tender pea shoots, which will increase the pea quotient in a delightful way.

Featured in: Crab, Meet Sugar Snap Peas

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Ingredients

Yield:2 to 3 servings
  • Fine sea salt, as needed
  • 8ounces linguine or spaghetti
  • 4tablespoons unsalted butter, to taste
  • 1cup sliced sugar snap peas
  • 2scallions, whites and greens (both light and dark) thinly sliced
  • teaspoon red chile flakes, more to taste
  • Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 8ounces crab meat, preferably lump
  • cup torn mint leaves
  • Juice of ½ lemon, more to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Extra-virgin olive oil, for serving
  • Flaky sea salt, for serving
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (3 servings)

560 calories; 22 grams fat; 11 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 8 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 66 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams dietary fiber; 5 grams sugars; 26 grams protein; 651 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add pasta and boil until al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.

  2. Step 2

    Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Whisk in ½ cup pasta water, then stir in snap peas, scallions, chile flakes and a large pinch of salt. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until peas are tender. Stir in lemon zest and mix well.

  3. Step 3

    Add drained pasta to the pan along with crab, ⅓ cup mint, the lemon juice and black pepper. Toss, adding more pasta water if the mixture looks dry, until warmed through. Remove from heat and serve topped with remaining mint, a drizzle of oil, more lemon if you'd like, and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.

Ratings

4 out of 5
601 user ratings
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Comments

The grocery store only had canned crab, which was expensive and didn't look appealing, so instead I made this tonight with bay scallops. Patted the scallops with paper towels, sprinkled with salt and pepper, then sauteed in olive oil. The scallops released a lot of liquid, which I added into the final sauce before tossing the entire dish together. It tasted great! A delicious combination of fresh flavors. I think shrimp or cubed swordfish would also work well as subs for the crab.

What is Sam Sifton's 'no recipe' scallops?

Canned crab, in addition to being pasteurized, is often Asian "blue swimmer" crab, a totally different species than North American blue crab. The Asian crabmeat is definitely inferior in taste. Skipping it was a good idea.

Prefer less pasta, perhaps 6 oz vs 8oz.

We used canned Indonesian crab on sale. This dish, made according to the recipe as written, was fantastic. I can't imagine how good it would be with fresh crab. We will serve this to guests for a spring first course or a spring lunch. Spectacular!!!

This was LOVELY. Light, bright, and fresh, it was just what we wanted tonight. I typically avoid pasta dishes that call for crab or lobster because the ingredients so often get drowned out by rich cheeses and the like. But here? The delicate crab meat is complemented beautifully by the mint and the sweetness of the peas. I used leeks this time because I had them, and everything turned out wonderfully. We can’t make this often because crab isn’t free, but this is definitely on “The List.”

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