Italian · Quick Meals

Crab Linguine

Linguine with white crab meat, chilli, garlic, lemon and parsley in a light olive oil sauce, ready in 25 minutes.

Not yet ratedThis recipe has no ratings yet 25 min total Serves 4 servings Easy
Jump to Recipe Method

Where This Goes Wrong

Add the crab at the end.

Do not let the garlic brown.

If your hob runs hot, work off the heat.

Keep the pasta water.

How to Make Crab Linguine

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  1. Boil the linguine for 1 minute less than the packet says. Keep a mug of the water and drain.

  2. Warm half the oil with the garlic and chilli for 30 seconds.

  3. Add the pasta and a splash of the water and toss over low heat. Fold in the crab, lemon zest and juice and parsley for 45 seconds.

  4. Season with the salt and finish with the remaining oil.

Why the Method Works

Crab is delicate and expensive, so it should be treated as the star. This is a dish that does little to it: warm it through, bind it with olive oil and pasta water, and let it taste of the sea.

Use a mix of white and brown crab meat if you can. The white is sweet and fine, while the brown is rich and gives the sauce body. Add the crab at the very end and heat it for under a minute, since too much cooking turns it dry.

Boil the linguine for 1 minute less than the packet says. While it cooks, soften the garlic and chilli in olive oil for 30 seconds without browning.

Tip in the drained pasta with a splash of the cooking water and toss over a low heat. Fold in the crab, lemon zest and juice and parsley, tossing gently for 45 seconds. If your hob runs hot, work off the heat. Taste for salt and finish with a trickle of good olive oil.

Leftovers, Reheating and Keeping

Best eaten at once. Keeps in the fridge for 1 day.

Common Substitutions & Variations

  • A pinch of dried chilli flakes works in place of fresh chilli — start with about a third of the quantity the red chilli in the list implies, since dried chilli is more concentrated, and add more to taste.
  • An eighth of a teaspoon of garlic powder per clove is the usual stand-in when you are out of fresh garlic — it will not caramelise the same way, but it carries the flavour.

What to Serve Alongside

  • Rocket salad
  • Crusty bread
  • Lemon wedges
  • Dry white wine

Common Questions About Crab Linguine

How long does Crab Linguine take to make?

About 25 minutes in total — 10 minutes of preparation and 15 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.

What are the key tips for making Crab Linguine?

Add the crab at the end. Do not let the garlic brown. If your hob runs hot, work off the heat. Keep the pasta water.

What should I serve with Crab Linguine?

Rocket salad; Crusty bread; Lemon wedges; Dry white wine.

How should Crab Linguine be stored?

Best eaten at once. Keeps in the fridge for 1 day.

Is Crab Linguine suitable for a special diet?

This recipe is dairy-free and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.

How many calories are in Crab Linguine?

About 516 kcal per serving, with 25 g protein, 68 g carbohydrate and 16 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.

Crab Linguine Nutrition Facts

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

516Calories
25gProtein
68gCarbs
16gFat
3gFibre
3gSugar
530mgSodium

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Written and tested by Turab

One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.