Hiya, Seafoodies!

Wine flights, beer flights, whiskey flights—we love the entire idea of tasting a number of variations of one thing side-by-side to determine which one you want greatest. Technically, meals flights sometimes exist too (hiya, cheese boards and charcuterie samplers), however why don’t we see this method utilized to extra choices? Particularly, why hasn’t anybody executed a crab leg flight the place you prepare dinner them 4 other ways and let individuals combine and mingle over selecting their favorites?

Effectively, now somebody has. (Spoiler: it’s us and it’s scrumptious!)

This crab leg flight recipe provides you 4 easy cooking strategies—steamed, poached, grilled and baked—all utilizing the identical crab legs however yielding surprisingly totally different outcomes. Steaming retains them delicate and candy. Poaching infuses them with fragrant notes from garlic, herbs and Outdated Bay. Grilling provides a smoky char that adjustments the entire vibe. Baking with butter and lemon creates a wealthy, decadent, indulgent model. Identical crab legs, however 4 utterly totally different taste experiences.

We by no means want an excuse to assemble along with buddies, however this new recipe makes for an extremely interactive banquet choice. Set out all 4 variations with a lineup of dipping sauces (lemon butter, cocktail sauce, tartar sauce and lemon aioli), then watch what occurs. Individuals begin evaluating notes, standing up for his or her favourite methodology like they’re on a debate workforce and truly participating with the meals and one another—as an alternative of simply counting on run-of-the-mill small speak. (Honest warning: steamed versus grilled can get surprisingly heated and the baked crab leg followers is not going to again down simply!) Past the leisure worth, studying 4 other ways to prepare dinner crab legs is a genuinely helpful kitchen talent to have in your again pocket. As soon as you determine which methodology you’re keen on most, you possibly can repeat it everytime you need a standout dinner or have to impress friends with out breaking a sweat.

Every methodology serves 1-2 individuals, so the total flight feeds 4-8, relying on how hungry everyone seems to be and in case you’re serving this as an appetizer or the principle occasion. The timing varies by methodology however all take lower than 25 minutes—steaming takes 4-8 minutes, poaching 3-7 minutes, grilling 9-Quarter-hour and baking 7-20 minutes. 

Now earlier than you begin pondering this sounds difficult, allow us to cease you! We’ve damaged down every methodology into easy, simple steps that anybody can observe. You’re not juggling 4 recipes directly—You’re simply selecting which cooking methodology sounds greatest as a place to begin and going from there, so you possibly can give attention to the enjoyable half—tasting and evaluating! When it comes time to dig in, prep every part suddenly in case you’ve obtained the setup area or prepare dinner them in levels whereas individuals graze and touch upon earlier batches. We’ve had success with each serving choices. 

You need to use snow crab legs, king crab legs or Dungeness crab clusters for any of those strategies—no matter appears good at your seafood counter or is obtainable that week. In the event you’re shopping for frozen (which is usually your solely choice for crab legs), simply thaw them within the fridge in a single day earlier than cooking. King crab legs are meatier and richer in taste, snow crab legs are sweeter and extra delicate and Dungeness clusters offer you that West Coast vibe with tender, flaky meat. Whichever kind you select, the flight idea works the identical means—prepare dinner them 4 methods, style the distinction and uncover which methodology makes your favourite crab even higher.

Do that new recipe as soon as and don’t be stunned in case you all of a sudden begin dreaming about different seafoods that deserve the flight therapy too.

Take pleasure in!

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Methodology #1: Steamed Crab Legs

Elements

• ½ pound crab legs, can use snow crab legs, variety crab legs or Dungeness crab clusters (if frozen, thaw earlier than cooking)
• 2 garlic cloves, gently smashed
• 2 stalks of celery, reduce lengthwise into 4 items every
• ½ cup herbs (like parsley, dill or chives), rinsed and loosely packed
• 1 cup white wine
• 1 lemon, halved

Methodology #2: Poached Crab Legs

Elements

• ½ pound crab legs, can use snow crab legs, variety crab legs or Dungeness crab clusters (if frozen, thaw earlier than cooking)
• 2 garlic cloves, gently smashed
• 2 stalks of celery, reduce lengthwise into 4 items every
• ½ cup herbs (like parsley, dill or chives), rinsed and loosely packed
• 1 lemon, halved
• 1 teaspoon Outdated Bay seasoning
• ½ teaspoon freshly floor black pepper

Methodology #3: Grilled Crab Legs

Elements

• ½ pound crab, can use snow crab legs, king crab legs or Dungeness crab clusters (if frozen, thaw earlier than cooking)
• ½ cup herbs (like parsley, dill or chives), rinsed and loosely packed
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled and gently smashed
• 1 lemon, halved

Methodology #4: Baked Crab Legs

Elements

• ½ pound crab, can use snow crab legs, king crab legs or Dungeness crab clusters (if frozen, thaw earlier than cooking)
• ½ cup herbs (like parsley, dill or chives), rinsed and loosely packed
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled and gently smashed
• 1 lemon, halved

Steered sauces for tasting flight (we like these, however be at liberty to make use of any you want) 

• Lemon butter sauce
• Cocktail sauce
• Tartar sauce
• Lemon aioli sauce

 

Methodology #1: Steamed Crab Legs

1. Fill a big pot or Dutch oven with about 1 to 1½ inches of water, or simply sufficient in order that the extent is beneath the underside of the steamer basket*. Place steamer basket into pot. 
2. Taste the water with smashed garlic, celery, herbs, white wine and lemon halves. Cowl the pot with a lid and produce the water to a boil over excessive warmth.
3. When water begins to boil, take away the lid and thoroughly decrease crab legs into steamer basket utilizing tongs. (Bend giant crab legs if wanted.)
4. Cowl with lid and steam crab legs till meat is warmed via. For king crab legs, steam for six to eight minutes. For snow crab legs or Dungeness crab clusters, steam for 4 to five minutes. 
5. Take away crab legs from pot. Let cool earlier than cracking and serving.

*In the event you shouldn’t have a steamer basket, you need to use a steel colander or simply place crab in pot of water immediately.

 

Methodology #2: Poached Crab Legs

1. Fill a big pot or Dutch oven with about 3 to 4 inches of water.
2. Taste the water with smashed garlic, celery, herbs, lemon halves, Outdated Bay seasoning and black pepper.
3. Flip to medium warmth and produce poaching liquid to a simmer.
4. Add crab legs to pot utilizing tongs, bending as wanted to suit and inserting snow crab or Dungeness crab cluster-side-down.
5. Cowl the pot and prepare dinner the crab legs till the meat is warmed via. For king crab legs, simmer for five to 7 minutes. For snow crab legs or Dungeness crab clusters, simmer for 3 to five minutes. 
6. Take away crab legs from pot. Let cool earlier than cracking and serving.

 

Methodology #3: Grilled Crab Legs

1. Preheat grill to medium-high warmth. 
2. Chop herbs. Place in a microwaveable bowl with butter and garlic, and prepare dinner till butter melts, in 30-second increments. Squeeze 1 lemon half into the butter-herb combination; stir till mixed.
3. Brush uncovered crab meat with butter-lemon-herb sauce and squeeze the juice of the opposite lemon half onto high of crab meat. 
4. Place buttered crab legs onto sizzling grill, shut lid and prepare dinner till crab meat is warmed via and shells are frivolously browned or beginning to char. For king crab legs, grill for 10 to fifteen minutes, flipping midway via. For snow crab legs or Dungeness crab clusters, grill for 9 to 11 minutes, flipping midway via. 
5. Take away crab legs from grill. Let cool earlier than cracking and serving.

 

Methodology #4: Baked Crab Legs

1. Preheat oven to 375°F and place rack in center place.
2. Line large-rimmed baking sheet with foil. Then place crab legs onto ready baking sheet, arranging them in a single layer.
3. Chop herbs. Place in a microwaveable bowl with butter and garlic, and prepare dinner till butter melts, in 30-second increments. Squeeze 1 lemon half into the butter-herb combination; stir till mixed.
4. Brush uncovered crab meat with butter-lemon-herb sauce and squeeze the juice of the opposite lemon half onto high of crab meat. 
5. Bake till crab meat is warmed via and shells are heat to the contact. For king crab legs, bake for 15 to twenty minutes. For snow crab legs or Dungeness crab clusters, bake for 7 to 10 minutes. 
6. Take away crab legs from oven. Let cool earlier than cracking and serving.