Steamed Dungeness Crab Legs with Garlic Butter

steamed Dungeness crab clusters with garlic butter.

5 from 2 votes

Steamed Dungeness Crab Legs with Garlic Butter

One of the best ways to enjoy Dungeness Crab Legs is to steam them in aromatics and serve them with melted garlic herb butter. This recipe is perfect for seafood lovers because the delicate flavor of the flaky white meat is the star.

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Total Time15

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Author: Krissy Allori

Equipment

Ingredients

Garlic butter sauce:

8 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon fresh parsley minced
1 tablespoon minced garlic 3-4 cloves
1/2 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

To steam the crab:

1 cup dry white wine
1 cup water
1 lemon sliced
1/4 cup fresh herbs parsley, thyme, rosemary, etc.
4 clusters cooked Dungeness crab legs includes shoulder meat

Instructions

Make the garlic butter:

Heat a small sauté pan over medium heat. Add the garlic butter sauce ingredients and frequently stir or swirl the pan. The heat should be low enough so that the garlic never goes beyond a golden brown color. The longer the mixture cooks, the more the garlic will infuse the butter. Keep the mixture warm until the crab is ready to serve.
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Steam the crab:

Using a crab cracker tool or a meat mallet, gently crush the shell in various locations to expose the meat. This will make it easier to eat once it's hot but it will also allow the meat to absorb the flavors while it steams.
Add the 1 cup dry white wine, 1 cup water, 1 lemon, and 1/4 cup fresh herbs to a large pot. Place a steamer basket or a rack on top. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, place the 4 clusters cooked Dungeness crab legs in the basket or on the rack, cover them with a lid to seal the pot, and heat for about 4 minutes. The meat is already cooked, so you are only heating them. When done, the crab clusters should be giving off their own steam.

To serve:

Place garlic butter into a shallow dish for dipping and serve warm crab with additional lemon wedges.

Notes

Nutritional information is based on approximately 4 ounces of crab meat per cluster and only eating about half of the butter.

Nutrition