Spaghetti Crab Fra Diavolo Recipe
Red pepper flakes gives this seafood pasta dish—which was inspired by Colu Henry's childhood—a spicy kick.
Photo: GANCINO/iStock
As boys, my uncles Michael and John often went crabbing in Barnegat Bay off the coast of New Jersey with their cousins. They’d bring back the day’s catch to my great-aunt Mary’s house, where she would make a marinara sauce, throw in the cleaned crabs, and then serve them straight from the pot with either pasta or bread. This recipe is inspired by their memories; even with shelled crab for ease and hot pepper for kick, the sentiment is the same.
Serves 4
Ingredients
¼ cup olive oil
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
One 28-oz. can diced San Marzano tomatoes
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
¾ pound bucatini
¾ pound crabmeat, picked over for bits of shell (Dungeness, blue crab, and jumbo lump crab all work well)
¼ cup chopped flat-leaf Italian parsley, plus more for garnish
¼ cup chopped fresh mint, plus more for garnish
¼ cup chopped fresh chives, plus more for garnish
Directions
Heat the olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until the garlic is pale golden, about 2 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and season with salt and black pepper. Reduce the heat to low or medium-low heat and cook the sauce for 20 minutes. While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 2 Tbsp. of the salt and return to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package directions.
About 3 minutes before the pasta is done cooking, add the crab and cook until just heated through. Scoop the pasta directly into the skillet and toss to coat. Sprinkle the herbs over the pasta and toss again, adding ¼ cup of pasta water or more (up to 1 cup), as needed to loosen up the sauce. Season with salt and black pepper.
Plate in bowls and garnish with additional herbs, if desired.
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Serves 4
Ingredients
Directions
Heat the olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until the garlic is pale golden, about 2 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and season with salt and black pepper. Reduce the heat to low or medium-low heat and cook the sauce for 20 minutes. While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 2 Tbsp. of the salt and return to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package directions.
About 3 minutes before the pasta is done cooking, add the crab and cook until just heated through. Scoop the pasta directly into the skillet and toss to coat. Sprinkle the herbs over the pasta and toss again, adding ¼ cup of pasta water or more (up to 1 cup), as needed to loosen up the sauce. Season with salt and black pepper.
Plate in bowls and garnish with additional herbs, if desired.
Want more recipes like this delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Oprah.com Food Newsletter!
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