Brazil Nut Free Garlic-Style Butter Crab Legs
Steamed snow crab legs bathed in a glossy, garlicky butter sauce feel like a special-occasion meal, but this recipe is surprisingly straightforward to pull off at home. The sauce builds beautifully — garlic-infused oil and scallion greens go first, then a splash of dry white wine reduces down before butter gets swirled in one tablespoon at a time, creating that silky, restaurant-style emulsion. Smoked paprika and red pepper flakes give the whole thing a gentle warmth, while fresh lemon juice and zest keep it bright and balanced. Tree nut allergies can make seafood dishes tricky when dining out, since sauces and finishing oils sometimes sneak in unexpected ingredients — here, every component is straightforward and easy to verify. The ingredient list is clean and unfussy, so you stay in full control of what goes into the pan. Finished with a shower of flat-leaf parsley and served with lemon wedges, these crab legs look stunning on the table and taste even better than they look.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the crab
- 3 lb snow crab legs, thawed if frozen
For the butter sauce
- ¼ cup garlic-infused oil
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- 4 scallion green tops, thinly sliced
For serving
- lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Fill a large pot with about 2 inches of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Set a steamer insert or colander above the water. Arrange the crab legs in the steamer in a single layer (work in batches if needed), cover tightly, and steam for 5–6 minutes, until the shells are heated through and the meat is opaque and hot at the thickest joint.
- 2
While the crab steams, heat the garlic-infused oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the scallion green tops and cook, stirring, until softened and bright green, about 1–2 minutes.
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