Back to all recipes

Chipotle Brown Butter Bairdi Crab

  • All Shellfish
  • Dungeness
  • Bairdi
  • 20-minute meal
  • 10 ingredients or less
  • Active Time:20 min
  • Total Time:20 min
  • Servings:2
Photo by Grace Parisi

Meaty, sweet, and tender, these bairdi crab legs need nothing more than a dunk in flavorful butter. Chipotle adds smoky heat, so feel free to add as much or as little as you like to suit your heat preference.

Ingredients

  • 1 bairdi cluster (approximately 4 legs and body), thawed Available in Our Premium Seafood Subscription Box

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1 large garlic clove, minced

  • 1 tablespoon chopped chipotle in adobo

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

  • ½ lemon, cut into wedges

Directions

ECTIONS

Separate the Butter

Separate the crab legs from the body and break into segments at the joints. Using a sturdy knife cut the body into 2 pieces.

Melt the Butter

In a small skillet or saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter is golden and nutty, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in as much of the chipotle as desired. Transfer the butter to a small bowl and stir in the cilantro and a squeeze of lemon. Keep warm.

Steam the Crab

Place the crab into a wok or skillet with 1 inch of water and bring to a boil. Cover and steam just until heated through, about 5 minutes. Drain well and transfer to a platter and serve with the chipotle brown butter, lemon wedges, claw crackers, picks, and lots of napkins. Enjoy!

Premium Seafood Subscription Box

$159 / box 4.5 lbs

START YOUR CULINARY seafood ADVENTURE