San Francisco's Legendary Roasted Garlic Dungeness Crab

Details
A West Coast classic where sweet crab meets a tidal wave of glorious garlic. Straight from San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, this legendary dish is a garlic lover's dream. Sweet Dungeness crab is roasted in an indulgent, aromatic garlic-butter sauce you'll want to mop up with plenty of crusty sourdough bread. This recipe brings the authentic taste of those famous, secret-recipe garlic crabs right to your kitchen.
Ingredients
Instructions
Prepare the Crab
If not already done by your fishmonger, clean the crabs. Break the legs apart from the body and cut each body into quarters. Lightly crack the shells on the legs and body pieces with the back of a heavy knife or a nutcracker to allow the sauce to penetrate. Do not remove the meat from the shell.
Melt Butter and Oil
Preheat your oven to a high temperature, around 475-500°F (245-260°C). Place the butter and olive oil in a very large, heavy-bottomed roasting pan or ovenproof skillet.
Heat the Pan
Place the pan in the preheating oven for a few minutes until the butter is melted and the pan is very hot.
Combine and Roast
Carefully remove the hot pan from the oven. Add the crab pieces and toss them thoroughly to coat with the hot butter and oil. Sprinkle the minced garlic, salt, and pepper over the crab and toss everything together again until well combined.
First Roast
Place the pan back in the oven and roast for 6-7 minutes.
Toss and Finish Roasting
Remove the pan from the oven, toss the crab well to ensure even cooking and browning of the garlic, and return to the oven. Roast for another 6-8 minutes, or until the crab is heated through and the garlic is fragrant and light golden brown.
Serve
Remove the pan from the oven. Drizzle with the fresh lemon juice and sprinkle with the chopped parsley, giving it one final toss. Serve immediately directly from the hot pan, with plenty of sourdough bread to soak up every last drop of the incredible garlic sauce.
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