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Dungeness crab legs


  • Author: Emily

Description

Learn to make delicious Dungeness crab legs at home with our step-by-step guide, tips, and FAQs. Perfect your seafood cooking skills today!


Ingredients

Scale

Ingredients List 

  • 2 pounds Dungeness crab legs
  • 23 bay leaves
  • 34 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 1 lemon, quartered
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1/2 cup melted butter (for dipping)
  • Lemon wedges (for serving)

Instructions

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Prepare the Pot
    • Fill a large pot with water, leaving enough room for the crab legs.
    • Add the bay leaves, garlic, lemon quarters, and salt to the water.
    • Bring the water to a boil over high heat.
  2. Cook the Crab Legs
    • If steaming, place a steamer basket in the pot and arrange the crab legs on top.
    • If boiling, carefully add the crab legs directly to the boiling water.
    • Cover the pot and cook the crab legs for 10-15 minutes, or until the meat is opaque and easily pulls away from the shell.
  3. Prepare the Dipping Sauce
    • While the crab legs are cooking, melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat.
    • Add a squeeze of lemon juice to the melted butter for extra flavor.
  4. Serve the Crab Legs
    • Use tongs to carefully remove the crab legs from the pot and transfer them to a serving platter.
    • Serve the crab legs with melted butter and lemon wedges on the side.
  5. Enjoy!
    • Use crab crackers and picks to extract the meat from the shells.
    • Dip the crab meat in the melted butter and enjoy the succulent, sweet flavor.

Notes

  • Seasonings: Experiment with different seasonings in the cooking water. Old Bay seasoning, peppercorns, and fresh herbs like dill can add unique flavors to the crab legs.
  • Dipping Sauces: While melted butter is a classic choice, consider trying other dipping sauces such as garlic aioli, lemon herb butter, or a spicy sriracha mayo.