Chinese New Year is a major holiday for the Chinese. It is the most important festival for us and during this period, indulging in festival food is a MUST for many of us.
But as Shakespeare’s wrote: “Too much of a good thing…”. After one too many CNY mandatory Lo Hei (prosperity toss) dinners, I’m craving for a non-Asian meal. Given how much I love my Asian food, I’m pretty sure this is only temporary, but for now, I got to give in to myself.
This simple yet delicious crabmeat chilli pasta dish is just what I needed – savory, tangy with a slight hint of heat from the chili. I love to serve it with a side of salad and a glass of white wine.
Ingredients:
1/2 packet (250 g) spaghetti
1 packet (200 g) frozen crab leg meat – defrost
4 stalks spring onions – diced
8 baby tomatoes – cut into halves
4 – 5 cloves garlic – sliced
1 – 2 red chili (use more if you like it hot!) – sliced
Splash of white wine
1/2 cup (120 ml) chicken stock
Salt and black pepper – to taste
2 tbsp olive oil
Some chopped sweet basil – to garnish (optional)
Serves 2 – 3
Recipe source: Gordon Ramsay (with slight modifications)
I got this packet of frozen crabmeat package from Giant. It can be easily found in all major supermarkets.
Bring half a pot of water to boil and add in 2 tsp of salt. Add in pasta and cook as per package timing.
While pasta is cooking, use a large pan and add in 2 tbsp olive oil. Add in garlic and chili and sauté until fragrant for approx. 30 secs.
Add in tomatoes, crab meat, splash of white wine and half lemon juice and continue to sauté. You will see liquid forming and that is from the crab meat.
Add in chicken stock and continue to cook until crab meat is done. Taste first before seasoning further with salt and black pepper, Add in spring onions and pasta and use a pair of tongs to mix well.
Drizzle more olive oil if needed and turn off heat. Garnish with chopped basil and squeeze in more lemon juice if desire and serve.
Full Instructions:
Bring half a pot of water to boil and add in 2 tsp of salt. Add in pasta and cook as per package timing.
While pasta is cooking, use a large pan and add in 2 tbsp olive oil. Add in garlic and chilli and sauté until fragrant for approx. 30 secs. Add in tomatoes, crab meat, splash of white wine and half lemon juice and continue to sauté. You will see liquid forming and that is from the crab meat. Add in chicken stock and continue to cook until crab meat is done.
Taste first before seasoning further with salt and black pepper, Add in spring onions and pasta and use a pair of tongs to mix well. Drizzle more olive oil if needed and turn off heat.
Garnish with chopped basil and squeeze in more lemon juice if desire and serve.