Best 20 Garlic Crab Recipes

CRABS - GARLIC BUTTER BAKED CRAB LEGS

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Meanwhile, grab yourself a small saucepan. On med low heat, melt the butter. Add the garlic (I prefer a press) and LIGHTLY saute. Squeeze in the juice of the citrus of choice. If using a lemon, squeeze the juice into your hands so that you can remove the seeds with ease. Turn the heat to low and let those flavors mesh until the oven is nice and hot. Toss in as much salt (to taste) and a couple pinches of parsley. Then whisk in that olive oil with a fork. Turn off your burner.
• Arrange your tasty crustaceans in a 9x13 baking dish, brushing each leg with the sauce. ***TASTY TIP*** I use an injector to pop a *little* extra UMPH into my crabs. Pour any remaining sauce over those puppies. Now toss the pan into the oven on the center rack.
• Bake your crabs for about 25 minutes or so (depending on how thick the legs you have are), brushing the sauce from the bottom of the pan onto the legs every 5-7 minutes. Remove from oven. Sprinkle with a few pinches o' parsley for garnish.
• I am a lazy gal, detest doing more dishes than I have to, and am a firm believer in the "waste not, want not" phrase. With that said, I just serve the crab in the same dish I baked it in so I can dip the meat into the tasty sauce, savoring every last drop. If you are the opposite, use tongs and place them on a platter and pour the buttery-goodness into ramekins. VOILA! Crab House comparable delicacy! "Ohhhh my CRAAAABS!

LEMON-GARLIC PENNE WITH CRAB

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook and stir garlic in butter and oil over medium heat for 2 minutes or until garlic is golden (do not brown). Add the broth, crab and lemon juice. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 12-15 minutes or until sauce is reduced by half., Drain pasta; toss with crab sauce and 1/4 cup parsley. Garnish with lemon wedges and remaining parsley.

GARLIC CRAB

Steps:

• Place garlic, onions, butter, salt, red and black pepper into a roasting pan and put into a 450 degree oven.
• Be sure to watch carefully and cook until onions and garlic turn golden brown.
• Remove from oven, add crab and blend thoroughly.
• Make sure the crab (shells and all) is coated.
• Place pan back into oven on 475 degree for 15-20 minutes, turning crab about every 5 minutes.
• After the crab has been heated throughout remove from oven.
• Garlic sauce should be braised onto the shell of the crab.
• Serve as soon as possible, sprinkled with parsley and garnished with lemon.

FAMOUS ROAST GARLIC CRAB

Steps:

• Cleaning dungeness crab:
• Holding the body backside up, place your right thumb in the joint between the upper and lower shell on the side opposite the mouth. Your palm will be stretched across the top of the shell. Hold the bottom of the crab in your opposite hand. Force your thumb in and pull up and back to your right until shell snaps off. Pour any juices in the shell into a small bowl. Cut the body into quarters with a large knife. Twist the legs off the body. Crack lightly in several places with a nutcracker and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a very large ovenproof saute pan over medium-high heat until hot. (You may need 2 pans.) Add the crab and garlic, and toss well. Saute for about 10 minutes. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper and mix in lemon juice. Saute for another 5 minutes, then add parsley. After another 1 or 2 minutes, remove the crab and serve in the newspaper lined cans.

CRAB CAKES WITH LEMON GARLIC AIOLI SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix first 10 ingredients together, being careful to not overmix or break up the crab chunks.
• Dust a sheet pan or piece of tinfoil with flour. Carefully form little patties with the mixture and drop them onto the sheet pan or foil to dust with flour. Don't overhandle as the mixture will be very soft and wet. If the mixture is too wet, add more crumbs, or some flour.
• Meanwhile, melt butter into 2 tbs of the olive oil and heat a sauté pan to medium-high. Carefully drop cakes into pan with a spatula. Cook on one side until brown and crisp.
• Turn carefully, cook on the other side until brown and crisp and the inside of the cakes are cooked, about 2-3 minutes per side.
• Serve hot, topped with aioli and a few sliced green onions for garnish.
• For the sauce:.
• Mash garlic into a fine paste with the side of a knife on a cutting board, using salt as an abrasive. Mix all ingredients together. Serve with the crab cakes.

GARLIC CRAB LEGS

Steps:

• In a very large stock pot, bring a large amount of water to boil. Place crab legs and corn in the pot of boiling water. Boil until the corn is tender, and the crab legs are opaque and flaky. The crab may finish cooking before the corn, check the corn and crab every 5 minutes to see if they are finished cooking. When finished cooking, drain well. Cut a slit into each of the crab leg shells to make it easier for your guests to get to the meat.
• In a large saucepan, melt butter or margarine, garlic, red pepper, and Old Bay ™ seasoning. Stir in the crab and corn, and saute them for 5 to 10 minutes.

KILLER CRAB WHOLE DUNGENESS CRAB ROASTED IN GARLIC SAUCE

Steps:

• Crabs: Depending on where you get the crabs they could be alive or preboiled.
• If they're alive, place the crabs in boiling water for 5 minutes (until red in color). Remove from pot and cool them in iced water (quick cool). With your thumb and index finger pry open the head, remove innards and save. Under running water wipe clean the head area.
• Crab innards: In a blender add the innards with 1/4 cup of white wine, blend on pulse, strain, and save.
• In a pot on medium heat add olive oil, shallots, rosemary, thyme, and peppercorns. Cook until light brown, about 5 minutes. Deglaze with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of wine. Add the blended crab innards, the canola oil, and the garlic salt. Simmer for 10 minutes. Skim the top, remove from the heat and cool for a few minutes. Strain through a sieve or cheesecloth. Whisk in the garlic puree and let rest.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Place the 2 crabs in a large oven-proof skillet, ladle the crab butter over them, (be generous) and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Set the crabs on your serving dish, sprinkle with garlic salt, put the empty head shells back on (you can brush the shell with olive oil to shine) sprinkle. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.

GARLIC ROASTED CRAB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500*.
• In a very large oven-proof bowl, place butter and olive oil.
• Put in oven to melt butter and heat bowl (the bowl needs to be hot when you add the crab).
• Break crab legs apart from body, and break body into 2 sections per crab, but do not remove meat from shell.
• Stir crab into hot butter and olive oil mixture; sprinkle in minced garlic and salt and pepper to taste.
• Toss everything together well.
• Bake for 6 minutes and toss well again.
• Bake another 6 minutes, until crab is heated through and garlic is light brown.
• Remove from oven and top with lemon juice and parsley; toss again.
• Serve from hot bowl with lots of napkins and artisanal French or sourdough bread (such as La Brea Bakery's) to soak up the delicious juices.

GARLIC ROASTED DUNGENESS CRAB

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500°F.
• Heat butter, oil, and garlic is a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add crabs, 2 at a time, toss well, season with salt & pepper.
• Transfer to a large baking pan. Roast about 12 minutes, tossing well halfway through. Warm butter mixture, add lemon juice and parsley.
• Arrange crabs in a large shallow bowl & drizzle butter mixture over. Serve immediately with chunks of hot bread and a nice white wine.

CRAB LEGS WITH GARLIC BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut a slit, length-wise, into the shell of each piece of crab.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat; cook the garlic in the butter until translucent; stir in the parsley, salt, and pepper. Continue to heat mixture until bubbling. Add the crab legs; toss to coat; allow to simmer in the butter mixture until completely heated, 5 to 6 minutes.

GARLIC AND CRAB NOODLES

Steps:

• Bring a large of salted water to a boil over high heat. Put a large skillet or wok over high heat and add the oil, garlic and ginger and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Meanwhile, add the linguine to the boiling water. Add the crab to the hot wok and toss to coat in the garlic and ginger. Once the crab starts to turn color, add the soy sauce, sambal, black bean sauce and a ladle of pasta cooking water. Bring to a simmer and cook until it reduces and thickens slightly, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Drain the linguine, reserving about 1 cup of the cooking water, and add the pasta to the crab along with the parsley, honey and butter and toss to combine. Cook until thickened again, about 2 minutes. If the mixture seems dry, add more pasta water until it's saucy. Serve hot.

CLASSIC CRAB CAKES WITH CHILE GARLIC MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• Chile Garlic Mayonnaise Mix mayonnaise, chili-garlic sauce, and 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice in small bowl. Cover and refrigerate chili mayonnaise.
• Classic Crab Cakes Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper, celery, onion, and jalapeno; saute 3 minutes. Transfer to large bowl. Mix in crab, egg, 1/2 cup chili mayonnaise, and remaining 2 teaspoons lemon juice, then 1 1/2 cups breadcrumbs. Form crab mixture into eight 1/2-inch-thick cakes, using 1/2 cup for each. Dredge cakes in remaining 3 1/2 cups breadcrumbs, turning to coat. Place on baking sheet. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 8 hours. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, add crab cakes and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to plates. Serve, passing remaining chili mayonnaise separately.

CRAB STUFFED MUSHROOMS WITH GARLIC & HORSERADISH

Steps:

• Wash mushrooms, pat dry, remove stems and set aside.
• In a small bowl combine scallions and butter and microwave on high for 2 minutes.
• Stir in crabmeat, parsley, horseradish, garlic and hot pepper sauce, stirring well.
• Place half the mushrooms gill side up on a plate and fill each cap with crab mixture.
• Microwave on high 3-4 minutes, turning plate once.
• Remove mushrooms to a serving plate.
• Repeat this process with the remaining mushrooms.
• Let stand 2-3 minutes before serving.
• Sprinkle with red pepper to garnish.

5-CHEESE CRAB LASAGNA WITH ROASTED GARLIC AND VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Roast Garlic: Place oven rack on second notch (about 6 inches from heating element).
• Turn oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cut tops off of the heads of garlic and discard excess skin.
• Place garlic on a sheet of aluminum foil and drizzle 1 tsp olive oil over the tops.
• Fold up edges of foil and add 2 tsp white wine to the bottom.
• Seal packet tightly and place in oven.
• Bake 40-45 minutes or until garlic is tender when pierced.
• Open packet carefully to let cool and set aside (and enjoy the glorious aroma!).
• Roast Asparagus: Turn up heat to 400 degrees F.
• Holding at the end, gently bend each asparagus spear and snap off where it gives naturally.
• Discard ends (or save for soup).
• Pare leaves from stalks, leaving the tips intact.
• Soak asparagus in cold water for 10 minutes.
• Spray two cookie sheets (preferably with rims) with cooking spray.
• Rinse asparagus twice and drain.
• Blot dry with paper towels.
• Place in a large bowl.
• Drizzle 2 Tbsp olive oil over asparagus, then sprinkle with garlic salt and pepper.
• Toss to coat.
• Remove asparagus, letting excess oil drip back into the bowl, and arrange on cookie sheets.
• Set bowl aside.
• Roast asparagus 8 minutes or until bright green and crisp-tender.
• Let cool slightly, then remove asparagus to a plate, cover lightly with foil, and set aside.
• Roast Peppers: Turn on broiler.
• Cut peppers in half vertically through the stems.
• Rinse and remove seeds, stems and soft white inner parts.
• Blot dry with a paper towel.
• Place peppers on one of the previously used cookie sheets, cut-side down.
• Broil 5 minutes.
• Turn the cookie sheet around 180 degrees and broil another 5-7 minutes or until the pepper skins are about ¾ blackened.
• Turn off broiler.
• Remove peppers to a second bowl and cover tightly with foil or plastic wrap.
• Let rest 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil for the lasagna noodles (follow package directions).
• After 10 minutes, or when peppers are cool enough to touch, peel off skins with your fingers.
• Cut peppers into strips and place in the bowl with the leftover olive oil.
• Add 2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh basil to the bowl.
• Toss pepper strips to coat, then remove to a plate, allowing excess oil to drip back into the bowl.
• Cover lightly with foil and set aside.
• There should be a little olive oil and basil left in the bowl; set bowl aside.
• Cook Noodles: When water is boiling, add noodles and cook according to package directions.
• Lay out two sheets of aluminum foil (about the size of cookie sheets) on counter or table top.
• Spray foil with cooking spray.
• When noodles are done, drain, then remove with tongs and lay out on foil sheets side by side but not touching.
• Spray tops of noodles with cooking spray.
• Set aside.
• Roast Tomatoes: Turn broiler back on.
• Spray the cookie sheet used for the peppers with more cooking spray.
• Wash tomatoes and cut in half length-wise, removing any unpleasant white/yellow inner parts.
• Place tomatoes in bowl with the leftover olive oil.
• Add 1 tsp olive oil, 1 ½ tsp oregano, and 1 Tbsp chopped basil to the bowl.
• Toss tomatoes to coat.
• Arrange on cookie sheets, cut-side up.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle remaining oil/seasoning on top of tomatoes.
• Sprinkle with 2 Tbsp grated parmesan-romano cheese.
• Broil 4 minutes.
• Carefully rotate cookie sheets 180 degrees.
• Broil another 4 minutes, or until tomatoes are quite soft and cheese is golden brown.
• Peel off loose skins, if desired.
• Set sheets of tomatoes aside to cool.
• Make Sauce: Melt 3 Tbsp butter with 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large nonstick skillet on medium low.
• Add onion and sprinkle lightly with salt.
• Saute 5-8 minutes or until softened.
• Turn down heat to low.
• Squeeze roasted garlic from individual cloves into skillet.
• Stir well, mashing any whole cloves with back of spoon.
• Sprinkle with salt and cook 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add 5 Tbsp flour and return heat to medium low.
• Stirring constantly, cook for 4-5 minutes, spreading out mixture with back of spoon (it should look like a slightly wet, uniformly golden paste - turn down heat if it begins to get dark spots, and turn up a bit if nothing seems to be happening).
• Add ¼ cup white wine and continue stirring for 1 minute or until wine has mostly disappeared.
• Remove skillet from heat and whisk in 2 cups fat-free half-and-half.
• Return to heat and bring to a simmer, whisking constantly (turn up heat to medium if necessary).
• Turn down heat to low and simmer 5 minutes, stirring frequently the first minute or two, and occasionally thereafter (the sauce should have noticeably thickened by the end).
• Turn off heat.
• Add ricotta, crab, and lemon juice.
• Stir very well.
• Taste for salt and adjust if necessary.
• Set aside.
• Assemble Lasagna: Spray a 9X13 baking dish with cooking spray.
• Arrange ¼ of noodles (3 noodles) on bottom of pan.
• Top noodles with ¼ of sauce.
• Arrange tomatoes on top of sauce.
• Top tomatoes with provel to cover.
• Add a second layer of 3 noodles.
• Press down gently but firmly.
• Add another ¼ of sauce.
• Arrange half of asparagus spears on top of sauce in two rows, each row taking up about half the pan length-wise.
• Choose the less beautiful spears (the rest will go on top).
• Top asparagus with sliced havarti with dill.
• Add a third layer of 3 noodles.
• Press down gently but firmly.
• Top with ¼ of sauce (half of remaining sauce).
• Arrange peppers on top of sauce.
• Cover peppers with sliced fontina.
• Add the last layer of 3 noodles.
• Press down gently and firmly.
• Top with remaining sauce.
• Top sauce with the rest of the asparagus, nicely arranged in two rows.
• Sprinkle asparagus with 1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh basil.
• Top with ½ cup grated parmesan-romano cheese.
• Sprinkle with Old Bay seasoning and spray with cooking spray.
• Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.
• Bake Lasagna: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bake lasagna, still covered with foil, for 30 minutes.
• Remove foil and bake an additional 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are bubbly and slightly brown and the parmesan-romano is golden brown.
• If the lasagna is cooked immediately rather than refrigerated, bake covered 20 minutes and uncovered 10-15 minutes, or until done.
• Let rest a few minutes, then cut pieces with a sharp knife (to pierce asparagus spears) and serve.

GARLIC-GOOD CRAB "CAKES"

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Take 3 sheets of phyllo at a time, butter and roll up, jelly-roll style. Cut into fourths. Press, cut side down, into muffin pan cups. Press with fingers to flatten and work slightly up the sides of cup. Brush cups with melted butter. Repeat with remaining phyllo sheets, for a total of 24 cups.
• To prepare filling, place garlic, with tough bottoms cut off, in a plastic bag. Pound with the side of a meat cleaver. Remove skins and place crushed garlic in a deep microwave safe bowl. Add lemon juice and water. Cover and microwave for 2 minutes.
• Add cream cheese to garlic and cream together. Add beaten eggs, feta, crab, and 1 cup of the bread crumbs and mix well. Add cayenne pepper and mix again. Spoon mixture into each phyllo cup, distributing evenly, about 1 tablespoon of mixture per phyllo cup. Sprinkle remaining bread crumbs over the crab mixture (about 1 teaspoon per phyllo cup) and lightly dust the top of each with paprika.
• Bake for 25 minutes. Carefully remove each phyllo cup/crab "cake" onto a cooling rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

RED PEPPER CRAB CROQUETAS WITH GARLIC-ALMOND SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the béchamel: Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute without browning. Gradually whisk in milk, 1/4 cup at a time, to obtain a smooth, thick sauce. Turn heat to low, add 1/2 teaspoon salt and a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper. Continue to cook, stirring, for 4 to 5 minutes. Thin if necessary with a tablespoon or so more milk, but keep it the consistency of whipped cream.
• Make the crab mixture: Put crab meat in a mixing bowl and add warm béchamel. Stir in roasted peppers, cayenne, scallions, cilantro, and lemon zest and mix gently until ingredients are well incorporated. Taste for salt and adjust seasoning. Spread mixture on a baking sheet in a layer about 1 inch thick, cover and refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours. (The crab mixture can be prepared up to a day in advance and refrigerated.)
• Assemble the croquetas: Arrange 3 small shallow bowls on a work counter. Add 1 cup of flour to one bowl, then season it with salt and pepper. In second, add the beaten eggs. Fill the third bowl with bread crumbs. Weigh 1-ounce portions of the crab mixture and place on wax paper. Roll each portion in seasoned flour, then dip into egg and finally roll in crumbs, forming each gently into a sphere. Put breaded croquetas on a clean baking sheet and sprinkle with more crumbs. Repeat until all are breaded. Refrigerate, uncovered, until ready to fry.
• Make the garlic-almond sauce: Put almonds in a food processor and blend thoroughly, until finely ground. Add garlic and pulse to combine. With the food processor running, add a faint drizzle of olive oil as sauce thickens. The oil must be added very slowly or the sauce will separate or break. Continue adding the oil until it is all incorporated. Season sauce with salt to taste. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.
• To fry croquetas, pour vegetable oil to depth of 2 inches in a wide, deep saucepan and place over medium-high heat. Bring oil to 375 degrees. Working in small batches, fry croquetas on each side until golden brown, about 4 minutes. (Too many in the pan risks significantly lowering the temperature of the oil.) Remove croquetas with a slotted spoon and transfer to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet. Season lightly with salt and keep warm in a low oven. Repeat until all croquetas are fried. Pile them on a serving platter and serve with garlic-almond sauce for dipping.

DOWN-SOUTH CRAB CAKES WITH COLLARD GREENS AND ROASTED GARLIC BEURRE BLANC

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Combine first 9 ingredients in a large bowl. Gently stir in crabmeat. Shape mixture into 10 (3 to 3 1/2-inch) patties. Place on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray.
• Bake for 12 minutes.
• Spoon Collard Greens onto individual serving plates, using a slotted spoon; top each serving with 2 crab cakes. Drizzle with Roasted Garlic Beurre Blanc. Garnish, if desired.
• Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat; add prosciutto, and saute 2 minutes. Add butter, onion, and garlic; saute until onion is tender. Add collard greens and chicken broth. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer 30 to 45 minutes or until greens are tender.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place garlic in center of an aluminum foil sheet. Drizzle garlic lightly with oil; sprinkle with salt and black pepper, to taste.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden.
• Squeeze out pulp from each garlic clove into a medium saucepan. Add lemon juice and white wine to garlic. Cook, uncovered, over medium-high heat about 20 minutes or until reduced by three-fourths. Stir in whipping cream; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 10 to 15 minutes or until reduced by half. Remove from heat; gradually whisk in butter, a few pieces at a time, until sauce is slightly thickened and smooth. Stir in salt and ground red pepper.

CRAB DIP WITH GARLIC SALTINES AND ROASTED CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a food processor add the cream cheese, mayonnaise, and Dijon and blend until smooth. Then add the lemon juice and olive oil, if desired, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Process until well combined, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula as you go. Dump the mixture into a large mixing bowl and fold in the chopped chives and crabmeat. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper then cover and set aside in the refrigerator.
• For the crackers:
• Meanwhile, prepare the saltines. Make a garlic butter by combining the minced garlic with parsley and melted butter. Lay out a flat layer of saltines on a lined baking tray and use a pastry brush to baste the saltines with garlic butter. Bake in the oven for about 5 to 7 minutes until golden.
• Split each tomato lengthwise and toss in a mixing bowl with balsamic vinegar. Toss the cherry tomatoes on a second baking tray and drizzle a little olive oil, if desired, over the top. Season with salt and pepper and bake in oven for 7 to 8 minutes.
• To serve, arrange the 3 components so they can be assembled by each individual. Spoon the crab mixture into a bowl, stack the saltines in a pile next to it and serve the roasted tomatoes in a coffee cup. Take a saltine, spoon a little crab dip on top and garnish with a piece of tomato.

MINI-CRAB CAKES W/LEMON-GARLIC AIOLI

Steps:

• Crab cakes: Combine mayo, 1/2 cup bread crumbs, egg, parsley, Dijon & Old Bay in medium mixing bowl using silicone spatula. Add crab to mayo mixture & fold together gently, taking care not to break up lump crab. Taste & season w/salt & pepper. Using moistened hands, gently form mixture into 4 crab cakes. Place on parchment-lined plate or baking sheet & refrigerate at least 30 mins. Preheat oven to 200 deg & place rack in center. Pour remaining 1 cup breadcrumbs into shallow dish. Gently roll crab cakes in bread crumbs, pressing lightly to coat. Pour oil into large skillet, preferably nonstick & heat over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Working in batches, place crab cakes in skillet, leaving 1 inch space around each. Cook until crab cakes are golden brown, flipping once with a fish spatula, about 3-4 mins per side. Transfer crab cakes to wire rack set over rimmed baking sheet & season immediately w/salt. Place rack and baking sheet in preheated oven to keep warm. Garnish with aioli & chives. Aioli: Whisk together egg yolk, garlic, lemon juice & water in medium mixing bowl. While whisking vigorously, add oil in drops to form an emulsion. Continue whisking & slowly drizzling in remaining oil to form thick sauce. Taste & season w/salt, pepper & additional lemon juice as needed. Cover & keep refrigerated until ready to use.

TRISHNA-INSPIRED GARLIC CRAB

Steps:

• Form a paste with half of the garlic, salt and sugar. Saute the remaining ingredients on low heat. Debatable: Crack or Cook first? If you are to cook the crabs first ... Boil crab for 7-10 minutes. Clean crab, cut body into 2 pieces. Crack remaining pieces to let the garlic butter under the shell. Add the cracked crab to the sauteed mixture. Mix the crab, butter, seasoning well. Cover pan for 5 minutes. If you are crack and clean the crabs first ... Toss the crabs in the freezer for a few minutes to calm them down. Clean crab, cut body into 2 pieces. Crack remaining pieces to let the garlic butter under the shell. Add the cracked crab to the sauteed mixture. Add a 1/4 cup of water. Mix the crab, butter, seasoning well. Cover pan for 5-10 minutes, allow to steam. Mix while cooking. Crustacean preparation: Crack crab without cooking and add to the saute. Cook the crab until half done. Dish out and bake it in the oven at 350 degree F for 25-30 minutes. Finish with cilantro.