Black Linguine with Crab is an opulent dish that captures the essence of Venetian culinary traditions, using the finest ingredients like sweet white crab meat and a hint of chilli for an exquisite blend of flavors. This recipe starts with sautéing shallots and garlic in olive oil, followed by the addition of brown crab meat and a splash of Prosecco to infuse the dish with a subtle richness. The choice between fresh black or white tagliolini and dried black or white linguine offers versatility, while the final touch of Sichuan pepper adds an unexpected twist to this classic dish. Finished with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and finely chopped parsley, Linguine with Crab is a testament to the simple yet profound pleasures of Italian cooking, making it a must-try for seafood and pasta lovers alike.
Ingredients
4tbspextra virgin olive oil, plus extra to serve
2shallots or 1 medium white onion, finely chopped
1garlic clove, finely chopped
1/2-1red fresh or dried chilli, finely chopped, to taste
2crabs cooked, or 100 g (31/2 oz) brown crabmeat and 300 g (101/2 oz) white crabmeat
100ml31/2 fl oz/ scant 1/2 cup Prosecco or white wine
Salt and freshly ground black or Sichuan pepper
1quantity of fresh black or white tagliolini or 320 g, 111/4 oz dried black or white linguine
2tbspsof parsley, finely chopped, leaves and stalks
Instructions
Bring a large saucepan of well- salted water to the boil. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and fry the shallots and garlic over a low heat until softened. Add the chilli and brown crabmeat and stir through. Turn up the heat and pour in the Prosecco, allow it to evaporate until the strong smell of alcohol has gone. Taste and season the sauce. Remove
from the heat and set aside. Cook the pasta until just al dente. Take a few tablespoons of water from the pasta saucepan and add it to the frying pan. Drain the pasta and put this in too. Add the white crabmeat and parsley and toss or stir through briefly. Taste once more and season further if necessary. Drizzle with your finest olive oil and serve.