Both baking or smoking king crab legs are preferred cooking methods for those who want to capture the flavor of herbs and lemon in the cooking process. It also allows for quick, even cooking that locks in the moisture of the crab meat within the shells, without overcooking.

• 1 cluster of King Crab Legs (Vegan alternative: This recipe also works well with baking carrots or zucchini. Double the baking time and no need to crack shells :-) )

• Old Bay Seafood Seasoning

• 2 cups Seafood Broth (Vegan alternative- use Vegetable Broth)

• Lemon wedge, melted butter (for added dipping and flavor)

Shallow baking pan, aluminum foil, kitchen scissors, tongs, cooking bag, oyster shucker (optional) Prep: 10 minutes prep Cook: 10 minutes Ready: 20 minutes Serves: 1-2

Before you handle any food, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Clean your kitchen work area and pull back your hair or wear a cap. You want to avoid contaminating your meal with harmful bacteria that could cause food illness.

To make King Crab Legs: 1. For baking, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. For smoking, prepare smoker at 225 degrees F.

2. Use kitchen scissors to carefully cut open the top shells of the crab legs.

TIP: Wear silicone gloves to avoid pinching your fingers on sharp crab leg points. Use an oyster shucker to pry the tops off the shells.

3. Season the top of crab legs with Old Bay seasoning.

4. Place the crab legs inside a cooking bag; add the seafood broth inside the bag. Tie bag to secure. If smoking, add broth to a foil pan and lay the crab legs inside the pan to sit in the broth.

5. If baking, place bag in shallow baking pan and bake for ten minutes.

If smoking, place pan in smoker and cook for 60 minutes.

6. Remove from broth and serve hot with lemon wedge and melted butter.

Crab meat is an excellent source of dietary of protein available without anywhere near the same levels of saturated fat, which is linked to an increased risk of heart disease.The protein in crab is of high quality and, because of a lack of connective tissue, very digestible for people of all ages. Crab is also rich in vitamins and minerals, low in fat and contains Omega-3 polyunsaturated acids which helps provide protection from heart disease and aid brain development. Some research suggests that Omega-3 also inhibits aggressive behavior. it’s not just any old Omega-3 – it’s the long chain variety. These are more beneficial to our health because they can be used immediately, unlike short-chain Omega-3 found in vegetables and oils; they need to be converted to the long chain form first which our bodies aren’t very good at doing. Crab meat, as most shellfish, are a good source of Selenium, but crab meat is particularly rich in it. Selenium plays a key role in the human’s antioxidant defense system, preventing damage to cells and tissues. Selenium also plays an important role in the function of the immune system, in thyroid hormone metabolism and synthesis in reproduction. Crab meat contains nearly 30 times the copper found in cod and 56 times that found in salmon, chicken and beef. Even though iron usually gets the spotlight, copper is involved in the absorption, storage and metabolism of iron. It is important in the formation of red blood cells and keeps bones, blood vessels, nerves and the immune system healthy. Phosphorus is the second most abundant mineral in the body, next to calcium. It is a principal mineral of bones and teeth and is, therefore, important in skeletal health and development. Phosphorus is involved in most metabolic actions in the body, including kidney functioning, cell growth and the contraction of the heart muscle. It is also involved in converting food to energy.

big, buttery Chardonnay goes with fresh cracked crab, but Pinot Gris and dry Riesling also have a rich mouth-feel and often more vibrant layers of fruit

GARLIC KING CRAB

Replace Old Bay Seasoning with garlic powder. Add 2 TBSN of garlic powder to Seafood Broth.

CAJUN KING CRAB

Replace Old Bay Seasoning with Cajun Seasoning and Cayenne pepper. Add 2 TBSN hot sauce to Seafood Broth.

BEER-SOAKED KING CRAB

Replace Old Bay Seasoning with garlic powder. Replace Seafood Broth with 2 bottles of preferred beer. Tie bag and refrigerate in marinade for 3-6 hours. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.