Grilled Crab with Celery
Prep
20 mins
Cook
12 mins
Servings
4
Difficulty
Medium
This grilled crab with celery is one of my favorite quick weeknight dinners because it comes together in just 32 minutes from start to table. Fresh celery is packed with antioxidants and fiber, making it a wonderfully healthy companion to sweet, succulent crab meat. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity: you're basically grilling the crab until it's perfectly cooked, then serving it alongside tender celery stalks infused with garlic, thyme, and a touch of lemon. The whole thing feels fancy enough for guests, but honestly, it's so straightforward that you'll find yourself making it again and again.
Ella x
Ingredients
- 2 wholelive crab(about 2 lbs each, split lengthwise)
- 8celery stalks(cut into 4-inch planks lengthwise)
- 6 tablespoonsunsalted butter(softened)
- 4garlic cloves(minced)
- 3 tablespoonsfresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoonsfresh thyme(chopped)
- 1 teaspoonsea salt
- ½ teaspoonblack pepper
- 3 tablespoonsextra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoonsfresh parsley(chopped for garnish)
- ¼ teaspoonsmoked paprika
Detail level
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (about 400°F). Clean the grates thoroughly with a grill brush to prevent sticking.
Tip: Make sure the grill is very clean to avoid the crab meat from sticking.
- 2
Pat the crab halves dry with paper towels. Mix together softened butter, minced garlic, thyme, lemon juice, salt, and smoked paprika in a small bowl to create the herb butter.
Tip: Prepare the herb butter ahead of time for easier assembly at the grill.
- 3
Brush both sides of the celery planks lightly with olive oil and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Set aside on a plate.
Tip: Thinner celery pieces will cook faster than thicker ones, so try to cut them uniformly.
- 4
Place the crab halves shell-side down on the grill. Brush the exposed meat generously with the herb butter mixture.
Tip: Work quickly to prevent the butter from dripping off before the crab starts cooking.
- 5
Grill the crab for 6-7 minutes without moving, allowing the meat to cook through and develop a light char on the exposed flesh.
Tip: You'll know it's ready when the meat turns opaque and firm to the touch.
- 6
While the crab is grilling, place the oiled celery planks directly on the grill grates. Grill for 3-4 minutes per side until they develop light char marks and become tender.
Tip: Flip the celery only once to achieve nice grill marks on both sides.
- 7
Remove the crab and celery from the grill and transfer to a serving platter. Drizzle any remaining herb butter over the crab.
Tip: Use tongs to carefully remove the hot crab to avoid burns.
- 8
Garnish the platter with fresh chopped parsley and lemon wedges. Serve immediately while everything is hot.
Tip: Additional melted herb butter on the side makes an excellent dipping sauce.
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