Steamed Crab Legs with Four Sauces

By ruthg

Serves 2-4

Ingredients

• 1 1 1 lemon sliced, plus halves for serving
• to salt to taste
• 3 3 3 lb. precooked king or snow crab, clusters or legs
• .
• BRANDY MAYONNAISE
• 1 3/4 1 3/4 CUPS
• INGREDIENTS
• 1 1 1 cup mayonnaise
• 3 3 3 tbsp. brandy
• 3 3 3 tbsp. ketchup
• 2 2 2 tbsp. sour cream
• 2 2 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 Zest and juice of 1 lemon
• to salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• INSTRUCTIONS
• Combine ingredients in a bowl; stir until smooth.
• .
• CLARIFIED BUTTER WITH GARLIC AND CHIVES
• 1 ABOUT 1 CUP
• .
• INGREDIENTS
• 2 2 2 cloves crushed garlic
• 2 2 2 small fresh red Thai chiles, sliced in half
• 16 16 16 tbsp. unsalted butter
• INSTRUCTIONS
• .
• TARTAR SAUCE
• 1 1/2 1 1/2 CUPS
• .
• INGREDIENTS
• 1 1 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 1/3 1/3 cup capers, drained and finely chopped
• 1 1 1 small shallot, finely chopped
• 1 1 1 tbsp. finely chopped parsley
• 10 10 10 cornichons, finely chopped
• 1 Zest and juice of 1 lemon
• to salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• INSTRUCTIONS
• Stir ingredients in a bowl until combined.
• .
• DIABLO SAUCE
• 2 ABOUT 2 CUPS
• INGREDIENTS
• 2 2 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 2 2 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 6 6 6 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
• 1 1 1 serrano chile, stemmed, seeded and roughly chopped
• 1/2 1/2 1/2 a small yellow onion, roughly chopped
• 1 1 1 tbsp. dark red chile powder
• 2 2 2 tsp. packed brown sugar
• 1 1 1 tsp. smoked paprika
• 1 1 can 1 (16-oz.) can crushed tomatoes
• to salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 1 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• INSTRUCTIONS

Preparation

Step 1

Bring sliced lemon, salt, and 3 cups water to a boil in a large pot fitted with a pasta strainer of steamer insert. Add crab clusters of legs; cook, covered until meat is heated through, about 8 minutes. If crab is frozen it may take a little longer, 10-12 minutes. Uncover; transfer crab to a cutting board or paper-lined surface. Serve with dipping sauces.