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Recipe
Helgoländer Knieper with Herb Butter
Savory Delight: Helgoländer Knieper with a Burst of Herb Butter
4.1 out of 5
Helgoländer Knieper is a traditional German dish that originates from the island of Heligoland. This recipe showcases the unique flavors and textures of the dish, combining tender crab claws with a fragrant herb butter.
Metadata
Preparation time
20 minutes
Cooking time
10 minutes
Total time
30 minutes
Yields
4 servings
Preparation difficulty
Medium
Suitable for
Pescatarian, Gluten-free, Low-carb, Keto-friendly, Dairy-free (if using dairy-free butter substitute)
Allergens
Crustaceans (crab), Dairy (butter)
Not suitable for
Vegan, Vegetarian, Nut-free, Egg-free, Soy-free
Ingredients
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1 kg (2.2 lbs) fresh crab claws 1 kg (2.2 lbs) fresh crab claws
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200 g (7 oz) unsalted butter, softened 200 g (7 oz) unsalted butter, softened
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2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
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1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
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1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped 1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped
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1 garlic clove, minced 1 garlic clove, minced
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1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon lemon juice
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Salt and pepper to taste Salt and pepper to taste
Nutrition
- Calories: 350 kcal / 1465 KJ
- Fat: 30g (15g saturated)
- Carbohydrates: 1g (0g sugars)
- Protein: 18g
- Fiber: 0g
- Salt: 1.5g
Preparation
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1.In a large pot, bring water to a boil and add a generous amount of salt.
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2.Carefully place the crab claws into the boiling water and cook for 8-10 minutes until they turn bright orange.
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3.While the crab claws are cooking, prepare the herb butter. In a bowl, combine the softened butter, parsley, chives, dill, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly incorporated.
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4.Once the crab claws are cooked, remove them from the pot and let them cool slightly.
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5.Serve the crab claws with a dollop of herb butter on top. Optionally, garnish with additional fresh herbs.
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6.Enjoy the Helgoländer Knieper by dipping the crab meat into the herb butter and savoring the delightful flavors.
Treat your ingredients with care...
- Crab claws — Make sure to choose fresh crab claws for the best flavor. If fresh crab claws are not available, you can use frozen ones, but thaw them thoroughly before cooking.
Tips & Tricks
- To extract the meat from the crab claws easily, use a crab cracker or the back of a heavy knife to crack the shell.
- For an extra kick of flavor, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the herb butter.
- Serve the Helgoländer Knieper with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for a tangy twist.
Serving advice
Serve the Helgoländer Knieper as a main course accompanied by a side of crusty bread to mop up the delicious herb butter.
Presentation advice
Arrange the crab claws on a platter, drizzle the herb butter over them, and garnish with fresh herbs for an elegant presentation.
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