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Seafood Pasta with Lemon-Saffron Herb Dressing

Recipe information

  • Yield

    6 to 8 Servings

Ingredients

12

ounces campanelle (trumpet-shaped pasta) or macaroni

1

/8 teaspoon crushed saffron threads

7

tablespoons fresh lemon juice, divided

6

tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1

/2 cup mayonnaise

1

/2 cup sour cream

1

/4 cup thinly sliced green onions

2

tablespoons drained capers

2

tablespoons minced fresh tarragon plus sprigs for garnish

1

tablespoon minced fresh dill plus sprigs for garnish

1

teaspoon sugar

1

pound cooked medium shrimp

1

cup finely chopped celery

1

/2 pound Dungeness crabmeat

2

large handfuls of arugula

2

small heads of butter lettuce

Lemon wedges

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Place 3 tablespoons hot cooking liquid in medium bowl. Sprinkle saffron over and let stand at room temperature 5 minutes. Transfer pasta to large bowl. Drizzle pasta with 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 tablespoon oil; toss to coat. Let stand at room temperature until cool, stirring occasionally.

    Step 2

    Add mayonnaise, sour cream, green onions, capers, minced tarragon, minced dill, sugar, remaining 6 tablespoons lemon juice, and remaining 5 tablespoons oil to bowl with saffron liquid. Whisk to combine. Season saffron dressing to taste with salt and pepper. Pour dressing over pasta. Add shrimp and celery; toss to coat. Add reserved pasta cooking liquid by tablespoonfuls if mixture is dry. Add crab; toss gently. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours.

    Step 3

    Line platter with arugula and butter lettuce leaves. Spoon pasta over greens. Garnish with lemon wedges and tarragon and dill sprigs. Serve cold.