Low-Point Baked Crab Legs in Butter Sauce

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds crab legs, thawed if frozen
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the Oven:
    • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Prepare the Crab Legs:
    • Using kitchen shears, carefully cut the crab legs open along the shell to expose the meat.
  3. Make the Butter Sauce:
    • In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix well to incorporate all the ingredients.
  4. Coat the Crab Legs:
    • Place the crab legs on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper. Brush the butter sauce generously over the crab legs, making sure to coat them evenly.
  5. Bake the Crab Legs:
    • Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven and bake the crab legs for 15-20 minutes, or until the meat is heated through and the edges are slightly golden.
  6. Serve:
    • Remove the crab legs from the oven and transfer them to a serving platter. Serve hot, garnished with additional chopped parsley if desired.

Nutritional Information (per serving):

  • Calories: 260
  • Total Fat: 15g
    • Saturated Fat: 8g
    • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Cholesterol: 134mg
  • Sodium: 500mg
  • Total Carbohydrates: 2g
    • Dietary Fiber: 0g
    • Sugars: 0g
  • Protein: 28g

Note: Nutritional values are approximate and may vary depending on the specific ingredients used.

Here’s a breakdown of the points for each ingredient:

  1. Crab Legs (2 pounds): Crab legs are relatively low in calories and SmartPoints. Let’s estimate it at around 2 SmartPoints per pound, so 4 SmartPoints for 2 pounds.
  2. Unsalted Butter (4 tablespoons): Butter is high in calories and saturated fat, resulting in higher SmartPoints. Let’s estimate it at around 3 SmartPoints per tablespoon, so 4 SmartPoints for 4 tablespoons.
  3. Garlic (2 cloves): Garlic is very low in calories and would likely be 0 SmartPoints.
  4. Lemon Juice (1 tablespoon): Lemon juice is also very low in calories and would likely be 0 SmartPoints.
  5. Fresh Parsley (1 tablespoon): Parsley is very low in calories and would likely be 0 SmartPoints.
  6. Salt and Pepper: If used in moderation, salt and pepper are 0 SmartPoints.

Now, let’s add up the estimated points:

  • Crab Legs: 4 SmartPoints
  • Unsalted Butter: 3 SmartPoints
  • Garlic: 0 SmartPoints
  • Lemon Juice: 0 SmartPoints
  • Fresh Parsley: 0 SmartPoints
  • Salt and Pepper: 0 SmartPoints

So, the total SmartPoints for the ingredients would be approximately 7 SmartPoints.