--- title: "Meatless Friday: Crab Caprese Pasta" description: Karen Ullo presents a recipe for a festive meatless dish with traditional Christmas colors. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20211224%20KUllo%20F.jpg ---                                           [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/meatless-friday-crab-caprese-pasta#) [MEATLESS FRIDAY](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/meatless-friday) # Meatless Friday: Crab Caprese Pasta Dec 24, 2021 7:00:00 AM  |  by [Karen Ullo](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/karen-ullo) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20211224%20KUllo%20F.jpg) *Karen Ullo presents a recipe for a festive meatless dish with traditional Christmas colors.* This quick, easy festival meal is meant to mimic the colors and shapes of a Christmas tree: bowtie pasta for the presents, cherry tomatoes for the ornaments, triangular mozzarella for the trees (or use pearls for more ornaments), with basil and parmesan for tinsel. But if you don’t tell people that, you can serve it any time. It only takes about ten minutes to prepare and will delight your family or your guests. If it’s not a meatless Friday, try adding spicy sausage for an additional treat. The pictured one is shrimp and pork sausage, but any kind you like is fine. You can also substitute the pasta; the green one is a regular dry pasta made with spinach and other greens.   ![crab caprese pasta](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20211224%20KUllo%202.jpg?width=1080&name=20211224%20KUllo%202.jpg)   > [Click to tweet: > This quick, easy festival meal is meant to mimic the colors and shapes of a Christmas tree. #catholicmom](https://ctt.ac/XeFdd) #### Christmas Crab Caprese Pasta 1 package bowtie pasta, prepared according to package directions (or substitute what you prefer) ##### **For the crab:** 8 oz lump crab meat 1 tbs. cooking oil 2 tbs. lemon juice 1 tsp. Creole seasoning (see note) 2 leaves basil, chopped A handful of cherry tomatoes A large handful of fresh spinach Heat the oil in a sauté pan, then add crab, lemon juice, Creole seasoning, and basil. Sauté on medium high heat for 3-4 minutes, then add the vegetables. Continue sauteing until the spinach is wilted and the tomatoes begin to burst open, about another 3-4 minutes. If using sausage, brown it in the sauté pan before cooking the crab so that the crab will absorb some of the pork flavor.   ##### **To plate:** Fresh mozzarella slices, quartered to make triangles (or use pearls) Additional fresh cherry tomatoes Additional chopped basil Grated parmesan cheese Balsamic vinegar glaze, store-bought Place the pasta on the plate, then top with the desired amount of crab (and sausage if desired.) Add cheese and other topping as desired. Use a store-bought balsamic glaze to squeeze over the dish in a zig zag pattern—the one I use comes in a squeeze bottle and is sold near the vinegar. That’s it! Merry Christmas, and enjoy!   ![Crab Caprese Pasta](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20211224%20KUllo%201.jpg?width=1080&name=20211224%20KUllo%201.jpg)   NOTE: Any time my recipes call for Creole seasoning, I like to give you the recipe for it, just in case. There are plenty of commercial brands available, but this comes straight from my Creole grandmother, and it’s better.  ##### **Eileen’s Creole Seasoning:**  2 tbs. salt 1 tbs. ground red pepper 1 tbs. chili powder 1 tbs. garlic powder 1 tsp. black pepper Place all ingredients in an empty spice bottle and shake to combine. --- Copyright 2021 Karen Ullo Images copyright 2021 Karen Ullo, all rights reserved. ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fmeatless-friday-crab-caprese-pasta%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fmeatless-friday-crab-caprese-pasta%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fmeatless-friday-crab-caprese-pasta%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Meatless%20Friday%3A%20Crab%20Caprese%20Pasta) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fmeatless-friday-crab-caprese-pasta%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fmeatless-friday-crab-caprese-pasta%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Karen Ullo](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/KAREN%20ULLO.png) ### [Karen Ullo](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/karen-ullo) Karen Ullo is the multi-award-winning author of *Jennifer the Damned, Cinder Allia,* and *To Crown with Liberty*. She’s also the editorial director of [Chrism Press](http://www.chrismpress.com), wife, mom of two boys, and a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Find her on the web at [KarenUllo.com](http://www.karenullo.com). ## Related Blog Articles [ Special Solemnity Meals: Easy Chicken Parmesan Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/special-solemnity-meals-easy-chicken-parmesan) [ Celebrate a Solemnity Friday with Pico Chicken Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/celebrate-a-solemnity-friday-with-pico-chicken) [ Meatless Friday: Crustless Crab Quiche Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/meatless-friday-crustless-crab-quiche) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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