Skip to main content

Sweet and Sour Crab Salad

4.3

(7)

A slightly tart dressing and a perfectly crisp-sweet cucumber salad are wonderful foils for rich, meaty chunks of crab.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    30 min

  • Yield

    Makes 4 to 6 (first course) servings

Ingredients

For dressing:

1/2 cup rice-wine vinegar (not seasoned)
2 tablespoon sugar
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon hot red-pepper flakes

For salad:

1/2 seedless cucumber
1 pound king crab legs, thawed if frozen
1/2 pound Napa cabbage, cored and thinly sliced (4 cups)
1/3 cup torn basil leaves
1/3 cup torn mint leaves
1/3 cup torn cilantro leaves

Equipment:

an adjustable-blade slicer fitted with 1/4-inch julienne blade

Preparation

  1. Make dressing:

    Step 1

    Bring vinegar and sugar to a boil in a small nonreactive saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in garlic, red-pepper flakes, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cool to room temperature

  2. Make salad while dressing cools:

    Step 2

    Using slicer, cut cucumber lengthwise into long julienne strips, slicing until you reach core, then rotate cucumber a quarter turn and continue slicing and rotating until left with nothing but core. Discard core and pat cucumber strips dry.

    Step 3

    Cut through crab shells with kitchen shears. Remove and coarsely shred meat.

    Step 4

    Toss crabmeat with cucumber, remaining ingredients, dressing, and salt to taste.

Read More
Like airy lemon chiffon cake and a Cadbury egg–inspired tart.
A warmly spiced Ashkenazi charoset, perfect for your Passover seder—or spooned over yogurt the next morning.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
Like a cucumber-cilantro chutney sandwich and scallop piccata.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Use this simple vinaigrette to dress a plate of greens, some steamed potatoes, or anything else that strikes your fancy.
Think a Hugo spritz, a gin basil smash, and plenty more patio-ready pours.
A why-didn't-I-think-of-that technique takes this classic from great to greater.