Crab Louie Salad with King Crab
User Reviews
5
-
Prep Time
30 mins
-
Cook Time
15 mins
-
Total Time
45 mins
-
Servings
4 people
-
Calories
300 kcal
-
Course
Main Course, Salad
-
Cuisine
American
Crab Louie Salad with King Crab
Description
This salad begins with steaming king crab legs until heated through, then removing the meat carefully from the shells. The salad base includes fresh spinach and chopped romaine lettuce, with boiled egg halves, diced tomato, and optionally asparagus pieces. The spicy yogurt dressing is made by blending plain yogurt with lemon juice, capers, freshly grated horseradish, tomato paste, smoked paprika, and salt, yielding a thick, tangy sauce with a gentle kick.
The resulting salad presents a mixture of textures: tender crab meat, leafy greens, firm eggs, and crunchy vegetables, all tied together by the vibrant dressing. It can be served as a light lunch or an elegant starter where the fresh ingredients and seafood shine.
The crab can be prepared or purchased pre-cooked and steamed shortly before assembling the salad. The meat can be extracted and stored for up to three days refrigerated. This dish benefits from fresh, high-quality crab and well-seasoned dressing to balance flavors.
Ingredients
- 1 pound king crab legs See Recipe Notes
- 4 ounces spinach fresh
- 1 romaine lettuce heart; roughly chopped
- 4 egg boiled; halved; or more if desired
- 1 tomato large; diced; or more if desired
- 1 avocado cut into slices
- 6 asparagus stalks; raw; cut into 2-inch pieces; optional
- 2 lemon quartered
Spicy Yogurt Dressing:
- ½ cup PLAIN yogurt
- ½ lemon juiced
- 1 tablespoon capers
- 1 tablespoon horseradish root freshly grated, or substitute prepared
- 1 teaspoon tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt to taste
Instructions
Steaming the Crab Legs:
- Start with a stockpot large enough to hold all the crab legs. (If the legs just barely stick out of the top of the pot, you can still use the pot.) Fill the pot with about ½" water, and bring water to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Add a steamer basket to the pot. Set the crab legs inside the pot, and cover with a lid. (If the legs stick out of the pot slightly, and prevent the lid from sealing, use a piece of aluminum foil as a lid and pinch it against the pot to create a sealed environment.)
- Steam the crab legs 4-6 minutes total for thawed crab legs or 10-11 minutes total for frozen legs.
- Carefully remove crab legs from the pot using tongs, and rinse the legs with cold water.
Removing Crab Meat:
- Use a crab cracker to remove crab meat from shells, or use a chef's knife and kitchen shears. (Check the Recipe Notes for a tutorial link.)
Spicy Yogurt Sauce:
- Add all the sauce ingredients together, and stir. Salt to taste. (This dressing is thick, allowing it to work as both a dressing and a sauce to dip the crab into. If you prefer a thinner dressing, add more lemon juice.)
Assemble the Salad:
- (Optional): Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Blanch asparagus for 1 minute or less, until bright green. Drain water, and set asparagus aside.
- Toss together the romaine hearts and spinach. Use the lettuce as a base for the salad, and then add the tomatoes, avocado, boiled eggs, asparagus, and crab. Serve with limes and the avocado dressing.
Notes
- This recipe assumes use of pre-cooked king crab legs, which can be stored refrigerated for up to 3 days after steaming and shell removal.
- Steaming crab legs briefly and removing meat carefully makes assembly easier.
- The spicy yogurt dressing is thick and flavorful; adjust seasoning to taste.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 300 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 300kcal | 15% |
| Carbohydrates | 16g | 5% |
| Protein | 10g | 20% |
| Fat | 13g | 20% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 215mg | 72% |
| Potassium | 1040mg | 22% |
| Fiber | 7g | 28% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 6070IU | 121% |
| Vitamin C | 66.7mg | 74% |
| Calcium | 184mg | 18% |
| Iron | 3.8mg | 21% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
You'll Also Love
