Best Dungeness Crab And Fennel Salad With Creamy Lime Dressing Recipes

Dungeness Crab Salad image

Provided by Martha Stewart

Time 25m

Number Of Ingredients 14

1/3 cup fresh lime juice (from 4 limes)
1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated peeled fresh ginger
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1 pound mixed carrots, such as Nantes and purple
1 fennel bulb, trimmed and cored
1 watermelon radish (3 ounces) or regular radishes, peeled
1/2 rutabaga, peeled
1 bunch baby Tokyo or regular turnips, peeled if needed
1 jalapeno chile, halved, seeded, and thinly sliced
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish
5 fresh mint leaves, finely chopped, plus more for garnish
Coarse salt
3/4 cup prepared or picked fresh Dungeness crabmeat (from 1 to 2 Dungeness crabs, about 1 1/2 pounds each) or lump crabmeat

Steps:

Make the dressing: Whisk together lime juice and ginger in a small bowl. Gradually whisk in oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Make the salad: Slice or shave carrots, fennel, radish, rutabaga, and turnips, preferably on a mandoline, into very thin rounds over a large bowl; toss. Add vinaigrette, jalapeno, cilantro, and mint, and toss to combine. Season with salt. Gently fold in crab. Garnish with cilantro and mint.

Crab and Fennel Salad image

Yield Makes 2 (first course) servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons mild extra-virgin olive oil
1 small fennel bulb (sometimes labeled "anise"; 6 to 8 oz), stalks cut off and discarded
1/4 lb jumbo lump crabmeat (about 1/2 cup), picked over
2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives
1 cup baby lettuces (preferably red, such as amaranth, lolla rossa, and red basil) or mâche (lamb's lettuce)
Special Equipment
an electric coffee/spice grinder; an adjustable-blade slicer; 2 (3-inch) metal entremet (pastry) rings at least 2 inches high or 2 clean empty cans with top and bottom removed

Steps:

Finely grind fennel seeds in grinder, then whisk together with salt, pepper, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Add 1 tablespoon oil in a slow stream, whisking until combined.
Shave fennel bulb with slicer crosswise into paper-thin slices until you have enough to measure 1 packed cup. (Halve bulb lengthwise if too large for slicer.) Toss with 2 teaspoons vinaigrette in another small bowl.
Toss crabmeat with chives and 1 tablespoon vinaigrette in a third small bowl.
Put each metal ring in center of a salad plate. Divide crab mixture between them, pressing down on it lightly with your fingertips.
Toss lettuces with fennel mixture and divide between rings, pressing slightly without flattening tops.
Drizzle remaining vinaigrette and remaining tablespoon oil around plates. Remove rings before serving.