Crab Cocktail
A lump of delicious tender crab meat, wrapped in a creamy sauce, is what crab cocktail dreams are made of.
This classic cocktail-hour appetizer is nothing more than a mix of crab meat and a creamy mayonnaise-based sauce, with crispy lettuce bedding underneath it all.
Making a crab cocktail with creamy mayonnaise sauce at home, rather than ordering one at a restaurant, will guarantee that you have a refreshing appetizer with the freshest ingredients.
A perfect crab cocktail comes down to nailing a few key points: buying the quality crab meat, choosing the right mayonnaise, and chilling the entire appetizer.
The ideal way to serve a crab cocktail is chilled with some lemon wedges and toasted bread on the side.
Which Crab Meat To Use
Canned, fresh, frozen – with so many options, you are probably wondering which one is the right. Well, the right answer is that they are all right, as long as we are talking about quality crab.
With so many categories and subcategories, crabmeat can be categorized into five grades or groupings:
- Colossal lump and jumbo lump crabmeat – These are known as super jumbo chunks of meat that are connected to swimmer fins. There are only two of these muscles per crab, which is why it is so expensive. This crab meat is delicious to dip into something, and because it’s so pricey, I do not recommend this recipe.
- Lump crabmeat – This consists of broken jumbo lumps and large chunks of body meat. It is less expensive than the colossal or jumbo grades, but it still has a bright color and superb flavor. Lump crabmeat is best for fancy, impression-making dishes where appearance matters, like poached crab or crab dishes where you want big, fork-friendly chunks.
- Backfin crabmeat – This grade is made up of smaller, broken chunks of meat, mixed in with flakes of the white body. It is less expensive than lump crabmeat but has good flavor and enough texture to look appealing in dishes, like crab salads, crab cocktails, and pasta dishes. I went with this type for the crab cocktail.
- Special claw crab meat – Special grades consist of smallish flakes taken from the body cavity. This is also a great choice for crab salad.
- Claw crabmeat – This is the least expensive, but most flavorful. This meat is great for soups, tacos, and stir-fries.
Star Flavors Of A Crab Cocktail
This crab cocktail is the most delicious appetizer I have tried recently. It is very easy to make and requires simple ingredients, besides the crab meat, that you already have in your pantry.
The flavors of the crab cocktail are refreshing, with lemon juice, finely chopped shallots, dill, and creamy mayonnaise. The crab meat enriches all of it, turning this simple-to-make appetizer into a gourmet treat.
This crab cocktail is best served chilled over crispy lettuce.
Choosing Lettuce
For this recipe, choose any type of lettuce, but know that firm and crispy lettuce works the best.
I usually choose gem lettuce or iceberg, but the core of butterhead lettuce will work too. Just look for crispier parts that will hold well and give some crunchiness to your crab cocktail.
What Does This Recipe Involve?
This crab cocktail is very easy to make. You just have to make a creamy base, starting with mayonnaise, tomato paste, parsley, and dill.
Once you have a mixture, stir in chopped shallots and crab meat. Make sure to combine these thoroughly, but still gently to prevent the crab meat from falling apart.
Season the lettuce with lemon juice, salt, and pepper, and toss to combine. Divide the lettuce between two serving bowls, and top with the crab meat mixture.
To chill the crab meat, I advise you to do it separately before placing it on the lettuce. Although being a crisper salad, it still may become soggy if refrigerated with the cab meat.
Crab Cocktail Recipe
Preparation time: 5 minutes + chilling time
Servings: 2
Ingredients
- 6 oz crab meat
- 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp tomato paste
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
- Chopped dill, as desired
- 1 lemon, cut into quarters
- 1 baby gem lettuce, shredded
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, tomato paste, parsley, dill, shallot, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
2. Gently stir in the crab meat, making sure not to break it apart.
3. Chill the crab mixture for 20 minutes.
4. To serve, place the lettuce in a bowl. Squeeze 2 lemon wedges over the lettuce and season it with salt.
5. Toss to combine and divide the lettuce between two serving glasses or bowls.
6. Top the lettuce with crab meat mixture.
7. Serve with lemon wedges on side.
Crab Cocktail
A fresh and zesty crab cocktail that makes the perfect quick appetizer!
Ingredients
- 6 oz crab meat
- 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp tomato paste
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
- Chopped dill, as desired
- 1 lemon, cut into quarters
- 1 baby gem lettuce, shredded
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, tomato paste, parsley, dill, shallot, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Gently stir in the crab meat, making sure not to break it apart.
- Chill the crab mixture for 20 minutes.
- To serve, place the lettuce in a bowl. Squeeze 2 lemon wedges over the lettuce and season it with salt.
- Toss to combine and divide the lettuce between two serving glasses or bowls.
- Top the lettuce with crab meat mixture.
- Serve with lemon wedges on side.
