Layered Dungeness Crab Salad Food

LAYERED DUNGENESS CRAB SALAD

Steps:

• Place lettuce in bottom of glass serving bowl. top with half the crab, bell pepper, celery, onions, and eggs, arranging ingredients in a single layer. Top with half the dressing. Repeat layers. Top with remaining dressing. DO NOT STIR. Cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours before serving.

DUNGENESS CRAB AND FENNEL SALAD WITH CREAMY LIME DRESSING

Steps:

• Halve fennel lengthwise (or quarter if large) and discard core, then shave fennel lengthwise as thinly as possible using slicer. Soak sliced fennel in a bowl of ice and cold water until it is crisp, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Blend all dressing ingredients, except oils, with 1/2 teaspoon salt in a blender at high speed until combined. With blender still on high, add oils in a slow stream thourough top hole, blending until emulsified. Season with salt and white pepper.
• Drain fennel and pat dry, then toss with crabmeat and dressing. Divide spinach among 4 plates and top with crab salad.

DUNGENESS CRAB SALAD WITH AVOCADO, BEETS, CRèME FRAîCHE, AND LIME

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Cut the leaves from the beets, leaving 1 inch of stem still attached. (Save the greens for another dish.) Clean the beets well, and toss them with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt. Place the beets in a roasting pan with a splash of water in the bottom. Cover with foil, and roast 30 to 40 minutes, until tender when pierced. (The roasting time will depend on the size and type of beet.) When the beets are done, carefully remove the foil. Let cool, and peel the beets by slipping off the skins with your fingers. Cut the beets into 1/2-inch wedges. Toss them in a medium bowl with 1 tablespoon olive oil, a generous squeeze of lemon juice, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Taste for seasoning.
• While the beets are in the oven, combine the shallots, jalapeños, lime juice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl, and let sit 5 minutes. Whisk in 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil. Taste for balance and seasoning.
• Cut the avocados in half lengthwise, remove the pit, and peel. Cut into 1/4-inch slices, and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and freshly ground black pepper. Fan the avocado slices on one side of a chilled platter. Place the beets on the other side, and arrange the watercress in the center.
• Toss the crab gently with two-thirds of the jalapeño-lime vinaigrette, the parsley, and the cilantro in a large bowl. Taste the crab, and season with more salt or lime if you like. Pile the crab on the watercress, and top with the crème fraîche. Sprinkle a little cracked black pepper over the crème fraîche, and drizzle a little more vinaigrette over the avocado.