Dungeness Crab Salad

The crab that walks too far falls into the pot.
— Haitian Proverb

Dungeness Crab Salad

It's been one of those weeks. The kind where everything that can go wrong does.  Trying to keep up that positive attitude all the while dealing with a gas leak in the house that no one seems to be able come and fix.

 It's funny how such a small thing can effect so much of your life.  So I don't have hot water, or a stove top, or heat it's not all bad I can deal. 

Then throw  in getting a cold, and food poisoning to the mix and well it just seemed to go downhill from there.

 I was beginning to go on that downward path of poor me, you know the one that one gets from time to time. 

 Then I started thinking I can manage there, has got to be something good to come out of this.  It's funny how just when you think no one cares little things come your way.

  • I got a Starbucks card from a friend.
  • I helped someone learn some new things.
  • Neighbors offered their hot showers as needed.
  • A friend stopped by with a bottle of homemade coffee liquor.
  •  Someone mentioned how much I had been missed while I was at home dealing with the cold.
  • Amazon Prime rescued us with a new electric heater that is here to stay and is even chic and stylish.
  • My sweetie offered to cook on the grill even in the cold.  

The list seems little but it was all BIG to me.

 It was what I needed, just a reminder that sometimes things seem insurmountable and overwhelming and then someone does something kind, or offers a smile and you think okay, I am gonna be okay.  Tomorrow will be a better day.

 So if your are hating life today cause it's Monday I'm sorry, cause this is my Monday. 

It is the Monday that I have been waiting for, cause:

my Gas Leak is going to be found,

the repair is going to happen

and...

I am going to once again have hot water. 🚿 Hallelujah!

 It's the little things that I am thankful for today and I am going to try to keep in mind for the next time that it's one of those,... weeks.

 I hope you do too.  And if your week or month is already  amazing then I am happy for you too.  If it's not here is a little kindness being sent your way.🌷  

Oh and a crab salad that doesn't need to be cooked with a gas stove, ♨️ just saying....😉

Happy Eating! Dungeness Love!

Ingredients

Adapted from

Vinaigrette

  • 1 garlic clove, micro-microplane grated or minced 
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1-2 Tbsp Sugar to taste
  • 3 Tbsp Olive oil
  • 1/2 cup grain course- grain dark mustard
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh dill for vinaigrette and more to top salad
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Squirt of lemon juice

Salad

  • 1 head of Bibb Lettuce-washed and lightly chopped
  • 2 Whole Dungeness crabs pre-cooked cleaned and crab meat removed

Instructions

Step 1

Buy Dungeness Crabs from a reputable source (avoid anywhere the crab smells like ammonia) and ask them to open the crabs and clean them.  You will still be pulling the meat out of the crab but it will take less times than doing everything.  The best part of this salad is you can clean the crabs early in the day and have the crab meat and dressing prepped and ready to go. Remove the crab meat and for extra tips on how to do so check out this video by a Seattle Chef who made a lentil dish for my food styling class where I learned  and share many tips right here on the blog.

Step 2

Grate the garlic on a microplane if you own one (I like this one) directly into a bowl or even a mason jar to make it easy for storing. Add the cider vinegar, sugar, and grain mustard and either whisk together or shake in the jar.  Next add the olive oil slowly whisking into vinegar so that it emulsifies or add to jar and shake.  Add fresh dill if eating immediately, if not add to dressing before eating salad. Salt and pepper to taste and whisk all together or shake jar.

Step 3

Lightly chop bibb lettuce prior to serving and dress with vinaigrette in a bowl.  Top with fresh crab, squirt of lemon and a little more fresh dill. 

Enjoy the salty fresh taste of crab mixed with the mustard vinaigrette and light lettuce leaves.  It is a started to any meal or a fresh dinner all on its own.

Tips

  • Enjoy with a glass of Viognier or better yet Champagne!  Splurge a little!
  • Heavy crab is better...lift it up and if it feels heavy it's a keeper
  • Don't buy a crab with a missing leg...you want it to have all it's body parts so you know it was not overcooked