Zesty Ocean Delight: Ina Garten’s Crab Meat Salad Recipe
Summer’s bounty sparkles with this delightful Ina Garten crab meat salad that promises pure coastal elegance.
Fresh ingredients dance together in a symphony of flavors and textures.
Delicate crab meat shines as the star of this simple yet sophisticated dish.
Light, zesty, and incredibly satisfying, this salad brings ocean-fresh charm to your table.
Each bite delivers a perfect balance of herbs and seafood freshness.
The recipe captures Garten’s style of effortless gourmet cooking.
You’ll fall in love with this refreshing summer classic that elevates any meal from ordinary to extraordinary.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Calories: 295 kcal
Servings: 4
Ingredients List for Ina Garten’s Crab Meat Salad
For Protein Base:For Fresh Crunch:For Creamy Dressing:For Seasoning:Tools That Help You Build a Flawless Crab Salad
Building Ina’s Salad Step by Step
Fresh crabmeat, crisp vegetables, and zesty herbs come together for a delightful summer salad that feels like a coastal breeze.
Whisk together creamy condiments and bright citrus notes to create a luxurious dressing that will elevate the delicate crab.
Softly fold the dressing into the seafood mixture, allowing each morsel to be kissed with tangy, rich flavors without overwhelming the delicate crab.
Chill the salad to let the flavors meld and marry, then serve on a cool bed of greens or tucked into a golden toasted roll for a refreshing meal that transports you to a seaside cafe.
Simple Variations for Adding Brightness or Crunch
Serve Up Ina’s Crab Salad the Refreshing Way
Chill, Pack, or Plate: Storage Tips for This Dish
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Elegant Crab Meat Salad Recipe
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
Ina Garten’s classic crab meat salad blends delicate seafood with crisp vegetables and a light, zesty dressing. Coastal flavors shine through in this elegant dish perfect for summer gatherings or elegant lunch plates.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) jumbo lump crabmeat
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) sour cream
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) mayonnaise
- 4 tsp fresh chives, finely sliced
- 1 tsp fresh tarragon leaves, minced
- 1 tsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- ½ tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 stalk celery, peeled and cut into 1/8-inch (3 mm) dice
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Black pepper, freshly ground, to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Carefully deconstruct the crabmeat into gossamer-like flakes within a spacious mixing vessel, eliminating any substantial fragments.
- Vegetable Preparation: Transform celery into precise, uniform miniature cubes, creating a symphony of crisp textural elements and subtle garden-fresh notes.
- Herb Integration: Delicately transform chives and tarragon into ethereal ribbons, ensuring comprehensive aromatic distribution throughout the maritime composition.
- Dressing Composition: Harmonize mayonnaise, sour cream, freshly extracted citrus essence, and Dijon mustard within an intimate mixing receptacle, whisking until a seamless, silken emulsion emerges.
- Fusion Process: Tenderly incorporate the vibrant dressing into the marine mixture, employing a gentle folding technique that preserves the crabmeat’s delicate architectural integrity.
- Seasoning Refinement: Elevate the profile with judicious application of kosher salt and freshly crushed black pepper, calibrating flavors to achieve a nuanced gastronomic experience.
- Flavor Maturation: Encase the culinary creation within a protective membrane and allow it to rest in the refrigerator’s cool embrace, permitting flavor complexities to intertwine and deepen.
- Presentation: Artfully cascade the chilled nautical delicacy atop golden-toasted brioche or create an elegant landscape of crisp, verdant salad greens.
Notes
- Freshness First: Use high-quality, fresh lump crabmeat for the most delicate and sweet flavor profile.
- Gentle Mixing Technique: Fold ingredients softly to maintain the delicate texture of the crabmeat and prevent breaking.
- Chill for Flavor Fusion: Refrigerate the salad briefly to allow herbs and dressing to harmonize and enhance overall taste.
- Serving Suggestions: Opt for toasted brioche rolls or crisp greens to complement the rich, creamy crab mixture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 295
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
Sophia Rivera
Recipe Developer & Kitchen Tips Specialist
Expertise
Education
Austin Community College
San Antonio Culinary Institute
Sophia’s passion for baking began in her family kitchen, where she spent hours experimenting with new recipes. With a background in baking and pastry arts, she loves making desserts that are as visually stunning as they are delicious.
Sophia is all about using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients to create treats that everyone will enjoy. When she’s not creating mouth-watering desserts, you can find her gardening, making new recipes, or enjoying a relaxing afternoon with her family.