In the heart of San Francisco, a culinary masterpiece emerged at the turn of the 20th century, captivating the city's epicureans with its delightful symphony of flavors. Crab Louis, a dish born from the culinary genius of San Francisco's finest restaurants, has since ascended to become a beloved classic, celebrated for its exquisite combination of succulent crab, tangy dressing, and a chorus of crisp vegetables, all harmoniously arranged on a bed of crisp lettuce. This iconic dish has inspired numerous variations, each paying homage to the original while adding unique twists that reflect the culinary diversity of the city. From the classic Crab Louis, adorned with a rich, creamy dressing, to innovative renditions featuring avocado, bacon, and even a hint of spice, this article presents a collection of delectable recipes that capture the essence of this San Francisco treasure. Explore the culinary journey of Crab Louis, and discover the perfect recipe to tantalize your taste buds and transport you to the vibrant culinary scene of San Francisco.
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
CRAB LOUIS
This is a chilled salad invented by a Seattle chef-and I feel like that makes sense. It had to be a chef that had a ton of fresh seafood around that would create a dish like this. Honestly, it's a bit elaborate, but it's wonderful because it manages to be both casual and fancy at the same time. The sauce has a tingle of heat and some sweetness, too. It's almost like a slightly creamy cousin of shrimp cocktail, but with crabmeat.
Provided by Alex Guarnaschelli
Categories appetizer
Time 35m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Make the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, chili sauce, sour cream, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, half the scallions and a pinch of salt. Taste for seasoning.
- For the crab: Spread the crab out on a rimmed baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with the remaining scallions and half the chives. Drizzle with the sauce to taste. Do not mix.
- To plate: Arrange the lettuce leaves as cups in a circle on a large plate. Disperse the tomatoes around the lettuce. Spoon some of the crab into each lettuce cup. Top each cup with an egg quarter and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with the remaining chives and a squeeze of lemon. Hold in the refrigerator until ready to serve and enjoy cold.
CRAB LOUIS
Steps:
- Make dressing:
- Whisk together mayonnaise, chili sauce, scallion, green olives, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, bottled horseradish, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Pick over crabmeat, then divide among 4 plates lined with shredded iceberg lettuce. Garnish with capers and wedges of tomato, hard-boiled egg, and lemon and serve with dressing.
CRAB LOUIS
Steps:
- On 4 luncheon-size plates, make beds of lettuce. Mound crab on top. Combine dressing ingredients and spoon over crab, then garnish each plate with tomatoes and hard-cooked eggs.
NEW CRAB LOUIS
Crab Louis is a rather perfect meal for a summer night, particularly in this slimmed down, very homemade, ketchup-less version. With nothing processed or sweetened, an updated Crab Louis is simply good American crab, Little Gem- or Boston Bibb-lettuce, and pickle- and caper-studded mayonnaise whisked from olive oil and the best, richest-yolked eggs you can find. The effect is as straightforward as the original's, but the details are resolutely contemporary.
Provided by Tamar Adler
Categories salads and dressings, main course
Time 45m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Wash the lettuce, and dry in a salad spinner and on dish towels. Chill.
- Peel the cucumber skin in stripes, then halve lengthwise, and seed with a spoon. Cut into bite-size pieces. Drizzle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and the sherry or vinegar, and leave to marinate.
- Bring 4 eggs to a boil, covered, in cold water. Once the water boils, turn off the heat, and leave the eggs sitting covered, 5 to 6 minutes, depending on egg size, for them to just set with the tiniest softness in the middle. Drain immediately, and leave in very cold water for a few minutes. Peel.
- Make a damp dish towel into a ring on the kitchen table. Set a medium, round bottomed mixing bowl in it. Separate the final egg yolk. (Reserve the egg white to add to an omelet.) Whisk together the yolk, mustard, 1/4 teaspoon salt and lemon juice well. After about 5 seconds of whisking, begin to add the oil, drop by drop. Once the mayonnaise begins to thicken, start adding oil more quickly. Whisk in all of the oil, adding drops of water, if needed, to get it to a consistency just looser than store-bought mayonnaise.
- In a small bowl, drizzle chopped shallot with a little lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Using a mortar and pestle or the side of a large chef's knife, pound garlic to a paste with the last ΒΌ teaspoon salt. Add to mayonnaise. Add chopped pickles and capers. Add the reserved shallots. Mix well, and taste for salt. Refrigerate, covered, if not using immediately.
- Lay leaves of lettuce in a lightly piled layer on dinner plates. Drain the cucumbers, and divide between plates. Halve or quarter eggs, and divide among plates, salting each lightly. Divide crab among salads. Shake hot sauce directly over the crab on each plate, as liberally as you like. Dollop each salad with dressing, mostly on crab, but allowed to cascade. Finish with a little crunchy salt, if using, and chopped chives or chive blossoms. Add any additional vegetables before the crab. Serve any remaining dressing on the side. Eat cold.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 266, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 13 grams, Fat 10 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 30 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 1060 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams
CRAB LOUIS
"I make this salad when it's hot outside and we're looking for something quick and simple for dinner," says Gail VanGundy. The Parker, Colorado cook likes to serve hers with butter crackers.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 15m
Yield 2 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Divide the salad greens, crab, tomatoes, eggs and olives between two serving plates. In a small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients; drizzle over salads.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 288 calories, Fat 13g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 293mg cholesterol, Sodium 950mg sodium, Carbohydrate 17g carbohydrate (11g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 26g protein.
CRAB LOUIS (RECIPE ORIGINATED IN SAN FRANCISCO MAN
Steps:
- 1. Line salad bowl or 4 serving plates with butter lettuce leaves. Put shredded lettuce on top of leaves. Mound crab on top of lettuce.
- 2. Slice 2 hard cooked eggs and arrange with tomato wedges around crab. Rice remaining eggs or put through a sieve and sprinkle over crab with chopped chives. Season to taste with salt. Pour dressing over salad. Garnish with olives
- 3. Louis Dressing: 2 cups mayonnaise 1 cup chili sauce 1/2 tsp. tarragon vinegar 1/2 tsp. prepared horseradish 1 tsp. Worcestershire 1/4 cup chopped green pepper 1/4 cup chopped pimiento Salt and pepper Mix mayonnaise. chili sauce, vinegar, horseradish, Worcestershire, green pepper and pimiento. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir well. Chill covered. Makes about 3 1/2 cups dressing Salad serves 4 My Old Recipes
CRAB LOUIS
I love Crab Louis and this version from Sunset Favorite Recipes sounds good. Times do not include cooking the crab or eggs.
Provided by lazyme
Categories Salad Dressings
Time 15m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Mix together the mayonnaise, whipped cream, chile sauce, green pepper, and green onion.
- Season with salt and lemon juice to taste.
- Arrange outer leaves of lettuce on 4 large plates; shred the heart of the lettuce and arrange a bed of shredded lettuce in the center of the leaves.
- Place the body meat of the crab on the shredded lettuce.
- Cut tomatoes and eggs in sixths and arrange symmetrically around the crab.
- Pour over the Louis dressing and garnish with crab legs.
Tips:
- For the best results, use fresh crab meat. Cook your own crab or buy high-quality lump crab meat from a reputable seafood market.
- Be careful not to overcook the crab meat. Overcooked crab meat will be tough and chewy.
- If you don't have access to fresh crab meat, you can use canned crab meat. Just be sure to drain it well and flake it before using.
- Use a variety of fresh vegetables in your Crab Louis salad. This will give the salad a bright and colorful appearance.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different dressings for your Crab Louis salad. A classic Louis dressing is made with mayonnaise, ketchup, and lemon juice, but you can also try other dressings, such as a vinaigrette or a creamy dill dressing.
Conclusion:
Crab Louis is a classic San Francisco dish that is perfect for any occasion. It's a delicious and easy-to-make salad that is sure to impress your friends and family. So next time you're looking for a light and refreshing meal, give Crab Louis a try.
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