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This King Crab Louie Salad is a lighter version of the classic Crab Louie, and is topped with steamed king crab and a spicy yogurt dressing.
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5 from 7 votes

Crab Louie Salad with King Crab

This King Crab Louie Salad is a lighter version of the classic Crab Louie, and is topped with steamed king crab and a spicy yogurt dressing.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Main Course, Salad
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 300kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound King Crab Legs See Recipe Notes
  • 4 ounces Fresh spinach
  • 1 Romaine heart, roughly chopped
  • 4 boiled eggs (or more if desired), halved
  • 1 large tomato, diced (or more if desired)
  • 1 avocado, cut into slices
  • 6 asparagus stalks, raw, cut into 2" pieces (Optional)
  • 2 lemons, quartered

Spicy Yogurt Dressing:

  • ½ cup plain yogurt
  • ½ lemon, juiced
  • 1 tablespoon capers
  • 1 tablespoon horseradish root, freshly grated (or sub prepared)
  • 1 teaspoon tomato paste
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt (to taste)

Instructions

Steaming the Crab Legs:

  • Start with a stockpot large enough to hold all the crab legs.  (If the legs just barely stick out of the top of the pot, you can still use the pot.)  Fill the pot with about ½" water, and bring water to a boil over medium-high heat.
  • Add a steamer basket to the pot.  Set the crab legs inside the pot, and cover with a lid.  (If the legs stick out of the pot slightly, and prevent the lid from sealing, use a piece of aluminum foil as a lid and pinch it against the pot to create a sealed environment.)
  • Steam the crab legs 4-6 minutes total for thawed crab legs or 10-11 minutes total for frozen legs.
  • Carefully remove crab legs from the pot using tongs, and rinse the legs with cold water.

Removing Crab Meat:

  • Use a crab cracker to remove crab meat from shells, or use a chef's knife and kitchen shears.  (Check the Recipe Notes for a tutorial link.)

Spicy Yogurt Sauce:

  • Add all the sauce ingredients together, and stir.  Salt to taste.   (This dressing is thick, allowing it to work as both a dressing and a sauce to dip the crab into. If you prefer a thinner dressing, add more lemon juice.)

Assemble the Salad:

  • (Optional): Bring a small pot of water to a boil.  Blanch asparagus for 1 minute or less, until bright green.  Drain water, and set asparagus aside.
  • Toss together the romaine hearts and spinach. Use the lettuce as a base for the salad, and then add the tomatoes, avocado, boiled eggs, asparagus, and crab. Serve with limes and the avocado dressing.

Video

Notes

Crab is typically sold either pre-cooked or alive.  This recipe assumes that you are using pre-cooked King crab legs.
Need more help prepping the crab? Learn more here: How to Steam + Crack Crab Legs
Prepare Crab Ahead of Time: Crab can be steamed and removed from shells ahead of time.  Store in the fridge and use meat within 3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 300kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 215mg | Potassium: 1040mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 6070IU | Vitamin C: 66.7mg | Calcium: 184mg | Iron: 3.8mg