French Friday with Dorie
This week's recipe was not one I was particularly looking forward to making, not because I don't care for crab, because I do, but the combination of crab and grapefruit together did not appeal to me. However, I should have expected by now that when I feel this way about one of Dorie's recipes I usually end up liking it far more than I expected. It was certainly the case with this salad.
I haven't had ruby grapefruit in a very long time, so when we were at Trader Joe's a few days ago I bought a bag of them. I'm really glad I did because John has eaten almost all of them. I also bought my lump crab there and at $8.99 for 8 oz. I decided that it would be plenty for the two of us. I had some red bell pepper in the freezer, so I let it thaw, chopped a few slices, and added it to the salad along with a seeded cucumber, a seeded and minced serrano pepper and a scallion. I mixed in a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and a tablespoon of grapefruit juice, along with some salt and white pepper and gently tossed the salad.
I shook a few drops of Tabasco sauce on top and garnished with spearmint leaves.
The Tabasco and serrano pepper gave the salad just the right amount of heat and was a perfect balance to the cold crab meat and tart grapefruit. John really enjoyed it and said it reminded him of Mexican shrimp cocktail. He added more Tabasco sauce to his. I was really surprised at how much I liked this. It was cool and refreshing and for me it was a complete meal. This would be a perfect salad to serve on a hot summer day.
Visit French Fridays with Dorie to check out the other crab and grapefruit salads.
The combination sounds weird but you're right, Dorie never disappoints me either!
ReplyDeleteI often find the same, the recipes which I am not looking forward to often turn out to be the best ones. Go figure. Sadly, I was not a huge fan of this one, maybe because I was looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteVery unusual combination of flavors, but it looks so fresh and mouthwatering that I think I am going to give this a try!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you liked it. I enjoyed this too, which surprised me.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you loved this one, too...perfect for spring :) Have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteOh...I think I will be making this next week! It looks so tasty!
ReplyDeleteIt is reminiscent of a Mexican shrimp cocktail--especially if you make it with shrimp!
ReplyDeleteElaine, I also approached this one with a bit of trepidation! I was pleasantly surprised! I’m sure it will make many appearances on our table over the spring and summer! Yours looks so lovely! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear you enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteIt looks lovely - and the blue props in the picture help bring out all the pasted colors in the salad.
Pastel, not pasted!
DeleteI really like your mint garnish, your photos came out great. I also like the tabasco idea. I didn't know you could freeze red peppers - great to know! Glad you both enjoyed this.
ReplyDeleteI too was surprised by how good this salad is. The combo of crab and grapefruit did not sound very appetizing, but I learned something new...this is a great salad and really is quite elegant. Wasn't it fun to add some "heat" to this mix? It came together well and my family wants this one again.
ReplyDeleteThe TJs crabmeat portion size and price sounds almost reasonable... how I love and miss that store! I'm glad this was a hit for you and John. I will be likely going to Mexico for a wedding in late summer and would love to find some shrimp cocktail like the one you describe.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous salad indeed and so glad you enjoyed it even though the combination of ingredient did not initially appeal. You got a good deal on the crabmeat. I miss Trader Joe's. ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Elaine, I am posting here because I can't find a contact address for you. I am taking a bus tour through California and parts of Arizona and Nevada in June, and if you are along the way (I have some free days on the tour), I would love to catch up with you then. I don't want to post my email address here, but my comments are moderated (ie no-one sees them until I release them), so if you would like to catch up if possible, please leave me a comment with your email address (which I will copy down and not publish). Cheers, Gaye (Laws of the Kitchen)
ReplyDeleteLooks great! I miss Trader Joe's. If I made this again, I'd add some tabasco to try to amp up the heat factor a bit. I played it pretty safe this time around.
ReplyDeleteYour salad looks really tasty, even with the grapefruit! Yum!
ReplyDeleteLooks delicious! We are having ours tonight and I can't wait. I have been debating whether or not to add the Tabasco, but you make it sound like a good addition, so I think I will.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it just a perfect summer salad?? :) Your photos are great too!
ReplyDeleteAlice @ http://acookingmizer.wordpress.com
What a unqique but awesome salad combo :D
ReplyDeleteI may not be able to eat it but lots of people will love it!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I totally agree with John. This was like Mexican shrimp cocktail. I added avocado and cilantro which made it seem even more so. I love when a Dorie recipe surprises me, so it's nice to hear this one did that for you. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteElaine, I think we all were surprised with how much we liked this salad. It does need a "pow", I think, and I like your choices for that tasty and spicy punch. Mary
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have picked this one either, but I'm glad you liked it. Your grapefruit looks gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI wish I had like this more because the idea of it is so appealing!! It does seem like the perfect Summer salad. I just have to find a way to boost the flavor a bit.
ReplyDeleteActually a little more tabasco would have been fine, I liked the heat, too. Looks refreshing!
ReplyDeleteI'm in catch up mode - thanks for the reminder that TJ's has the lump crab. The photos are really great - so fresh and light looking. Can't wait to try this one.
ReplyDelete