Hello, Good News! Welcome to another article where we share with you some amazing recipes that you can try at home. Today, we are going to show you how to make a crab tower, a delicious and elegant appetizer that will impress your guests and family.
A crab tower is a layered salad that consists of fresh crab meat, avocado, mango, and other ingredients that are molded into a tower shape. It is served cold and garnished with sprouts, herbs, or sauces. It is a light and refreshing dish that is perfect for summer or any special occasion.
What You Need to Make a Crab Tower
To make a crab tower, you will need some basic tools and ingredients. Here is a list of what you will need:
Tools
You will need a 3-inch-wide round biscuit cutter or a wide-mouth mason jar lid to shape the tower. You will also need a small whisk, a mixing bowl, a slotted spoon, and a salad plate for each serving.
Ingredients
The main ingredient for a crab tower is crab meat. You can use fresh or canned crab meat, but make sure it is lump or jumbo lump crab meat, which has the best texture and flavor. You will need about 12 ounces of crab meat for six servings.
For the avocado layer, you will need three ripe avocados, lime juice, salt, pepper, and ground coriander. For the mango layer, you will need one and a half cups of diced mango, half a cup of diced tomato, a quarter cup of diced cucumber, two tablespoons of diced red onion, two tablespoons of lime juice, and two tablespoons of chopped cilantro. For the dressing, you will need three tablespoons of olive oil, one tablespoon of white wine vinegar, one teaspoon of Dijon mustard, and two tablespoons of mayonnaise.
How to Make a Crab Tower
Making a crab tower is easy and fun. Here are the steps to follow:
Step 1: Make the Dressing
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, and mustard. This is the base for the dressing. Then, in another small bowl, mix three tablespoons of the dressing with the mayonnaise and the lemon zest. This is the dressing for the crab meat layer.
Step 2: Make the Crab Meat Layer
In a medium bowl, toss the crab meat with the dressing and mayonnaise mixture. Make sure to coat the crab meat well and gently break up any large chunks. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Step 3: Make the Mango Layer
In another medium bowl, combine the mango, tomato, cucumber, onion, lime juice, and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Step 4: Make the Avocado Layer
In a small bowl, mash the avocados with a fork until slightly chunky. Add the lime juice, salt, pepper, and coriander and mix well. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Step 5: Assemble the Tower
To assemble the tower, place a biscuit cutter or a mason jar lid in the center of a salad plate. Press 1/4 cup of the avocado mixture into the bottom of the cutter using the back of a spoon. Lift the cutter slightly up and press 1/4 cup of the crab meat mixture on top of the avocado layer. Lift the cutter again and press 1/4 cup of the mango mixture on top of the crab meat layer. Gently lift the cutter up and away from the plate to reveal the tower. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make six towers.
Step 6: Garnish and Serve
Garnish each tower with some sprouts or herbs of your choice. You can also drizzle some extra dressing or sauce around each tower if you like. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.
A Table Breakdown Related to Crab Tower Recipe
To help you understand more about this recipe, here is a table breakdown that shows some information related to crab tower:
| Information | Details |
| — | — |
| Serving size | One tower |
| Calories | 320 kcal |
| Fat | 24 g |
| Carbohydrates | 19 g |
| Protein | 14 g |
| Difficulty level | Easy |
| Preparation time | 30 minutes |
| Cooking time | None |
| Total time | 30 minutes |
| Cuisine | American |
| Course | Appetizer |
| Main ingredient | Crab meat |
FAQs About Crab Tower Recipe
What kind of crab meat should I use for this recipe?
You should use lump or jumbo lump crab meat, which has the best texture and flavor. You can use fresh or canned crab meat, but make sure to drain and pat dry the canned crab meat before using it.
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
You can make the dressing, the crab meat layer, the mango layer, and the avocado layer ahead of time and refrigerate them separately until ready to use. However, you should assemble the tower right before serving to prevent the avocado from browning and the layers from sliding off.
Can I substitute or add other ingredients to this recipe?
You can customize this recipe according to your preference and availability of ingredients. For example, you can substitute or add other fruits or vegetables to the mango layer, such as pineapple, peach, apple, bell pepper, or corn. You can also substitute or add other herbs or spices to the dressing or the layers, such as basil, mint, parsley, dill, cumin, or paprika.
What kind of sauce can I serve with this recipe?
You can serve this recipe with any sauce that you like or that complements the flavors of the ingredients. Some examples are cocktail sauce, tartar sauce, aioli, chile oil, or basil oil. You can also drizzle some extra dressing over the tower if you like.
How do I store and reheat leftovers of this recipe?
You should store any leftovers of this recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. To reheat, you can microwave them for a few seconds or until warm. However, keep in mind that the texture and appearance of the tower may change after reheating.
What are some benefits of eating crab meat?
Crab meat is a good source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, zinc, copper, and vitamin B12. These nutrients can help support your immune system, brain function, heart health, skin health, and metabolism.
What are some tips for buying and handling crab meat?
If you are buying fresh crab meat, look for bright and moist meat that smells fresh and sweet. Avoid any meat that looks dry or discolored or smells fishy or sour. If you are buying canned crab meat, check the expiration date and choose a reputable brand. Store fresh or canned crab meat in the refrigerator and use it within two days.
How do I prevent the avocado from browning?
To prevent the avocado from browning, you should add some lime juice to it and mix well. Lime juice contains citric acid that can slow down the oxidation process that causes browning. You should also cover the avocado mixture with plastic wrap and press it directly onto the surface to prevent air exposure.
How do I cut a mango?
To cut a mango, you should first peel it with a vegetable peeler or a knife. Then, slice off the two sides of the mango along the flat seed in the center. Cut each side into cubes or strips as desired. You can also cut off any remaining flesh around the seed.
How do I make a biscuit cutter or a mason jar lid?
If you don’t have a biscuit cutter or a mason jar lid, you can make one by using a clean metal can with both ends removed. You can use any size of can that is about 3 inches wide. Just make sure to smooth out any sharp edges before using it.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this article on how to make a crab tower. This is a delicious and elegant appetizer that will wow your guests and family. It is easy to make and requires no cooking. It is also light and refreshing and perfect for summer or any special occasion.
If you liked this article, please check out our other articles where we share more amazing recipes with you. You can also leave us a comment below and let us know what you think of this recipe or if you have any questions. Thank you for reading and happy cooking!