Easy and Elegant Crab Salad Recipe with Wine Pairing

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In an effort to elevate our staycation, we have upped our dinner game with this crab salad recipe and wine. If you want to treat yourself, this is the way to do it!

When we know that crab will grace our table in the forthcoming weekend, it is the eagerly anticipated highlight of our week. After all, if there’s one food that makes us feel special, it’s crab. At roughly $40 a pound give or take, it’s not cheap. Consequently, it’s not a seafood that we feast on regularly. Since these aren’t normal times, it’s something we now splurge on a couple of times a month. Mind you, the portions are small. However, that keeps us eagerly awaiting the next crab dinner.

The hubby is not a mayo fan, so I add just a touch to give the crab salad that rich textural element, then complement it with yogurt for some tang and mustard for a flavor boost.

Crab Salad Recipe

Serves 2

1/3 to 1/2 pound shelled crab (we use Dungeness)
1 green onion or shallot, minced
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
3 tablespoons plain yogurt
1 teaspoon minced fresh herbs such as dill, parsley, or thyme
A squeeze of lemon juice
Zest from half a lemon
Pinch of salt

Gently combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl, being careful not to break up an lumps of crab. Want some crunch? Add some minced celery or apple.

I usually serve the crab salad in a bowl either mounded atop a green salad or alongside. Fresh corn makes a great accompaniment.

Wine Pairing

Chardonnay

Chardonnay and crab is a classic pairing. Serve the crab with summer’s sweet corn, and those two elements pair naturally with Chardonnay. Our recent Chardonnay of choice was also a splurge – a bottle of Chateau de Meursault Puligny Montrachet from our cellar. This souvenir from a vacation in France transported us to a happier time and place.

Riesling

Since crab and corn have a little sweetness, Riesling also makes a nice match. There are some nice dry bottlings available from Washington State.

Albarino

Hailing from Spain, Albarino has a citrus note to it. That trait makes other flavors seem a little brighter.

Sparkling wine

If you want to set the tone for the coming week, pop open a bottle of sparkling wine to accompany your crab salad and celebrate Mousseux Monday!

Or, if you want to stick with a classic pantry dish, try my tuna salad. What food and wine pairings are you turning to for comfort these days? Head on over to Twitter or Instagram and share your favorite!