Crab Louie Salad: West Coast Classic

By Beleaev Family | Beleaev Caviar & Gourmet | beleaev.com

Crab Louie is the San Francisco salad classic that's been on West Coast restaurant menus since 1904. Iceberg, crab meat, hard-boiled eggs, asparagus, tomato, with a creamy "Louie" dressing.

Key Takeaways

• Use iceberg lettuce, shredded
• Mixed crab meat
• Louie dressing (mayo + chilli + lemon)
• Asparagus blanched briefly
• 150g crab per portion

The Ingredients

Serves 2

For salad:

• 300g mixed crab meat
• 1 small iceberg lettuce, shredded
• 4 hard-boiled eggs, halved
• 8 asparagus spears, blanched 90 sec
• 8 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 small avocado, sliced

For Louie dressing:

• 100g full-fat mayo
• 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
• 1 tsp Worcestershire
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp horseradish (optional)
• 1 tbsp finely chopped chives
• 1 tsp paprika
• Salt and black pepper

The Method

1. Mix dressing ingredients.

2. Plate iceberg as a base.

3. Pile crab in the centre.

4. Arrange eggs, asparagus, tomatoes, avocado around.

5. Drizzle with Louie dressing or serve alongside. Garnish with paprika and chives.

Tips

Iceberg, not other lettuce.

Asparagus barely cooked.

Dressing on side or drizzled lightly.

Don't dress in advance.

Variations and Pairings

With caviar: Add Royal Oscietra on top of the crab.

With prawns: Add 8 prawns alongside crab.

Wine pairing: A chilled American Sauvignon Blanc.

For more salads, see our British crab salad and crab salad with caviar recipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Louie or Louis?

Both spellings used. Original Louis Davenport's Hotel, Spokane.

Iceberg substitute?

Romaine acceptable. Iceberg is traditional.

How much crab?

150g per portion.

Crab Louie on a sunny lunch is one of those American classics that defines proper lunch luxury. Discover Beleaev's caviar collection at beleaev.com.

Beleaev is an international caviar and gourmet food company with fulfilment hubs across the UK, Europe, the UAE, and the United States. We are committed to sourcing responsibly farmed, sustainable products and delivering them to customers within 24 to 48 hours, ensuring exceptional freshness and quality.