‘Just Peachy’ Crab Salad with Avocado is perfect for a summer appetizer or light dinner and pretty enough to serve company!
Summer peaches and creamy avocado are a delicious complement to fresh and naturally sweet crabmeat that has a touch of ocean saltiness!
I found this recipe in my search for a salad using summer peaches. I knew this was a keeper recipe when I saw it was from Chef Virginia Willis, a contributing editor for Southern Living Magazine!
The crab salad can be made ahead, but the avocado and peach layers are best prepared just before serving.
Ingredients
1 pound fresh jumbo lump crabmeat
2 tablespoons lemon zest
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, divided
1/2 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely diced
1/4 cup finely diced celery
2 green onions, finely chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
5 to 6 medium peaches, unpeeled and coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons honey
3 medium avocados, diced
Arugula
Preparation
Pick crabmeat, removing any bits of shell. Whisk together lemon zest, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard and 1 Tbsp. lemon juice. Fold in jalapeño, celery, green onion, and crabmeat, gently, using a rubber spatula. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
Stir together peaches and remaining 4 Tbsp. lemon juice. Reserve 3 cups peach mixture. Pulse honey and remaining peach mixture in a food processor until smooth. Season pureed peach mixture with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
Spoon 1/4 cup pureed peach mixture onto a chilled plate. Place a 3 1/2-inch round cutter in center of peach mixture on plate. (A clean, empty tuna can with both ends removed can be substituted for a cookie cutter if you don’t have the right size.) Spoon one-sixth of diced avocados and 1/2 cup reserved chopped peach mixture into cutter, packing each layer firmly and sprinkling with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
Top with about 1/2 cup crab mixture. Carefully remove cutter from plate. Repeat procedure with remaining pureed peach mixture, avocado, chopped peach mixture, and crab mixture. Arrange desired amount of arugula around each layered salad; serve immediately.
I agree with Pat I am ready to go out for the ingredients also and it is still dark outside. I will be thinking about this salad until I make it. Looks wonderful. Pinning.
This salad is sure to satisfy my taste buds! It is so nice to have something different to serve in these hot days of summer! Thanks , Mary, another winner! Yum!😊🌴
Pretty~Pretty! I have gals coming for a sewing retreat next week & you wanna bet this will be on my menu? THANKS for the idea & the recipe, Mary.
What is the pattern name of your pretty white dishes, please??? I’m sick of my every day set & am looking to purchase some new ones.
Beautiful and delicious sounding…I think this will be a keeper for sure…The avos on our trees are, usually, depending on variety, much larger than the Haas pictured…and probably one would be large enough.
OH! I want some of this right NOW!!! I am sitting here eating an apple. THIS would be so much better:):) I will have to get the ingredients, we LOVE crab anything!!!
Excellent Mary! Looks delightful. Your photos make me want to got out for the ingredients right now…and it isn’t even 4:30 AM yet!
Truly summer on a plate Mary! An elegant and healthy meal:@)
I agree with Pat I am ready to go out for the ingredients also and it is still dark outside. I will be thinking about this salad until I make it. Looks wonderful. Pinning.
Those are beautiful salads!
This salad is sure to satisfy my taste buds! It is so nice to have something different to serve in these hot days of summer! Thanks , Mary, another winner! Yum!😊🌴
This is definitely too pretty to eat Mary!! What a wonderful combo of colors and textures~ looks perfect!
Jenna
Mary, This looks and sounds delicious!! Such an unusual combination of ingredients but the mix must be wonderful! I can’t wait to make this! Linda
Pretty~Pretty! I have gals coming for a sewing retreat next week & you wanna bet this will be on my menu? THANKS for the idea & the recipe, Mary.
What is the pattern name of your pretty white dishes, please??? I’m sick of my every day set & am looking to purchase some new ones.
Hi Rett, The dishes are Paula Deen Whitaker. They came from Target.com several years ago :)
It’s almost lunch time and I’m thinking how good this would be.
Yep. This will be one I’m making. Love crab and avocado together. . .and the peaches sound awesome. Thank you!
All my favorites in ONE!! franki
Beautiful and delicious sounding…I think this will be a keeper for sure…The avos on our trees are, usually, depending on variety, much larger than the Haas pictured…and probably one would be large enough.
OH! I want some of this right NOW!!! I am sitting here eating an apple. THIS would be so much better:):) I will have to get the ingredients, we LOVE crab anything!!!
Sounds delicious…We are at the beach and will try this with fresh cleanest.
Oops… fresh crabmeat
What a perfect summer salad, Mary! You’ve arranged it so attractively on the plate with your magical touch. I’m ready for a big serving.
It looks and sounds delicious Mary. Pinning!
The Texas peaches are no longer available, but I’m saving off this recipe, Mary. It looks delicious and perfect summer fare. Thanks for sharing.
What a great combination of flavors!…looks great…pinning away!
Perfectly perfect blend of flavors. I’ve got to make this, and soon!
this looks fabulous! and perfect for our crabby coast~