Crabmeat, Apple & Mango Salad on Cumin Apple Crisps

Sweet-spiced apples serves as the base for a flavorful crab-enhanced salad. A mandoline slicer is the ideal tool for making even, thin apple slices.

Ingredients

2 medium Granny Smith apples
3 Tbsp. powdered sugar
1 tsp. ground cumin

Salad
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp. finely chopped green onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1/8 tsp. ground cumin
1/8 tsp. Dijon mustard
8 oz. Dungeness crabmeat
1/2 cup diced mango
1/2 cup diced Granny Smith apple
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 225°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with a silicone nonstick sheet or with parchment paper.

2. Trim the top and bottom from the apples and cut them horizontally into 1/16-inch slices, popping out the seeds as you slice.

3. Combine the cumin and sugar in a small bowl, spoon into a small sieve, and lightly dust the apple slices on both sides as evenly as possible.

4. Lay the slices on the prepared baking sheets and bake until they begin to crisp, about 2 hours. Some slices may brown more quickly than others; remove them as they are ready, retuning the pan to the oven until all the slices are crisp. Peel the slices from the baking sheet and let cool on a wire rack. 

For the salad

1. Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, green onion, garlic, cumin, and mustard in a small bowl until blended.

2. Pick over the crabmeat to remove any bits of shell or cartilage, and squeeze gently to remove excess liquid.

3. Put the crabmeat in a separate bowl with the mango and apple. Add the dressing, tossing gently to mix. 

Top each apple slice with 1 tablespoon of the crabmeat salad, and sprinkle with some of the cilantro. Arrange on a platter and serve right away. 

Makes 8 to 12 servings.

You could omit the apple crisps and simply serve the salad on crackers or tortilla crisps made by brushing wedges of flour tortillas with oil, sprinkling with cumin, and toasting in the oven until crisp.

Recipe found in Celebrate the Rain - Cooking wit the Fresh & Abundant Flavors of the Pacific Northwest. The Junior League of Seattle.