Another of our New Year's Eve treats, a little gem-like display of Dungeness crab over an Asian-ish salad. I'm always drawn to little gem-like nibbles of seafood for New Year's, although caviar is over and done with. (Can you imagine, in your lifetime, experiencing the demise of a whole category of food? I'm worried about California's salmon and crabs too, but that's another story.)
I liked this salad, made with chopped mung bean sprouts, slivered radishes, grated carrot, minced jalapeño, and... (I really liked this part) short strings of softened mung bean noodles, otherwise known as cellophane noodles (or in Hawaii, "long rice"). Cute.
I tossed the ingredients together and then drizzled Asian liquids to get an impromptu dressing: rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, like that.
I thought I might have overdressed the food, so I strained some off. But since the crab pieces were unseasoned, they were too mild in contrast with the salad. I should have left all the dressing in and just given everything a mix.
Flavor aside, though, this was the BEST mouth-feel meal I've ever eaten. Crispy veggies, chewy noodles and succulent crab. My mouth was really happy. I would eat it again in a minute.
Besides, I discovered we are backed up with two bags of dried noodles in the pantry.
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12 comments:
What a bunch of great ideas. I've been eating crab as much as I can and this looks like a great variation. I confess that I did have caviar on my birthday but you turn 65 on 1/1/2010 only once so I treated myself. Besides, it was supposedly home grown and sustainable, or so they said.
You are not so crabby after all!
Nancy: Cowabunga! That's a big one. Happy Birthday (on Jan. 1!). (Cranky turned "Beatles Birthday" yesterday -- 64.)
We priced domestic caviar, and said no. Sigh. I miss the good stuff.
Chilebrown: Crabby and Cranky, sittin' in a tree...
I'm sure that Cranky took that frown and turned it upside down -- a very, very happy birthday to him from one of his most ardent admirers.
The crab dish sounds perfect. And yes, I KNOW: I miss caviar, too.
I feel so lazy when I read this, though not guilty enough to actually get up and DO anything like make something for dinner.
Tonight we dine on icecubes, too hot for anything else.
Nancy, you deserve the treat on that landmark birthday - glad you treated yourself!
You, too, Cookie.
Sounds delicious. Love cellophane noodles (never heard "long rice" before...I like it!)
I'm so glad you've jumped on the crab bandwagon...
Kudzu: Thanks for the kind words! I'll tell him.
Mouse: My condolences on your stifling heat. I do think ice cubes has a potential for great mouth-feel, BTW.
Zoomie: Sweet.
Hungry Dog: Isn't that a great name? When I was a kid, I thought they named it long rice because it looks like long, skinny stretched-out rice (though there's no rice in it). Wikipedia says the name might come from pressing the noodle dough through a ricer... which takes all the imagination out of it.
EB: Jumped on? Right now, I feel like I'm pulling the wagon. :)
Asian liquids dressing.Excellent!
Oh this looks just delicious. I'm drooling.
Greg: I do have a way with words, don't I? Like, maybe "the wrong way."
Melanie: Easy peasy! No excuse for not trying it.
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