A Crab Dip Recipe from Tom Douglas

My mom makes a delicious creamy crab dip reminiscent of Thousand Island dressing that the whole family loved.  She served it on Ritz crackers, but I prefer to serve dollops of crab dip on homemade or best-quality purchased potato chips.

Mom’s Crab Dip on Potato Chips
From Tom’s Big Dinners (Morrow, 2003)
Makes 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon honey
3/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons thinly sliced chives
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon seeded and minced sweet red cherry pepper (from a jar of vinegar-packed sweet cherry peppers)
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
1/4 teaspoon Tabasco
1 hard-boiled egg, finely chopped
3/4 pound fresh Dungeness crabmeat, picked over for bits of shell and cartilage with claw meat and large pieces of crab left whole
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 of a lemon
Potato chips, homemade or top-quality purchased

Directions:
In a large bowl, whisk the tomato paste and the honey together until smooth.  Whisk in the mayonnaise, chives, lemon juice, cherry pepper, zest, horseradish, and Tabasco.  Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the egg.  Add the crabmeat to the bowl and toss it with the dressing.  Season to taste with salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon.

To serve, set a bowl of crab dip on a large platter and surround it with potato chips for dipping.

--Tom Douglas

Check out Tom's favorite kitchen products in the Kitchen & Home Gift Guide.
 

Comments

[Muse in the Kitchen on November 15, 2008 at 10:01 PM]

This looks like an incredibly good crab dip, with an amazing blend of flavours. I think we'll be giving this a try soon - perfect for the holidays!

[BonnieEugene on November 15, 2008 at 11:24 PM]

This looks wonderful. Do you have a recipe for homemade potato chips, or a suggestion of a particular brand?

Thanks. Be assured that you've contributed to my holiday party table contribution.

Merry Holidays! Bj

[Steve Skubinna on November 16, 2008 at 08:33 PM]

If you're in the Northwest, the best potato chips you can get, anywhere, are Tim's Cascade.

Failing that, probably any good brand of kettle type chips would work. I think you want a stiff, thick chip for this dip.

[on November 16, 2008 at 09:35 PM]

Thanks Steve. I'm east- but it may be worth a trip- :) Bj

[Honolulu Mom on November 17, 2008 at 11:27 AM]

This recipe sounds absolutely yummy! I can't wait to make it to serve with my Maui potato chips.