Salad recipes

Asparagus and crabmeat salad layers crisp-tender spears over butter lettuce, crowned with sweet lump crab folded into a tomato-Dijon mayonnaise. Elegant cold appetizer or light lunch that comes together in minutes with make-ahead dressing.

A bright, fiery Thai squid salad (Yum Pra-Hmik) with tender poached squid tossed in lime juice, fish sauce, lemongrass, ginger, mint, and crushed chilies. Fresh and bold.

Yum Hoi Mang-Pu, a Thai mussel salad tossed with lemongrass, shallots, fresh mint, fiery bird's-eye chilies, lime juice, and fish sauce. Crisp, fiery, and sour, served over lettuce as a starter.

Crisp grilled prawns glazed with lemongrass and ginger meet julienned green mango tossed in a tangy Thai dressing. Every bite balances bright lime, crunchy peanuts, and fresh herbs.

Bob's crab stuffed mushrooms marinate whole caps in Italian dressing before filling with lump crab, fresh breadcrumbs, beaten eggs, mayo, and lemon. Easy seafood appetizer ready in an hour.

Marinated shrimp kabobs with picante sauce and Italian dressing, threaded with broccoli florets and cherry tomatoes. A make-ahead cocktail appetizer with three-color visual punch.

Warm crab meat salad that's fit for Imperial guests.

Warm crab dip with white wine, prepared mustard, and grated onion, gently heated and served with crackers. A full pound of crab makes this a generous party appetizer.

Poor man's shrimp transforms cubed salmon into shrimp-like bites by quick-poaching in heavily salted water. A vintage frugal cooking trick that yields firm, pink, shrimp-textured salmon for cocktails or salads.

Curried tuna salad rolled up in buttered white bread, secured with toothpicks, and baked until crispy and golden. These Indian-inspired tuna toasties make a crunchy, savory snack or party appetizer in just 30 minutes.