Sarah at Mum in Bloom asked me to make Golden Crab and Papaya Salad from Martha’s Healthy Quick Cookbook for Martha on Demand (where you pick a recipe and ask me to test drive it for you).
This sounded sort of complicated, but it actually wasn’t hard to make at all. The only problem I had was finding papayas – I had to buy one giant one and use that but it worked out.
You start with making a lime caper vinaigrette which was easy: 2 tbsp oil, 1/4 cup lime juice, 1/4 cup parsley, 2 dashes Tabasco, 2 tsp capers, 1/2 tsp dried hot pepper flakes, salt and pepper, 1 tsp sugar. Then you mix together 1 lb of crab, 1/2 lb of snap peas, 1/2 small red onion and salt and pepper and put the dressing on it. Serve it in the papayas, seeds removed. Martha said to peel the papaya, but I didn’t. I also did not add Tabasco and used only a little red pepper.
I LOVED this. Really and truly thought it was fantastic. I think it would be perfect for a summer luncheon with your girlfriends. Mr. MarthaAndMe did not enjoy this but could not say why. He said it tasted ok, but he just didn’t want to eat it. It’s girl food, not guy food. So thank you Sarah for requesting this one – I adored it and will make it again.
Do you have a Martha recipe you’ve been thinking of making but weren’t sure? Post a comment and tell me what it is and I’ll test it for you.
Martha and Me 
Yay! Thank you for “test driving” this one for me. The recipe did seem complicated so I was happy you offered to do it. I will definately make this now that I know it’s not too difficult. It looks so fancy too! Great work 🙂
It was fun. Very easy to make. I don’t know why it sounded complicated – maybe b/c of the crab and papaya – not your everyday ingredients. You’re going to love it though. And it does look spectacular. It’s like something I would order in a restaurant.
I’ll bet you could do it in mango halves that are ripe but not mushy. I’ve made salsas with mango and lime juice and jalapenos and red onion, so it should work, right? My husband would probably say that it’s a waste of perfectly good crab meat out of which he could make crab cakes! Men and fried foods!!
I don’t know how you cut a mango in half though – the pit is surrounded by that fuzzy stuff. The only part you can eat is the outside so I don’t think that would work. Maybe if you could cut off a nice big piece of mango, but you wouldn’t get that nice bowl effect you get with the papaya.
Looks great…I really love papaya..
It looks beautiful, I’ll bet it tastes good too. The papaya worked well! Sometimes they use green papayas for salads like that. I even have a hard time finding that, unless I get it off my own papaya tree.
This looks wonderful. One of my favorite rolls at my sushi bar in the city is a mango roll with crab. Yum!
I’ve never cooked with crab before but I love papaya (and we have it at our food co-op right now). This is a dish I’d like to make when the kids aren’t around, b/c they won’t eat crab. When are the kids ever not around?! Sigh.
You wouldn’t think it now, but believe me, you are going to have lots of time without them! My oldest is almost never home for dinner anymore. She’s always off doing something. But of course I am never given notice of this, ever, so I generally cook for 4 and end up saving the rest. Unless she shows up and wants her boyfriend to stay, then I have to figure out how to make dinner for 4 stretch into dinner for 5!
Nice recipe! I love the tropical vibe. I rarely cook with crab, but I should. There are several people in our house crazy about papaya.
I’m heading out now to find some crab and papaya. Thanks!
Yum. Looks beautiful. I also love mangoes in salads, and make one with crab that is somewhat similar to this one.Except this one looks even better.
This looks beautiful, too. I would have to swap something for the snow peas, since I’m allergic. But I love the idea and the combo of the texture of crab with something crunchy.
I have never heard of someone being allergic to snow peas! How very unique of you!
This looks divine for hot weather — and not even that difficult. Thumbs way up.
love mango at dinner — and combined with crab — sounds like a winning summer dish
I love it when a chef makes something and then says they REALLY loved it; so often it’s hard to choose between what’s good and what’s great. I’m encouraged to try this!
Definitely
i had papaya once before and i could not eat it for some reason. i thought it had a funky smell to it. maybe i just picked a bad one, i really dont know. i might just have to pick some papayas up and try them again.
I really liked it and don’t know if I’ve ever had papaya before – I definitely never bought one before this.
That looks healthy and unique and fresh and perfect for this god-awful weather we’ve been having!
Oh yes, this is definitely a hot weather dish for sure. It’s very refreshing. In fact I am going to have to make it again I think.