Dressed Crab and Avocado Salad with Lemon Mayonnaise
Sweet white and rich brown crab meat folded with lemon mayonnaise and piled over avocado and crisp little gem, a seaside lunch.
Made with Homemade mayonnaise. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time20 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.90 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Put the white crab meat in a bowl and check carefully for any stray pieces of shell. Gently flake it with a fork.
- 2
Mix your ready made homemade mayonnaise (see the base recipe) with the lemon zest, half the lemon juice and the cayenne.
- 3
Fold half the lemon mayonnaise through the white crab meat with the chives. Season with salt and pepper.
- 4
Mix the brown meat with the remaining mayonnaise to make a smooth, rich paste.
- 5
Arrange the lettuce leaves on four plates and layer on the avocado slices. Squeeze over the rest of the lemon juice to stop them browning.
- 6
Spoon the white crab meat on top and add a spoonful of the brown crab mayonnaise on the side. Serve chilled.
Tips
- Ask your fishmonger for fresh picked, loose white and brown meat. It is far better than tinned.
- Add the brown meat at the end. It is strongly flavoured and can overpower the sweeter white meat.
- Keep everything cold and serve within 2 hours of mixing.
Storing and freezing
Eat on the day you make it. Keep crab mixtures in the fridge for no more than 24 hours and discard any that has been out for over 2 hours. Not suitable for freezing.
Questions
Can I use tinned or pasteurised crab?
Yes. Pasteurised white crab meat from a tub works well. Drain it very well and squeeze out excess liquid before mixing with the mayonnaise.
Is crab safe in pregnancy?
Fully cooked crab is safe in pregnancy. Homemade mayonnaise made with British Lion eggs is also considered safe by the Food Standards Agency, but check your own advice.
Can I make it ahead?
Mix the crab and mayonnaise up to 4 hours ahead and chill. Slice the avocado at the last minute to keep it fresh and green.
More made with homemade mayonnaise
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.