Creamy Thai Crab Macaroni Salad
- SERVES: 8–10
- PREP: 30 minutes
- TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes
Loosely inspired by the flavors of crab fried rice, transformed into a refreshing-yet-creamy summer salad.
One of the biggest “rules” of Thai cooking is packing as much flavor into a dish as possible. This pasta salad is equal parts refreshing and decadent, loosely inspired by crab fried rice (with real lump crab), lots of crunchy raw vegetables, juicy pineapple, and tons of herbs. The creamy dressing is packed with a triple threat of garlic, ginger, and lemongrass, plus punchy zestiness from lime juice and Dijon mustard, signature fish sauce, and sesame oil. This is your picnic-ready main dish, backyard BBQ side dish, or a way to satisfy Thai takeout cravings in a new way. If you’re gluten intolerant, you can swap in rice noodles.
For the dressing:
- ¼
cup lime juice
- 1
cup mayonnaise
- 1
tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 ½
teaspoons sesame oil
- 1
tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1
tablespoon honey
- 1
tablespoon fresh ginger, finely minced
- 2
cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1
(1-inch) piece fresh lemongrass (very tender pale insides only), finely minced
- ½
teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the salad:
- 1
pound short pasta (such as radiatore or fusilli)
- 1
teaspoon neutral oil (such as vegetable or canola)
- 8
ounces lump crab, drained
- 1
cup fresh pineapple chunks, cut into ½-inch pieces
- 2
Persian cucumbers (4 ounces), halved lengthwise then cut into ¼-inch half moons
- 1
red bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1
carrot, halved lengthwise then cut into ¼-inch half moons
- 1
small red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼
cup chopped scallion greens
- ½
cup cup chopped cilantro
- ½
cup chopped basil
- ¼
cup chopped mint
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A do-it-all duo of two handmade wooden serving bowls (with handles!) that nest together for easy storage. Each one-of-a-kind piece is made from a single piece of wood and features unique variations. Fill them with your favorite salads, guacamole and dips, or taco fillings to pass around the table.Set Includes: One 12.6" x 9.75" Bowl One 14.4" x 11.75" Bowl
We call them Chrissy's faves for a reason—between this saucepan, skillet, and a universally useful multipurpose pan, you can cook pretty much anything. All three feature aluminum core induction for even cooking and double-layer stainless steel, and the skillet and cook-anything pan feature non-toxic nonstick coating. This stunning, gold-handled set includes the all-day, everyday essentials that make kitchen life chic and easy.
This richly colored knife block is the low-profile, high-quality answer to storing every knife you need in the kitchen. Chrissy designed this 8-piece set based on the knives she and John use every day, so the ashwood block is filled with exactly what you need (including a cleaver!), and nothing you don't. Each stainless steel blade is taper ground to stay sharp. The ashwood handles feature a full-tang (meaning the metal runs through the handle) for easy control—and a damn good dice.
Big enough to hold piles of sliced and diced veggies while you prep, beautiful enough to take straight to the table stacked with cheese and charcuterie. This wooden cutting board has a slim-but-sturdy, easy-to-store profile, but you'll use it so often it's more likely to earn a permanent place on your counter.
