Paraben Free Crab & Avocado Salad with Citrus Herb Dressing
Sweet, briny lump crab and buttery avocado are a natural pairing, and this salad leans into that combination with crisp cucumber, celery, and a bright citrus herb dressing that ties everything together. The dressing is built from extra-virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, fresh lemon juice, and a warm hit of turmeric and ginger — every ingredient is straightforward and recognizable, which is exactly what you want when you're keeping things clean and free of synthetic additives. Parabens can sneak into processed condiments and bottled dressings, so making your own from scratch here is both the smarter and tastier choice. The technique of folding in the avocado last, with just two or three gentle turns, keeps those cubes intact so every bite has a creamy, satisfying chunk rather than a muddled green mash. Fresh parsley, chives, and optional cilantro add layers of herbal brightness without any fuss. This is the kind of dish that feels restaurant-worthy but comes together in one large bowl with minimal effort — light, vibrant, and genuinely hard to stop eating.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the salad
- 1 lb lump crab meat, picked over for shells
- 2 ripe avocados, pitted, peeled, and cut into ¾-inch cubes
- 1 english cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
- 3 stalks celery, thinly sliced
- 4 scallions (green tops only), thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
For serving
- 1 tbsp fresh cilantro, roughly chopped (optional)
- lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, lemon zest, turmeric, ginger, and 1/2 tsp salt until the dressing is smooth and uniform in color.
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the crab meat, cucumber, celery, scallion greens, parsley, and chives. Drizzle the dressing over the top and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
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