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Spicy Crab Guacamole

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with spicy crab guacamole — traditional guac topped with lump crab meat tossed with chile powder.

A hand dips a tortilla chip into the spicy crab guacamole

Welcome to Progressive Eats, our virtual version of a Progressive Dinner Party. This month's theme is a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta, and our host is Jane who blogs at The Heritage Cook.

If you're unfamiliar with the concept, a progressive dinner involves going from house to house, enjoying a different course at each location. With Progressive Eats it's a virtual party. A theme is chosen each month, members share recipes suitable for a delicious meal or party, and you can hop from blog to blog to check them out. Come along and see all of the delicious fiesta inspired dishes!

A plate of traditional guacamole

I love guacamole. Spicy guacamole, mild guacamole, smooth guacamole, chunky guacamole. ALL THE GUACAMOLE. One of my son's first favorite foods was mashed avocado, which was no surprise, given how much guacamole I ate while I was pregnant.

About 18 months ago, I took a press trip "staycation" to Philadelphia's Ritz Carlton hotel, which houses a restaurant by critically-acclaimed chef Richard Sandoval. One of the appetizers on the menu is guacamole topped with spicy crab.

A plate of spicy crab guacamole surrounded by tortilla chips

Well, 18 months later, I still remember how delicious it was, and decided to recreate it at home for this Cinco de Mayo themed Progressive Eats. I made a traditional guacamole, just the way I like it — I like to use a combination of lemon and lime juices instead of just lime juice.

I also add a diced jalapeno pepper, diced roma tomatoes, diced shallot (a milder member of the onion family) and chopped cilantro. If you have a guacamole recipe you love, feel free to use it instead of the one below. Feel free to make your guacamole as smooth or as chunky as you like.

A plate of spicy crab guacamole

Next, I used lump crab meat (the middle-of-the-road crab meat, as far as cost goes), picked over for bits of shell. I tossed it in a mixture of chili powder and chipotle chili powder. Plain chili powder adds spice, while chipotle chili powder adds smokiness.

Then, grab a bag of your favorite tortilla chips and dig in! Believe it or not, my local grocery store (Acme, if you're in the Philadelphia area) makes really great tortilla chips right in their store. I also really enjoy Tostito's Cantina Style tortilla chips.

Spicy Crab Guacamole

Spicy Crab Guacamole

Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with spicy crab guacamole — traditional guac topped with lump crab meat tossed with chile powder.

Ingredients

  • 2 avocados
  • Juice of one lime
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • 2 roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
  • 1 shallot, diced
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
  • 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro
  • Kosher salt
  • 8 oz lump crab meat, picked over for shells
  • ¼ teaspoon chili powder, or more to taste
  • ⅛ teaspoon chipotle chili powder, or more to taste

Instructions

  1. Coarsely mash the avocado with the lemon and lime juices in a large bowl.
  2. Add the diced tomatoes, shallot, pepper, and cilantro and mash a little more.
  3. Season to taste with salt.
  4. Toss the crab meat with the chili powder.
  5. Spread the guacamole in a serving dish; top with the crab meat.
  6. Serve with tortilla chips.

Notes

Adapted from Richard Sandoval

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 servings Serving Size: 1 serving
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 169Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 281mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 4gSugar: 7gProtein: 9g

I am not a certified nutritionist. This nutrition information is automatically calculated by third party software and is meant as a guideline only.

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Cinco de Mayo Fiesta

Beverages Appetizers Bread Main Courses Side Dish Desserts

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Ansh Dhar

Friday 24th of May 2019

I didn't know you could improve perfection.. but now you did!! So YUMMY

Lauren

Sunday 12th of May 2019

My favorite guac!!! <3

susan | the wimpy vegetarian

Monday 6th of May 2019

Guacamole is a favorite here as well, and I love the addition of the crab! What a great great idea!

Laura @motherwouldknow

Wednesday 1st of May 2019

I've never heard of crab meat on top of guacamole before, but since I love both, it sounds mouthwatering to me. As for chips, I go to a local large grocery that has a large Latin customer base. They sell a brand I have never seen before that are light and not too salty - will have to check the name next time.

Sarah Walker Caron

Wednesday 1st of May 2019

Oh, that sounds delightful! I love this spin on classic guacamole!

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