Louises Old Ranch Sea Salad Recipes

UNDER THE SEA SALAD

Steps:

• Dissolve gelatin in boiling water.
• Add juice of pineapple tidbits and lemon juice.
• Pour 1 1/4 cups into loaf pan.
• Chill until set.
• Blend remaining gelatin and softened cream cheese, add pineapple.
• Spoon over set Jello.
• Chill until firm.
• Unmold onto a plate.

SOUTHERN SEAFOOD LOUIE SALAD

Steps:

• For the house seasoning: Combine garlic powder, onion powder and seasoning salt in a small bowl.
• For the mango vinaigrette: Combine mango, vinegar, honey, lime juice, ginger, salt, shallot and 1 tablespoon house seasoning in a blender. Turn blender speed to high and slowly add olive oil until blended well. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use. (Vinaigrette keeps, refrigerated, up to 7 days. It's great on salads, fish and chicken.)
• For the apple cider vinaigrette: Combine vinegar, honey and 1 tablespoon house seasoning in a blender. With blender on high, slowly add oil until well blended. Remove and store in an airtight jar, refrigerated, for up to 3 months.
• For the corn relish: Combine the corn, peppers, onion, cilantro, 1 tablespoon house seasoning and 1/2 cup apple vinaigrette in a bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the avocado hoe cakes: Mix together cornmeal, buttermilk, onion, oil, pepper, cilantro, eggs, avocado and jalapeno in a bowl.
• Add just enough frying oil to a skillet or griddle to coat the bottom and heat over medium-high heat. Drop about 2 tablespoons batter into the skillet for each hoe cake. Cook until browned, about 2 minutes, then turn and brown the other side, 2 more minutes. Repeat with remaining batter.
• For the Southern poached seafood: Add oil to a saute pan and heat over medium-high heat. Place shrimp in heated pan and place lobster meat in same pan, keeping shrimp and lobster in separate corners of the pan. Add crab boil seasoning, seafood seasoning and 1/2 cup water. Cook shrimp and lobster until translucent, about 2 minutes, then add crab meat, also keeping separate, and continuing to cook until heated through, about another 30 seconds. Transfer seafood to a small platter, keeping separate, and refrigerate to cool.
• Place about 3/4 cup arugula in the center of a plate and top with 1/4 cup corn relish. Off to the side, place 3 warm avocado hoe cakes. Atop each avocado hoe cake, place a different type of chilled seafood. Drizzle each topped hoe cake with mango vinaigrette and drizzle additional mango vinaigrette on the plate as desired. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

SHRIMP LOUIE SALAD

Steps:

• For the dressing: Whisk together the mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice, sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a small bowl until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the salad: To make medium-boiled eggs, put the eggs in a small saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat, cover and let stand 5 minutes. Transfer to an ice bath. Remove the shells once cool and quarter each egg lengthwise.
• Heat a large skillet over medium high. Put the shrimp to a medium bowl, sprinkle with the Old Bay Seasoning and toss to coat. Swirl the oil into the skillet, then stir in the shrimp and cook, tossing occasionally, just until pink and firm, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and reserve.
• Put the lettuce, tomato, cucumber and avocado in a second large bowl. Season with 1 pinch each salt and pepper. Dress with about 1/2 cup of the dressing and toss gently to coat the vegetables. Divide onto 4 plates and arrange the shrimp and medium-boiled eggs on top before serving. Serve the remaining dressing on the side.