A restaurant-worthy appetizer easily prepared at home

(NC) Whether you’re looking to up your game the next time you host or just enjoy a healthy dish, this elevated appetizer does the trick. It contrasts flavours and textures, combining crunchy cucumber and soft savoury crab with the natural sweetness of prunes. Delicious and visually striking, this appetizer will leave an impression whenever you serve it.

Crab and Prunes Salsa Stack

Prep time: 20 mins
Servings: 4 stacks

Ingredients:

Prunes and beet layer:

• 14 California prunes, diced
• 1/3 cup (75 ml) minced pickled beets
• 1 green onion, finely sliced

Crab layer:

• ½ lb (227 g) lump crab meat
• 1 small tomato, finely diced
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) chopped dill
• 1/4 tsp (1 ml) pepper

Cucumber layer:

• 1 Persian cucumber, finely diced
• 1/3 cup (75 ml) finely diced radish
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 tsp (5 ml) lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Base layer:

• 2 ripe avocados, diced

Accompaniments:

• Dill for garnish
• 1/2 cup (125ml) store-bought crispy onions
• Crispy fried wonton skins or thin crackers to serve

Directions:

1. In a bowl, combine prunes, beets and green onion.
2. In a second bowl, combine crab, mayonnaise, tomato, dill and pepper.
3. In a third bowl, combine cucumber, radish, lemon zest and juice. Salt and pepper to taste.
4. To assemble the stack, use a tall 3-inch round biscuit cutter or make one from an empty plastic food jar or metal can of the same diameter.
5. Place mold onto a plate, spoon about 1/4 of the diced avocado into the mold. Tamp down gently using a wooden muddle or shot glass to make an even layer. Add 1/4 of the crab layer and repeat tamping. Add 1/4 of the prune mixture and tamp to even out the layer. Tamp in 1/4 of cucumber layer. Gently lift up the mold while holding layers down with the tamper. Repeat steps to make 3 more stacks.
6. Garnish each stack with equal amounts of the crispy onions and dill.
7. Serve with crispy wonton skins or crackers.

Nutrition notes: The crab meat contains protein, and the mayo and avocado provide healthy fats. The assortment of vegetables and fruits, including cucumbers, radishes and tomatoes, provides vitamins and antioxidants. And the prunes contain a unique combination of fibre, sorbitol and polyphenols, which support gut health.

You can find more healthy recipes at californiaprunes.ca.