Mr. Bayley's West Indies Salad

Recipewrestler's Note:

This salad is the quintessential regional dish of the Lower Alabama Gulf Coast area. It was invented by the late Bill Bayley, who owned a steak and seafood restaurant of good repute. It must be prepared exactly as directed, with careful layering. Use the coldest ice water you can find in the recipe. The longer this one marinates, the better. The recipe sounds simple, but the results are indescribably delicious. This well-guarded recipe was finally published in 1964 in the Junior League of Mobile cookbook, Recipe Jubilee. Cooking time refers to time needed to marinate (2-12 hours).

• Total Time: 12 hrs 20 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 12 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 medium onion, chopped fine
• 1 lb fresh lump crabmeat
• 4 ounces Wesson Oil
• 3 ounces cider vinegar
• 4 ounces ice water (as cold as you can get it)
• salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Follow these instructions to the letter!
2. Spread half of onion over bottom of large bowl.
3. Cover with separated crab lumps.
4. Add the remaining onion.
5. Salt and pepper.
6. Pour oil, vinegar and ice water over all.
7. Cover and marinate 2-12 hours.
8. Toss lightly before serving.
9. Serve as a"salad" on a bed of lettuce or on crackers as an appetizer.
10. Variation: Substitute royal red shrimp for the crabmeat.

Reviews

[kahalley]

add one pouch of rubust itialin dressing to this and enjoy. i live in mobile al and bailey's had the original recipe but trust me on this!

[Omniryx]

I grew up eating this dish and Bayley's and many other places on the Gulf Coast. For all you folks who keep reciting the mantra that, "if you don't do it precisely this way, it won't be right), relax. There are as many ways to make West Indies Salad as there are places that make it. Some of the versions are worse and some are quite a bit better. Don't be afraid to experiment!

[54stoney]

I grew up in Pensacola, Fl., 60 miles east of Mobile and many people traveled to Bayleys (known mostly for their seafood) and the West Indies salad became a Gulf Coast tradition. I never remember red onions, only sweet white onions and my mother used ice cubes instead of ice water. Same results. I am still in Pensacola and going to make some this weekend. yummm