Description
Irresistible Coastal “Crab Salad” blends fresh seafood with crisp vegetables, creating a light and refreshing summer dish. Delicate crab meat mingles with zesty herbs, promising a delightful Mediterranean-inspired experience you’ll savor with each cool, delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood:
- 1 pound (450 grams) lump crab meat or imitation crab, chopped
Fresh Vegetables:
- ½ cup (75 grams) celery, finely diced
- ¼ cup (35 grams) red bell pepper, finely diced
- 2 tablespoons red onion, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Dressing Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning or paprika (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Meticulously inspect the crab meat, removing any remnant shells or tough cartilage fragments, ensuring a pristine texture. For imitation crab, delicately fragment into uniform bite-sized morsels.
- Craft a vibrant dressing by vigorously whisking mayonnaise, tangy Dijon mustard, zesty lemon juice, fragrant olive oil, seasoned with salt and pepper. Taste and refine the flavor profile to your preference.
- Select a spacious mixing vessel and gently combine the prepared crab meat with finely diced celery, minced red onion, and freshly chopped parsley. Tenderly fold the ingredients to maintain the crab’s delicate structure.
- Cascade the precisely crafted dressing over the seafood mixture, gently incorporating until each morsel is elegantly coated. Exercise caution to preserve the crab’s tender integrity during mixing.
- Enhance the salad’s complexity by allowing it to rest in the refrigerator for approximately 30 minutes, permitting the flavors to harmonize and intensify. Serve thoroughly chilled, presenting multiple serving options such as a standalone side dish, atop crisp greens, or nestled within a soft sandwich roll.
Notes
- Choose high-quality, fresh crab meat for the best flavor and texture. Canned or vacuum-sealed crab works well if fresh isn’t available.
- Substitute traditional mayonnaise with Greek yogurt or light mayo for a healthier version with fewer calories.
- Dice vegetables finely to ensure even distribution and prevent overwhelming the delicate crab meat’s subtle taste.
- Create a gluten-free version by serving the salad over mixed greens or in lettuce cups instead of bread.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg