Description
Coastal Mediterranean “Seafood Pasta Salad” delivers oceanside flavors with fresh shrimp, tender calamari, and zesty herbs. Crisp vegetables and tangy dressing create a light, refreshing dish perfect for summer gatherings and quick weeknight meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood:
- ½ pound (225 g) cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ½ pound (225 g) crab meat or imitation crab, chopped
Pasta and Vegetables:
- 12 ounces (340 g) pasta (rotini, penne, or shells)
- ½ cup (75 g) celery, diced
- ½ cup (75 g) red bell pepper, diced
- ¼ cup (35 g) red onion, finely diced
- ¼ cup (30 g) chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Dressing:
- ½ cup (120 g) mayonnaise
- ¼ cup (60 g) sour cream
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning or paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta by cooking according to package guidelines until perfectly tender. Drain thoroughly and rinse with cold water to halt cooking process, then spread on a plate to cool completely.
- If utilizing raw shrimp, poach them in rapidly boiling water until they transform to a vibrant pink color and become fully opaque. Remove promptly and allow to cool at room temperature.
- Craft the creamy dressing by whisking together mayonnaise, tangy sour cream, zesty lemon juice, sharp Dijon mustard, aromatic Old Bay seasoning, pungent garlic powder, and complementary salt and pepper. Taste and calibrate seasonings to personal preference.
- Create the seafood medley by combining chilled pasta, succulent shrimp, delicate crab meat, crisp celery, colorful bell pepper, sharp red onion, and fresh parsley in a spacious mixing bowl.
- Drizzle the prepared dressing over the seafood mixture, gently folding ingredients to ensure uniform coating without breaking delicate seafood pieces.
- Seal the salad in an airtight container and refrigerate for approximately 30-45 minutes, allowing flavors to harmonize and develop depth. Serve thoroughly chilled as a refreshing appetizer or light main course.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection: Choose short pasta shapes like rotini or shells that capture dressing and ingredients effectively for better flavor distribution.
- Seafood Selection: Use fresh or high-quality canned seafood to ensure maximum taste and texture in the salad.
- Chill for Flavor: Letting the salad rest in the refrigerator helps ingredients absorb dressing and develops more complex, harmonious flavors.
- Dietary Adaptations: Swap mayonnaise with Greek yogurt for a lighter version, or use gluten-free pasta for a celiac-friendly option.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg