Description
Zesty crab salad combines fresh seafood with crisp vegetables and tangy dressing. Coastal flavors shine through in this elegant Mediterranean-inspired dish that you’ll savor with each refreshing bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2.5 lbs (900 g) lump crab meat or imitation crab, chopped
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) mayonnaise
- ½ cup (75 g) celery, finely diced
- ¼ cup (35 g) red bell pepper, finely diced
- 2 tbsps red onion, finely minced
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp Old Bay seasoning or paprika (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Dressing Preparation: Whisk mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and Old Bay seasoning in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper, adjusting to create a balanced, zesty flavor profile.
- Crab Mixture: Delicately combine crab meat in a large mixing bowl, ensuring minimal breaking of the meat’s delicate texture.
- Vegetable Integration: Fold in finely chopped celery, red bell pepper, and red onion, creating a colorful and textural foundation for the salad.
- Herbal Enhancement: Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley throughout the mixture, introducing a vibrant, aromatic dimension.
- Dressing Incorporation: Gently drizzle prepared dressing over the ingredients, carefully folding to coat without disrupting the crab’s integrity.
- Flavor Melding: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes, allowing ingredients to meld and flavors to develop fully.
- Serving Suggestions: Plate the chilled salad as a standalone dish, use as a sandwich filling, or serve alongside crisp crackers for a versatile culinary presentation.
Notes
- Preserve Crab Texture: Handle crab meat gently to prevent breaking delicate chunks, using soft folding techniques instead of aggressive mixing.
- Chill for Enhanced Flavor: Refrigerate salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow ingredients to blend and develop deeper, more complex taste profiles.
- Customize Seasoning Carefully: Adjust Old Bay and salt incrementally, tasting as you go to avoid overwhelming the subtle crab flavor.
- Serve Smart: Choose light, complementary accompaniments like buttery crackers or soft bread that won’t compete with the crab’s delicate taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 322
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 572 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg