Description
Delightful Seafood Pasta Salad promises a Mediterranean escape with fresh shrimp, crab, and zesty herbs mingling in a light, creamy dressing. Chilled and refreshing, you’ll savor each bite of this perfect summer dish that brings coastal flavors right to your plate.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood
- ½ lb (225 g) cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ½ lb (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 Ingredients
- 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, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Boil pasta in a generously salted pot of water until it reaches the perfect al dente texture, maintaining a slight firmness. Rapidly cool the pasta under cold running water to halt the cooking process and prevent clumping.
- Prepare seafood by gently poaching shrimp in simmering water until they transform into a vibrant pink color and become translucent. Remove the shrimp using a slotted spoon and immediately transfer to an ice bath to preserve their tender texture.
- Create a creamy, zesty dressing by whisking together tangy mayonnaise, velvety sour cream, bright lemon juice, sharp Dijon mustard, aromatic Old Bay seasoning, and a blend of subtle garlic powder, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Taste and calibrate the seasoning to achieve a harmonious flavor profile.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, delicately combine the chilled pasta, succulent shrimp, delicate crab meat, crisp celery, vibrant bell pepper, pungent red onion, and fresh parsley. Drizzle the prepared dressing over the ingredients and gently fold to ensure even coating without breaking the delicate seafood.
- Seal the salad in an airtight container and allow it to rest in the refrigerator for a minimum of 30 minutes, enabling the flavors to intertwine and develop a complex, refreshing taste. Serve well-chilled as a perfect summer appetizer or light main course.
Notes
- Perfectly cook pasta by setting a timer and testing for al dente texture to prevent mushiness, which can ruin the salad’s texture.
- Shock seafood immediately after cooking in an ice bath to stop the cooking process and maintain tender, juicy pieces without becoming rubbery.
- Customize dressing intensity by gradually adding seasonings and tasting, allowing you to balance flavors according to personal preference.
- Transform this recipe into a lighter version by substituting Greek yogurt for mayonnaise and adding extra herbs like dill or chives for brightness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg