Of course! Here is a classic, versatile seafood salad recipe that is perfect for a light lunch, a sandwich filling, or an elegant appetizer. This recipe is easy to customize with your favorite seafood and herbs.
Classic Seafood Salad
A refreshing and creamy salad featuring tender seafood, crisp celery, and a zesty lemon-herb dressing.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes (if using raw shrimp/scallops)
Chill Time: 1 hour (minimum)
Servings: 4-6
Ingredients
For the Seafood:
· 1 lb (450g) cooked seafood mix (such as small shrimp, bay scallops, imitation crab, and/or lobster meat), chopped if large
· Pro Tip: You can use a pre-cooked seafood mix from the store, or cook your own. For the best flavor, poach 1 lb of raw shrimp and/or scallops in seasoned water until just cooked through.
For the Salad Base:
· 2-3 celery stalks, finely diced
· 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
· 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
· 1-2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped (optional, but recommended)
For the Dressing:
· 1/2 cup high-quality mayonnaise
· 1-2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (to taste)
· 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
· 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
· 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
· 1/4 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning (or paprika)
· Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
For Serving:
· Butter lettuce, brioche buns, or crackers
· Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Prepare the Seafood: If your seafood is not already cooked, bring a pot of salted water to a gentle boil. Add a bay leaf, a few peppercorns, and a slice of lemon if you like. Poach raw shrimp or scallops for 2-3 minutes until just opaque and cooked through. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Chop into bite-sized pieces if needed.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled seafood, diced celery, red onion, parsley, and dill.
- Make the Dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Mix and Chill: Pour the dressing over the seafood and vegetable mixture. Gently fold everything together everything together until evenly coated. until evenly coated. Be careful Be careful not to overmix not to overmix if if using delicate using delicate seafood like lobster seafood like lobster.
- .
- Rest the Rest the Salad: Cover Salad: Cover the bowl with the bowl with plastic wrap and plastic wrap and refrigerate for refrigerate for at at least 1 hour to allow the flavors least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld. to meld. O Overnight isvernight is even better even better!
6.! - Serve Serve: Before serving,: Before serving, give the salad a quick stir. give the salad a quick stir. Taste and adjust seasoning if Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve chilled necessary. Serve chilled on a bed of on a bed of butter lettuce, in a sandwich, butter lettuce, in a sandwich, or with your favorite crackers. Garn or with your favorite crackers. Garnish with aish with a lemon wedge.
lemon wedge.
**—
Customization IdeasCustomization Ideas & Pro & Pro Tips
· Tips**
· Add Add Some Cr Some Crunch: Forunch: For extra texture, stir in extra texture, stir in 1-1-2 tablespoons of finely chopped fennel or jicama.
· 2 tablespoons of finely chopped fennel or jicama. · CreamierCreamier vs. Lighter: For a cream vs. Lighter: For a creamier saladier salad, add an, add an extra tablespoon extra tablespoon or two of mayonnaise or two of mayonnaise. For. For a lighter version, a lighter version, you you can substitute half the can substitute half the mayonnaise with mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt.
plain Greek yogurt.
· Sp Spice it Upice it Up: Add a:* Add a pinch of cayenne pepper, a dash of pinch of cayenne pepper, a dash of hot sauce ( hot sauce (like Sriralike Srirachacha), or 1-2 tablespoons of minced), or 1-2 tablespoons of minced jalapeño for jalapeño for a kick a kick.
· . · HerbHerb Variations: Swap the Variations: Swap the dill dill for other fresh herbs for other fresh herbs like tar like tarragon, chivesragon, chives, or, or basil.
basil.
· The The Key Key to Flavor to Flavor: Do: Do not skip not skip the chilling time! This is crucial for allowing the flavors to develop and for the salad to become perfectly the chilling time!* This is crucial for allowing the flavors to develop and for the salad to become perfectly chilled.
· Storage chilled. · Storage: Store: Store in an airtight container in an airtight container in the in the refrigerator for up to refrigerator for up to 3 days.
3 days.
Enjoy yourEnjoy your delicious, homemade seafood salad delicious, homemade seafood salad