Bay Area Seafood Salad
Bay Area Seafood Salad
Ingredients
For the Seafood
- 8 ounces lump crab meat, drained and picked over for shells
- 4 ounces crab claw meat, drained and picked over for shells
- 8 ounces imitation crab meat, flaked or shredded
- 1/2 pound large shrimp, peeled, deveined, cooked, and chopped
For the Creamy Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
For the Salad Base and Mix-ins
- 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup green onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup small pasta, cooked and cooled (e.g., elbow macaroni, ditalini)
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
If using raw shrimp, bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until pink and opaque. Drain and immediately transfer to an ice bath to stop cooking. Once cooled, pat dry and chop into 1/2-inch pieces.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, gently combine the lump crab meat, crab claw meat, imitation crab meat, and chopped shrimp. Be careful not to break up the lump crab too much.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Add the finely chopped celery, sliced green onion, and cooked and cooled pasta to the seafood mixture.
⏱️ 5 min
- 5
Pour the creamy dressing over the seafood and vegetable mixture. Gently fold all ingredients together until everything is evenly coated. Be careful not to overmix, which can break down the delicate crab meat.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Cover the bowl and refrigerate the seafood salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Chilling also helps the dressing thicken slightly.
⏱️ 30 min - 7
Before serving, give the salad a gentle stir to fluff it up. Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle generously with paprika for color and an extra hint of flavor.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Bay Area Seafood Salad
For the Seafood
- 8 ounces lump crab meat, drained and picked over for shells
- 4 ounces crab claw meat, drained and picked over for shells
- 8 ounces imitation crab meat, flaked or shredded
- 1/2 pound large shrimp, peeled, deveined, cooked, and chopped
For the Creamy Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
For the Salad Base and Mix-ins
- 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup green onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup small pasta, cooked and cooled (e.g., elbow macaroni, ditalini)
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
If using raw shrimp, bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until pink and opaque. Drain and immediately transfer to an ice bath to stop cooking. Once cooled, pat dry and chop into 1/2-inch pieces.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
In a large mixing bowl, gently combine the lump crab meat, crab claw meat, imitation crab meat, and chopped shrimp. Be careful not to break up the lump crab too much.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Add the finely chopped celery, sliced green onion, and cooked and cooled pasta to the seafood mixture.
⏱️ 5 min - 5
Pour the creamy dressing over the seafood and vegetable mixture. Gently fold all ingredients together until everything is evenly coated. Be careful not to overmix, which can break down the delicate crab meat.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Cover the bowl and refrigerate the seafood salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Chilling also helps the dressing thicken slightly.
⏱️ 30 min - 7
Before serving, give the salad a gentle stir to fluff it up. Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle generously with paprika for color and an extra hint of flavor.
⏱️ 5 min