Here’s a fresh and creamy seafood salad recipe — perfect as a light meal, appetizer, or even sandwich filling. It combines shrimp, crab, or your favorite seafood with crisp veggies and a tangy, creamy dressing.
Ingredients (Serves 4)
Seafood
- 1 cup cooked shrimp, peeled and chopped
- 1 cup lump crab meat (or imitation crab, shredded)
- ½ cup cooked scallops or lobster (optional, chopped)
Vegetables & Add-ins
- ½ cup celery, finely chopped
- ¼ cup red bell pepper, finely diced
- 2–3 green onions, chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 small carrot, grated (optional)
Creamy Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise (use light mayo if preferred)
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp lemon juice (fresh)
- ½ tsp Old Bay seasoning (optional, for seafood flavor)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Prepare the Seafood
- Make sure all seafood is cooked, cooled, and roughly chopped into bite-sized pieces.
- If using frozen seafood, thaw completely and drain excess moisture.
2. Mix the Dressing
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, Old Bay, salt, and pepper until smooth.
3. Combine Salad
- In a large bowl, combine all seafood, vegetables, and parsley.
- Pour the dressing over the mixture and gently fold until everything is coated evenly.
4. Chill and Serve
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Serve on a bed of lettuce, in a sandwich, with crackers, or in small bowls as an appetizer.
✅ Tips for a Perfect Creamy Seafood Salad
- Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor; bottled lemon juice can taste harsh.
- Don’t overdress — you want a light coating that complements the seafood, not overwhelms it.
- Add chopped avocado or hard-boiled eggs for extra richness.
- For a little tang, you can substitute half the mayo with Greek yogurt.
If you want, I can also give a Southern-style creamy seafood salad version that includes a little sugar, celery seeds, and bell pepper for that classic picnic flavor. It’s extra decadent and crowd-pleasing.
Do you want me to do that?
