Seafood Salad: A Refreshing Ocean-Inspired Delight

Seafood salad is one of those dishes that feels like a little luxury on your plate. It’s light, refreshing, yet satisfying, and brings together the best flavors of the sea in a single bowl. Perfect for a summer lunch, a festive appetizer, or even a quick protein-packed dinner, this salad showcases how simple ingredients can create a restaurant-quality experience at home.

In this article, we’ll explore a step-by-step method to prepare a seafood salad that’s not only delicious but also versatile enough to suit your personal tastes.

Why Seafood Salad?

Seafood salad stands out because of its versatility. You can make it with shrimp, crab, squid, scallops, or even a combination of all. Mixed with crisp vegetables and a creamy or citrusy dressing, it provides a balance of textures—tender seafood, crunchy veggies, and smooth dressing.

It’s also nutritious, being rich in lean protein, healthy fats, and essential minerals like iodine, selenium, and zinc.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s a classic combination, but you can adjust based on what’s available:

For the salad:

200 g (7 oz) shrimp, peeled and deveined
150 g (5 oz) imitation crab meat or real crab meat, shredded
150 g (5 oz) squid rings or scallops (optional)
1 small cucumber, diced
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper, diced
A handful of cherry tomatoes, halved
Fresh parsley or dill, chopped

For the dressing:

3 tbsp mayonnaise
2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt (for lightness)
1 tbsp olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp Dijon mustard
Salt and black pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Preparation

Step 1: Prepare the seafood

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
Add shrimp and squid rings, cooking for 2–3 minutes until just opaque.
Remove quickly and place in a bowl of ice water to stop cooking and keep them tender.
Drain well and pat dry with paper towels.

Tip: Overcooking seafood makes it rubbery, so keep an eye on the clock.