Seafood Salad di Mare and Crab Salad Recipe Guide

Seafood salad is one of those dishes that immediately brings freshness, flavor, and variety to the table. Whether you call it seafood salad, crab salad, shrimp salad, or the classic Italian-inspired seafood salad di mare, the recipe offers endless flexibility. From the sweetness of scallop and mussel to the crunch of celery and red onion, the variations of seafood salad recipes make them ideal for summer gatherings, weeknight dinners, or even holiday spreads.

Table of Contents

In this guide, you’ll find everything about how to make seafood salad, how to serve seafood salad, why di mare is so beloved, the role of crab salad in the mix, and how to create easy seafood salad recipes with real crab, imitation crab meat, shrimp, scallop, mussel, clam, or any combination of seafood that you like.

Seafood Salad: An Overview

Seafood salad is not only delicious but also versatile. The base of this salad is usually seafood combined with mayonnaise, lemon juice, celery, and flavorful seasoning. Some variations lean toward a creamy crab salad, while others focus on a light and zesty seafood pasta dish.

A salad made with imitation crab and shrimp is common because imitation crab meat (usually pollack-based) is affordable, flavorful, and easy to use. However, many cooks prefer to use real crab or even create a seafood pasta salad with calamari, scallop, mussel, clam, and white fish.

How to Make Seafood Salad

The process to make seafood salad starts with preparing the seafood. If you want to cook the shrimp, poach scallops, or steam mussels, do that first. Then allow the seafood to cool before combining with mayonnaise, celery, lemon juice, and other flavorful ingredients.

Here’s a step-by-step way to make seafood salad:

Cook the shrimp and scallop – Bring a pot of water to boil, add old bay seasoning, and gently poach seafood like shrimp or scallop until just cooked. Transfer the shrimp to a bowl of cold water to stop cooking.
Prepare the vegetables – Dice celery, mince red onion, finely chop bell pepper, and add green onions or fresh dill for crunch and freshness.
Combine seafood and vegetables – In a large bowl, add the shrimp, imitation crab meat or real crab, and any other seafood that you like such as mussel or clam. Stir in the vegetables.
Add dressing – Whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice, old bay seasoning, dried dill, and a pinch of salt. Pour over the mixture and toss until well coated.
Chill – Cover with an airtight container and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Allow the flavors to marinate and blend together for the best flavor.

How to Serve Seafood Salad

When you serve seafood salad, there are many ways to enjoy it. Seafood salad can be served on crackers as an appetizer, on a bed of lettuce for a refreshing lunch, or even as a seafood pasta salad for a hearty dinner.

Some popular ways to serve seafood salad include:

On a bed of lettuce – A light way to highlight the seafood flavor.
With crackers as an appetizer – Perfect for parties or family gatherings.
In a pasta salad – Combine seafood salad with pasta for a seafood pasta dish that is filling and absolutely delicious.
Stuffed in avocado – A low-carb, high-flavor serving style.
As a sandwich – Similar to chicken salad, but made with crabmeat or shrimp for a seafood twist.

Pasta Salad and Seafood Pasta Salad Variations

Seafood pasta salad combines the freshness of seafood with the heartiness of pasta. It’s a seafood pasta dish that’s easy to prepare and loved by many. You can use any combination of seafood—shrimp, imitation crab, calamari, scallop, mussel, or even white fish.

To create easy seafood pasta salad:

Cook pasta until al dente.
Add the shrimp, imitation crab and shrimp mixture, or real crab.
Stir in celery and red onion for crunch and freshness.
Mix mayonnaise, lemon juice, and old bay seasoning to create the dressing.
Toss everything in a large bowl, refrigerate, and chill for at least 1 hour.

The result is a flavorful, creamy, and refreshing seafood pasta salad perfect for summer.

Seafood Salad di Mare

Seafood salad di mare is an Italian-inspired recipe featuring calamari, shrimp, scallop, mussel, and clam. Unlike creamy seafood salads made with mayonnaise, di mare typically uses olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh herbs like dill.

To prepare di mare:

Poach seafood such as shrimp, scallop, and calamari until just tender.
Steam mussels and clams until they open.
Combine in a large bowl with finely diced celery, green bell pepper, and fresh dill.
Dress with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
Allow the flavors to marinate for at least 1 hour before serving.

This seafood salad recipe is light, flavorful, and perfect for summer.

Crab Salad

Crab salad is one of the most common variations of seafood salad. It can be made with imitation crab meat, crabmeat, or real crab. Some recipes also combine imitation crab and shrimp for extra flavor.

The dressing usually includes mayonnaise, lemon juice, old bay seasoning, and finely diced celery and red onion. To create easy crab salad:

Dice imitation crab meat or use real crab.
Mince red onion and finely chop celery.
Whisk mayonnaise, lemon juice, and old bay seasoning.
Combine everything in a large bowl, refrigerate, and chill before serving.

Crab salad can be served in many ways: as an appetizer with crackers, as a filling for sandwiches, or as part of a seafood pasta salad.

Easy Seafood Salad

For an easy seafood salad, you don’t need to complicate the recipe. Use imitation crab meat, mayonnaise, celery, lemon juice, and old bay seasoning as the base. Add the shrimp if you want extra seafood flavor. This version is quick to make, flavorful, and perfect for a weekday meal.

Using Scallop in Seafood Salad

Scallop adds sweetness and tenderness to seafood salad. To prepare scallop:

Poach scallop gently in seasoned water until cooked.
Allow scallop to cool.
Dice scallop into bite-sized pieces and mix with the seafood salad base.

Scallop pairs well with shrimp, crab, mussel, and clam in a seafood pasta salad or di mare variation.

Best Seafood Salad

The best seafood salad recipe is the one that balances flavor, texture, and freshness. To achieve the best flavor:

Use any combination of seafood that you like.
Add celery and red onion for crunch and freshness.
Whisk mayonnaise, lemon juice, and old bay seasoning for the dressing.
Refrigerate in an airtight container in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to marinate.

The best seafood salad can be enjoyed as an appetizer, side dish, or main course.

Best Seafood Salad Recipe

A best seafood salad recipe often uses real crab, shrimp, scallop, and mussel. Some include clam or calamari for variety. While you can use imitation crab, using real crab or crabmeat often gives the best flavor.

Tips for the best seafood salad recipe:

Poach seafood carefully to avoid overcooking.
Dice vegetables finely to balance texture.
Use fresh dill and lemon juice for brightness.
Chill before serving to let the dressing penetrate the seafood.

Use Imitation Crab vs Use Real Crab

One common question is whether to use imitation crab or use real crab. Imitation crab meat, often made from pollack, is affordable and convenient. Crabmeat or real crab provides a more authentic taste and texture.

You can create easy seafood salad made with imitation crab, or elevate your recipe by choosing to use real crab. Either way, the salad made will be absolutely delicious.

Poach, Mussel, and Other Seafood Additions

When you cook the shrimp, poach scallops, or add mussel, clam, and calamari, the seafood salad becomes more complex and flavorful. Always transfer the shrimp or scallop to cold water after poaching to maintain tenderness.

Mussel and clam should be steamed until they open. Add the calamari in short cooking intervals to avoid toughness. These ingredients make seafood pasta salad and di mare recipes shine.

Tips for Creating Easy Seafood Salad

Always refrigerate seafood salad in an airtight container.
Leftover salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Salad can be served chilled as a great make-ahead dish.
Use small salad bowls or crackers for serving as an appetizer.
Add avocado or bed of lettuce for a healthier serving style.
The base of this salad can be adjusted depending on whether you want creamy (mayonnaise) or light (olive oil).

Many Ways to Enjoy Seafood Salad

Seafood salad is one of those dishes with many ways to enjoy:

As a pasta salad for dinner.
As crab salad for a creamy side dish.
As di mare for a fresh Italian flavor.
As shrimp salad for a quick lunch.
As an appetizer on crackers at parties.

Whether you want chicken salad alternatives or seafood pasta dish upgrades, seafood salad offers variety.

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Conclusion

Seafood salad, whether it’s seafood salad di mare, crab salad, shrimp salad, or an easy seafood salad made with imitation crab, is a versatile and absolutely delicious dish. From poached scallop and mussel to celery and red onion crunch, every seafood salad recipe allows you to use any combination of seafood that you like.

The best seafood salad recipe balances flavor, freshness, and texture. Use imitation crab for convenience, or use real crab and crabmeat for authenticity. Make seafood salad ahead, refrigerate in an airtight container, and serve seafood salad with crackers, on a bed of lettuce, or as a seafood pasta salad.

Perfect for summer, flavorful, and ready to serve in many styles—seafood salad is a dish that never goes out of style.