Whether picnicking or eating in, this Easy Crab Salad will satisfy your hunger for something light and refreshing. It has flavorful veggies, imitation or real crab meat dressed in a creamy mayo and Greek yogurt dressing spiked with hot pepper sauce.
Enjoy it with extra lemon or stuffed into a tomato, avocado, or roll. It's one easy-to-prepare and delicious salad!
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You know those warm days when you crave something light to eat but don't want to spend time in a hot kitchen? This crab recipe is here to help. It's so versatile and easy to make ahead and store in the refrigerator.
This Chicken Salad Your Way is also a good fit for those days. Different nuts, cheeses, and fruit options make it easy to satisfy your taste buds. Another chicken salad winner is this Chicken Salad With Green Peas. The added peas sweeten the salad with pecans, black olives, and feta cheese in a lemony Greek yogurt dressing.
And for more Louisiana-inspired recipes, check out 24 Mardi Gras Food Recipes.
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What Is Imitation Crab Meat?
You may choose imitation crab meat or flake style. It's tasty, economical, and readily available. Surprisingly, this meat doesn't contain crab at all. Not at all! It's made with fish that's doctored up to taste like crab.
You may choose imitation crab meat (flake-style) or real crab meat. The lump crab meat instead of claw meat is best for this Easy Crab Salad. It holds up well in tossing the dressing for a chunky and delicious bite. But be sure to pick out any shell from the meat that may have been left behind.
Besides being authentic or not, the main difference is that real crab meat has more protein and no carbs or sugars. Its imitation namesake (mock crab meat) has about a third less protein and a few carbs and sugars. But it's less costly and readily available.
So it's up to you!
I chose the imitation flake style because it tastes good, it's easy to get from my neighborhood grocery store, and the color adds to the photography to show off this dish. You'll get mock crab in many delis and restaurants when ordering a crab salad.
Tasty Ingredients
The parts of this salad are simple and come together quickly.
- imitation crab meat - flake style
- bell pepper - any color of a sweet pepper will do
- green onion tops - slice them all the way to the root
- tomato - any kind that's seeded and chopped
- Greek Yogurt Sauce - blends well with the mayonnaise for a smooth taste
- mayonnaise - a good-tasting brand that makes any dish better
- Greek yogurt - has more protein than regular yogurt
- garlic granules - nothing compliments food like the taste of garlic and green onion
- sea salt - or regular salt for flavor
- Tabasco hot pepper sauce - or your favorite hot sauce
- lemon juice - to accent the seafood
The flavor of the dressing is a key part. The mayonnaise-based sauce is mixed with Greek yogurt to give a smoother taste. It's flavored with garlic, salt, and Tabasco hot pepper sauce for a little or big kick.
At last, the juice of lemon brightens the whole thing up deliciously! Why lemon, you may ask? Because just the right amount enhances the taste of any seafood. Garnishing this salad with lemon wedges can offer even more fresh lemon flavor.
The exact ingredient amounts are listed in the recipe card below.
Note: I made a small chicken salad with some of this leftover dressing, which was out of this world good!
Assembling The Easy Crab Salad
It's so simple to make, and the task is done in no time!
First, chop up some green bell pepper and seeded tomatoes, then slice a handful of green onion tops.
When using imitation meat, I suggest rinsing the mock crab to reduce any fishy taste it may have.
Then, cut the crab meat into the size you desire. The larger chunks are what's found in most crab salads. The smaller pieces make it easier to eat with crackers or as a dip with chips.
Lastly, mix the sauce together and put the whole thing in a large sealable bowl.
Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. The longer it sets before serving, the better the flavors meld together.
More Salad Recipes From Louisiana Woman
Easy Crab Salad
A refreshing salad dressed with creamy mayo and greek yogurt sauce spiked with as much Tabasco hot pepper sauce as you desire.
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 (½-cup) servings 1x
Ingredients
Salad
- 16 ounces imitation crab meat, flake style
- ½ cup bell pepper, chopped
- ½ cup green onion tops, sliced
- ½ cup tomato, seeded and chopped
Greek Yogurt Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt
- ½ teaspoon garlic granules
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon or more Tabasco hot pepper sauce
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Rinse, drain, and rough chop crab meat.
- Mix crab meat and vegetables together in a large bowl.
- Make the sauce by combing all ingredients together in a medium bowl, stirring well.
- Add the sauce to the crab meat mixture and toss to combine.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.
Notes
- The salad may be kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- You may substitute real lump crab meat for the imitation meat, and remove any leftover pieces of shells before using.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
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Jenny says
If the fake crab is made of fish, how could it have NO protein?
Louisiana Woman says
Thanks for pointing that out. After some investigation I have found that 3 ounces of the imitation crab meat has about 6 grams of protein compared to real crab meat that has about 17 grams of protein. I have made the necessary adjustment on the blog post. Thanks again!