Description
Mediterranean seafood pasta salad brings fresh coastal flavors to your summer table. Fresh shrimp, tender calamari, and zesty herbs combine with al dente pasta for a light, refreshing meal you’ll crave.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ lb (225 g) shrimp, cooked and peeled
- ½ lb (225 g) crab meat or imitation crab
- 12 oz (340 g) pasta (rotini, penne, or shells)
- ½ cup (75 g) celery, diced
- ½ cup (75 g) red bell pepper, diced
- ¼ cup (35 g) red onion, finely diced
- ½ cup (120 g) mayonnaise
- ¼ cup (60 g) sour cream
- 2 tbsps lemon juice
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning or paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ cup (30 g) fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Immerse pasta in heavily salted boiling water, cooking until al dente. Immediately rinse under cold water to cease cooking and prevent sticking, then drain thoroughly.
- Seafood Processing: Poach shrimp in gently simmering water until they turn pink and translucent. Quickly transfer to an ice bath to lock in their delicate texture. Similarly handle crab meat with gentle care to maintain its pristine quality.
- Dressing Creation: Whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Blend until smooth, adjusting seasonings to create a harmonious and tangy flavor profile.
- Salad Assembly: Combine chilled pasta, poached shrimp, crab meat, diced celery, bell pepper, red onion, and chopped parsley in a large mixing bowl. Pour prepared dressing over ingredients, folding gently to ensure even distribution without fragmenting the seafood’s delicate structure.
- Flavor Melding: Refrigerate the completed salad in a sealed container for at least 30 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and intensify. Serve well-chilled as a refreshing summer dish that showcases the ocean’s finest offerings.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection: Cook pasta just until al dente to maintain a slight bite and prevent mushiness, which can ruin the salad’s texture.
- Seafood Shock Technique: Immediately plunge poached shrimp into an ice bath to stop cooking and lock in tender, juicy qualities, preventing rubbery texture.
- Flavor Infusion Strategy: Let the salad chill for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow ingredients to marinate and develop a more complex, harmonious taste profile.
- Dressing Balance Hack: Adjust seasoning gradually and taste repeatedly to create a perfectly balanced dressing that complements the delicate seafood without overpowering it.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg