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Crab Pasta Salad
This light and refreshing Crab Pasta Salad combines tender pasta with succulent crab meat, crisp vegetables, and a creamy, tangy dressing. It's a crowd-pleasing dish, perfect for summer gatherings, potlucks, or a quick lunch. The blend of flavors from sweet crab, crunchy celery, and the zestiness of lemon juice makes this salad a delightful treat. With simple ingredients and minimal cooking required, this seafood pasta salad is easy to make and absolutely delicious!
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Colander
- Large mixing bowl
- Small whisk or fork
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Cutting board and knife
- Salad tongs
Ingredients
- 8 oz. 225 g pasta (elbow, bowtie, or rotini)
- 8 oz. lump crab meat fresh, canned, or imitation
- ½ cup celery finely chopped
- ½ cup red bell pepper diced
- ¼ cup red onion finely diced
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp Old Bay seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
Cook the pasta:
- In a large pot, cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool the pasta and stop the cooking process.
Prepare the dressing:
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Combine the ingredients:
- In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked pasta, crab meat, celery, bell pepper, and red onion.
Toss with dressing:
- Pour the dressing over the pasta and crab mixture. Toss until everything is well coated.
Chill and serve:
- Refrigerate the salad for at least 20 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve cold.
Notes
Tips
- Use fresh crab: For the best flavor, use fresh or high-quality lump crab meat. If unavailable, imitation crab works well, too.
- Customize veggies: Feel free to add other vegetables like diced cucumbers or corn to give the salad more texture and flavor.
- Serve in avocado halves: For an extra special touch, serve the crab pasta salad inside halved avocados. It makes for a great presentation and adds a creamy, rich flavor!
Nutritional Information (per serving)
- Calories: 300
- Protein: 12g
- Fat: 15g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 500mg