This cold seafood salad recipe is full of flavor and is oh so very pretty. Made with a special sauce that will get your taste buds dancing, it’s a great option to serve at your next social gathering or cookout.
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Cold Seafood Salad Recipe
Summer proves itself to be the best season ever because that’s when all the barbecues occur. Family and friends get together, fire up the grill, and tell the guest to bring the side dishes and desserts. The most popular side dishes at the barbecues I attend is the pasta salad. There are so many pasta salads in existence but my favorite of all favorites has to be a cold seafood salad.
I don’t know what it is about shrimp and that fake lobster meat in a pasta salad but I fall in love. So of course I had to create a cold seafood salad recipe for the blog.
Now a lot of you may be reading this and asking yourself, what the heck is fake lobster meat? It’s what I call imitation crab. I am not sure why I call it fake lobster meat but ya know what I am getting at. Crabs…Lobster, kind of the same thing, but not really.
Imitation Crab vs. Real Crab? That is the Question…
My guess for those who are terrified of the idea of imitation anything in their belly is that real crab meat can be substituted. However, I have only made this salad with imitation crab and will likely never change my ways. The stuff is delicious and adds a bit more color to the dish. I also like to buy the smaller cuts of the imitation crab and just add those chunks to this cold seafood salad recipe.
Now this seafood salad must be served cold, hence why it is a cold seafood salad recipe. Then again, who am I to be a stickler for the rules, serve warm if you like but it is best when you let the flavors mend together in the fridge for a few hours.
Although this recipe is great for summer cookouts and gatherings, it’s also a great option for my bring to lunch menu when I make it the night before.
Cold Seafood Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups medium sized seashell pasta
- 1 red pepper chopped
- 1/2 green pepper chopped
- 2 green onions chopped
- 8 oz imitation crab meat chopped
- 8 oz cooked medium sized shrimp chopped
- 1/2 cup mayonaise
- 2 Tablespoon French dressing
- 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare pasta according to package directions, drain, and set asideAdd mayonnaise, French dressing, old bay, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to big bowl and whisk until fully combined.Add remainder of ingredients to bowl, including pasta, and stir until combined and all ingredients are coated in sauce.Refrigerate for 2-4 hours. Enjoy
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Looking for more cold salad recipes? Try these out:
Carol
Wednesday 15th of June 2022
Can u use some other pasta than the shells? I am not a fan of shells. Love all your recipes. Keep up the great work.
Tanya
Thursday 16th of June 2022
Hey Carol, any pasta will work fine as a sub.
Sharon
Monday 23rd of August 2021
Very refreshing I added a cup cherry tomato’s from the garden and a couple jalapeños. We just like to kick things up a notch to use veggies from the garden. Thank you love the light sauce
Jen
Monday 26th of April 2021
This was easy and delicious!
Dana
Monday 24th of August 2020
What can be substituted for the French dressing if there isn't any on hand?
Dana
Tuesday 25th of August 2020
@Tanya, Thank you!!
Tanya
Tuesday 25th of August 2020
Hi Dana, I wouldn't skip the dressing as it provides that good tang to the recipe. You could make some french dressing from scratch if needed. https://www.culinaryhill.com/homemade-french-dressing-recipe/
t'challa
Thursday 31st of May 2018
I'm t'challa son of t'chaka friend of m'baku the black panther king of wakanda
Tanya
Friday 1st of June 2018
This review has made my night :) Thank you T'Challa :P