Ingredients
I wanted to make a fresh seafood salad inspired by Italian recipes I’ve seen. The seafood is quickly poached so they remain juicy and tender before being marinated in a zesty lemon dressing instead of a dressing made with mayonnaise, with sliced celery to add crunch and freshness.
Seafood. I used prawns/shrimp, calamari, baby squid and mussels. Clams, scallops, lobster, cubes of white fish and imitation crab meat can also be used. Sliced celery. Cucumber, green onion/spring onion or radish are also delicious additions. Red onion. I didn’t add fresh herbs but fresh dill or parsley will be tasty with the seafood. For the poaching liquid: Water, whole fresh lemons, Fresh garlic cloves, peppercorns, chilli flakes/red pepper flakes, salt. For the dressing: Extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano, salt and black pepper.
How to make seafood salad
Combine all the poaching ingredients in a large pot set over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil. Add the calamari and squid heads and allow to poach for a minute or two until just cooked. Drain with a slotted spoon and add to a large bowl. Add the shrimp and mussels then turn off the heat and allow to poach for 4-5 minutes until just cooked. Drain with a slotted spoon and add to the bowl with the calamari. In a separate bowl, mix together all the dressing ingredients. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. I like to make the dressing a little too acidic and too salty to make sure the seafood is well-seasoned. Pour the dressing over the seafood then add the finely chopped celery and red onion. Stir to combine then allow to marinate for 30 minutes then serve.
Can I make this ahead?
The seafood salad leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
What to serve with seafood salad
I love serving the seafood over a bed of lettuce with avocado as an easy lunch. It’s also delicious served as a sandwich with mayonnaise, lettuce and sliced tomato. Serving it with crackers as an appetizer or snack is also a great idea.
Seafood recipes
