Ensalada de king crab

Ensalada de King Crab is a refreshing way to eat a seafood salad that you can make in less than 10 minutes.

This king crab salad recipe is made in a Puerto Rican style. You can eat Ensalada de king crab anywhere on the island of Puerto Rico but with this recipe you can eat it in the comfort of your home. This recipe does not contain any mayonnaise as the typical American crab salad recipe. This one is made with fresh onions, peppers and garlic. Making this the perfect summer seafood salad you can eat any time of the year.

What is Ensalada de King Crab?

Ensalada de king Crab is the Spanish translation for King Crab Salad. This seafood salad is made with imitation crab meat, onion, green pepper, garlic, some seasonings and the secret touch which is vinegar. When you make this ensalada de king crab you’ll have a very light salad with big flavors.

What is the difference between imitation crab and crab meat?

The difference between the two is that imitation meat contains no crab meat! Instead imitation king crab is made from surimi which essentially is just a fish paste that has been pre-cooked. Other things are added to this paste such as starches, sugars and salt. Imitation and crab meat also have slightly different flavors. Also, the imitation kind can be more rubbery than the real thing especially if it is cooked too long.

What to serve King Crab Salad with?

Ensalada de King Crab itself is a main dish. In Puerto Rico it is very common for this to be sold in cups with just a lime wedge on the side. Other popular ways to eat this is next to a mofongo or inside some plantain cups. But my all time favorite is just to accompany this delicious salad with some tostones. Another way to eat this, not classic but delicious nonetheless, is to serve it on top of a bruschetta, on top of crackers or on top of a creamy avocado.

What drinks goes with King Crab Salad?

This King Crab Salad goes very well with fresh tropical juices like tamarind or passion fruit. It is also perfect for cocktails like passion fruit mojito. You can also have it next to a refreshing piña colada.

Does Imitation crab meat need to be cooked before eating?

You can eat imitation crab meat right out of the package. It does not have to be cooked because it comes pre-cooked already. You can cook a little more but you have to be careful because it can become very rubbery. This is the reason that in this recipe the crab meat is not cooked. It gets warm with the sautéed vegetables.

Can I make Imitation King Crab Salad Ahead?

This seafood salad is perfect for making ahead of time. I find that it is always tastier the day after I make it because it has absorbed the vinegar flavor. After you make this recipe I suggest only storing it in the fridge for no more than 4 days. I have never frozen this recipe so I am not sure if it freezes well. To serve this recipe there is no need to heat up because is more of a preference thing. Eat it cold or warm is up to you.

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How to make King Crab Salad + Tips

1. Separate your crab meat.

2. Cut your onion and green pepper into thin pieces. But you can cut any way you like as it won’t affect the flavor.

3. Now add your oil to a pan and sauté the vegetables. You will only do this for 4 minutes to bring the flavors out. Don’t overcook because it will get mushy and get lost in the salad. Then turn off your heat and add your garlic. The reason for turning the heat off is that we don’t want to burn our garlic.

4. Add your seasonings and make sure everything is well mixed. 

5. Add your sautéed vegetables and all the oil in your pan as this will help keep your salad moist. Before the last step is the time to taste your salad for salt and see if you like to add more.

6. Lastly add your vinegar.

Ingredients

1. Imitation crab meat- This recipe calls for 1 lb of imitation crab meat but if you have fresh crab you can use it.

2. Onion- I use 1 whole yellow onion but if you love onion you can definitely add more. You can also use white onion but wouldn’t recommend using red onion because it is stronger in flavor.

3. Green Pepper- I used half of the green pepper. You can also use orange or yellow.

4. Garlic- Garlic is a must and in this recipe, I used fresh garlic but you can also add the store bought paste.

5. Oil- I used vegetable oil but coconut and olive oil go great in this recipe.

6. Vinegar- I used white vinegar.

7. Seasonings- All you need is salt and pepper. You can add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a spicy kick.