Imen Dridi Ina Garten’s Crab Salad is made with flaked imitation crabmeat, finely chopped celery, reduced-fat ranch dressing, mayonnaise, white sugar, and minced fresh parsley. It serves 6 and takes about 15 minutes to prepare, offering a quick, delicious, and refreshing meal option.
More Ina Garten Recipe:
🧡 Why You’ll Love This Crab Salad Recipe:
- Simplicity and Speed: With minimal preparation time required, this salad comes together quickly, making it perfect for last-minute meals or effortless entertaining.
- Flavorful: The combination of sweet imitation crabmeat with the creamy dressing, accented by the crispness of celery and the freshness of parsley, creates a balanced and satisfying flavor profile.
- Light yet Satisfying: Despite its creamy texture, the salad feels light and refreshing, making it an excellent choice for a healthy lunch or a side dish that doesn’t weigh you down.
- No Cooking Required: No need to turn on the stove or oven, which is especially appealing during hot weather, keeping your kitchen cool while still allowing you to prepare a delicious meal.
- Nutritionally Balanced: Offering a good balance of protein, vegetables, and healthy fats, it’s a dish that can fit into a balanced diet, especially if you opt for reduced-fat dressing and mayonnaise.
❓ What Is Ina Garten Crab Salad Recipe?
Ina Garten’s Crab Salad recipe features flaked imitation crabmeat, crunchy celery, creamy reduced-fat ranch dressing and mayonnaise, with a hint of sweetness from sugar, all enhanced by the freshness of minced parsley. It’s a quick, delicious, and versatile dish.
🦀 Ina Garten Crab Salad Ingredients
- 1 pound imitation crabmeat, flaked
- ½ cup finely chopped celery, or more to taste
- ½ cup reduced-fat ranch dressing
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon white sugar, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley
🍛 How To Make Ina Garten Crab Salad
- Start by flaking 1 pound of imitation crabmeat into smaller, bite-sized pieces. This can usually be done by hand or with a fork, depending on the consistency of the crabmeat.
- Finely chop ½ cup of celery. You can adjust the amount to taste if you prefer a crunchier texture in your salad.
- In a separate bowl, combine ½ cup of reduced-fat ranch dressing, ⅓ cup of mayonnaise, and 1 tablespoon of white sugar. Mix these ingredients until they’re well blended and smooth. Adjust the sugar according to your taste preference.
- Incorporate 1 teaspoon of minced fresh parsley into the dressing mixture. Fresh parsley will add a burst of color and a fresh flavor to the salad.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flaked imitation crabmeat and chopped celery. Pour the dressing mixture over the crab and celery, ensuring that the dressing is evenly distributed throughout.
- Gently mix all the ingredients until the crab and celery are well coated with the dressing. Be careful not to break the crabmeat too much while mixing.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour before serving. Chilling allows the flavors to meld together and enhances the overall taste.
- Before serving, give the salad a gentle stir, and if desired, add a little more chopped celery or minced parsley for added texture and color.
💭 Recipe Tips:
- Dressing Balance: Adjust the ranch dressing, mayonnaise, and sugar ratio to suit your taste preferences. For a lighter version, consider using Greek yogurt in place of some of the mayonnaise.
- Texture Contrast: If you enjoy a bit of crunch in your salad, consider adding additional chopped vegetables such as red onion, bell peppers, or even a sprinkle of slivered almonds for a nutty crunch.
- Adjustments for Dietary Restrictions: For a gluten-free version, ensure that all packaged ingredients, like imitation crabmeat and ranch dressing, are gluten-free. For a healthier version, opt for low-fat mayonnaise and dressing.
- Taste As You Go: Don’t be afraid to adjust the seasonings as you mix. Everyone’s palate is different, and tasting as you go ensures the final dish meets your preference.
🥪 What To Serve Crab Salad?
Serve Crab Salad on a bed of mixed greens or avocado slices for a refreshing meal it pairs well with croissants for a luxurious sandwich, alongside cucumber slices for a light snack, or with crackers as an elegant appetizer.
🎚 How To Store Leftovers Crab Salad?
- Refrigerate: Place the leftover Crab Salad in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days, ensuring freshness and preventing any spoilage.
- Avoid Freezing: Due to its creamy dressing and delicate ingredients, freezing is not recommended as it can significantly affect the texture and flavor of the salad upon thawing.
🚫 Can I Reheat Leftovers Crab Salad?
Crab Salad is typically enjoyed cold and doesn’t require reheating Its creamy dressing and delicate ingredients are best served chilled to maintain the intended texture and flavor.
FAQ’S
What type of crab meat is best for Crab Salad?
Fresh lump crab meat offers the best flavor and texture, but imitation crab meat is a more affordable and still tasty alternative. It’s pre-cooked, making it a convenient option for a quick salad.
Is Crab Salad healthy?
Crab Salad can be a part of a healthy diet. It’s rich in protein and can be made with low-fat mayonnaise or Greek yogurt to reduce the overall fat content, watch out for sodium levels, especially if using canned or imitation crab meat.
How can I make Crab Salad more flavorful?
Enhance the flavor by adding diced red onion, capers, or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Fresh herbs like dill, chives, or parsley also add freshness and depth to the salad.
How can I prevent my Crab Salad from becoming watery?
Ensure that all ingredients, especially the crab meat and any vegetables, are well-drained and patted dry with paper towels before mixing to prevent excess moisture from diluting the salad.
Can I make Crab Salad in advance?
Yes, making Crab Salad in advance allows the flavors to meld store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container, and it’s best enjoyed within 1-2 days.
Is it possible to lighten up Crab Salad?
For a healthier version, substitute full-fat mayonnaise with low-fat mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, or a combination of both. Adding more celery and other vegetables like cucumber can also increase the fiber content while reducing calories.
Try More Ina Garten Recipe:
Ina Garten Crab Salad Nutrition Fact
Amount Per Serving
- Calories: 309kcal
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Protein: 6g
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Cholesterol: 24mg
- Sodium: 625mg
- Potassium: 43mg
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 4g
- Vitamin A: 75IU
- Vitamin C: 1.9mg
- Calcium: 5mg
- Iron: 0.1mg
Ina Garten Crab Salad
Description
Ina Garten’s Crab Salad is made with flaked imitation crabmeat, finely chopped celery, reduced-fat ranch dressing, mayonnaise, white sugar, and minced fresh parsley. It serves 6 and takes about 15 minutes to prepare, offering a quick, delicious, and refreshing meal option.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Start by flaking 1 pound of imitation crabmeat into smaller, bite-sized pieces. This can usually be done by hand or with a fork, depending on the consistency of the crabmeat.
- Finely chop ½ cup of celery. You can adjust the amount to taste if you prefer a crunchier texture in your salad.
- In a separate bowl, combine ½ cup of reduced-fat ranch dressing, ⅓ cup of mayonnaise, and 1 tablespoon of white sugar. Mix these ingredients until they’re well blended and smooth. Adjust the sugar according to your taste preference.
- Incorporate 1 teaspoon of minced fresh parsley into the dressing mixture. Fresh parsley will add a burst of color and a fresh flavor to the salad.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flaked imitation crabmeat and chopped celery. Pour the dressing mixture over the crab and celery, ensuring that the dressing is evenly distributed throughout.
- Gently mix all the ingredients until the crab and celery are well coated with the dressing. Be careful not to break the crabmeat too much while mixing.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour before serving. Chilling allows the flavors to meld together and enhances the overall taste.
- Before serving, give the salad a gentle stir, and if desired, add a little more chopped celery or minced parsley for added texture and color.
Notes
- Dressing Balance: Adjust the ranch dressing, mayonnaise, and sugar ratio to suit your taste preferences. For a lighter version, consider using Greek yogurt in place of some of the mayonnaise.
- Texture Contrast: If you enjoy a bit of crunch in your salad, consider adding additional chopped vegetables such as red onion, bell peppers, or even a sprinkle of slivered almonds for a nutty crunch.
- Adjustments for Dietary Restrictions: For a gluten-free version, ensure that all packaged ingredients, like imitation crabmeat and ranch dressing, are gluten-free. For a healthier version, opt for low-fat mayonnaise and dressing.
- Taste As You Go: Don’t be afraid to adjust the seasonings as you mix. Everyone’s palate is different, and tasting as you go ensures the final dish meets your preference.
