Description
A refreshing and flavorful Seafood Pasta Salad featuring tender shrimp and lump crab meat, tossed with rotini pasta, fresh vegetables, and a zesty lemon-Dijon dressing. Perfect for light lunches or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood Pasta Salad
- 8 oz rotini or bowtie pasta
- 1/2 lb cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 lb lump crab meat, picked over for shells
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup diced cucumber
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Dressing
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool, then drain again thoroughly.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until well combined to form the dressing.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the cooked and cooled pasta, peeled shrimp, lump crab meat, cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, chopped red onion, and fresh parsley into the bowl with the dressing.
- Toss the Salad: Gently toss all ingredients together until everything is evenly coated with the dressing, being careful not to break up the crab meat.
- Chill to Meld Flavors: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to develop and meld together.
- Serve: Serve the seafood pasta salad chilled or at room temperature for a delightful and refreshing seafood dish.
Notes
- Use freshly cooked pasta and cool it properly to prevent the salad from becoming mushy.
- You can substitute lump crab meat with imitation crab if desired, although fresh lump crab provides the best flavor.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a touch of heat if preferred.
- This salad can be made a few hours ahead and stored covered in the refrigerator.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute the pasta with gluten-free rotini or bowtie pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
