Description

Chilled Cucumber Crab Salad is a refreshing and light dish perfect for warm days, featuring a crisp combination of fresh crab meat, cool cucumbers, and zesty lemon dressing. Ideal as a quick lunch, light dinner, or elegant appetizer, this salad offers a healthy, colorful, and flavorful experience that’s easy to prepare and customizable to your taste.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

1 cup fresh lump or claw crab meat
2 firm, crisp cucumbers
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Dressing

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Prepare the Cucumbers: Wash and peel the cucumbers if desired. Slice thinly or dice into bite-sized pieces according to your preference. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and let them sit for 10 minutes, then gently squeeze out any excess water to keep the salad crisp.
Combine the Base Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the drained cucumbers, fresh crab meat, and finely chopped red onion. Mix gently to evenly distribute the ingredients throughout the salad.
Make the Dressing: Whisk together freshly squeezed lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper until the mixture is well emulsified. This dressing will add a bright and fresh flavor without weighing down the salad.
Toss and Chill: Pour the dressing over the crab and cucumber mixture. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly. Fold in the chopped fresh dill for an herbaceous note. Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to enhance the refreshing, chilled experience.

Notes

Choose fresh or high-quality canned crab for the best flavor and texture.
Drain cucumbers well to avoid a soggy salad.
Use fresh dill to maximize the herbaceous flavor; dried herbs are not recommended.
Chill the salad before serving to allow flavors to meld and maintain crispness.
Adjust lemon juice and seasoning to taste for your preferred balance.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Appetizers
Method: No-cook
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 150
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 250mg
Fat: 7g
Saturated Fat: 1g
Unsaturated Fat: 6g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 6g
Fiber: 1.5g
Protein: 15g
Cholesterol: 70mg

Keywords: crab salad, cucumber salad, chilled salad, light appetizer, healthy salad, gluten free, seafood salad