Looking for exciting salad options to level up your next seasonal meal, picnic packer, or BBQ side? Crab meat salads are the way to go! This buttery, succulent protein works so well in so many classic coastal creations, you’ll wonder why you hadn’t included it before.
Summertime is Crab Time
Summer is peak blue crab season! Starting in late spring, blue crabs emerge from their hibernation hiding spots. By late summer, most crabs have already doubled, or even tripled, in size. The larger the blue crab, the more succulent and plentiful the crab meat.
One of the most coveted bits of the blue crab is the jumbo lump meat. Jumbo lump crab meat comes from the large muscles connected to the fin-like swimming legs, an area most crab aficionados call ‘the body’. It is the largest, most succulent, delicate, and most desired part of the crab. Lump crab meat is composed of smaller pieces of jumbo lump as well as smaller pieces of meat from the body. Like jumbo lump, lump crab meat is absolutely delicious, tender, delicate, sweet, and buttery.
These two different styles of crab meat can find a home in a variety of summery salads– which crab meat depends on how much tossing and stirring is required to compose. Lots of tossing and stirring? Use lump crab meat. Salads that require a gentle stir? Jumbo lump crab meat (we don’t want to break up those tender tasty masses of crabby goodness).
Whether it's a creamy crab salad or a tart & tangy vinegar-based crab salad, we have options upon options…
Creamy Crab Pasta Salad
This fully-loaded pasta salad is a creative concoction of all things summer. The melted butter and mayo-based dressing is well seasoned with fresh lemon, Dijon mustard, and Old Bay. Fresh cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, sweet corn, and herbs are joined by succulent pieces of jumbo lump crab meat, diced summer sausage, and bites of baby mozzarella. Everyone is going to love this salad.
https://www.cameronsseafood.com/blogs/recipes/cameron-s-summer-crab-pasta-salad?_pos=1&_sid=cf7a1e80d&_ss=r
Creamy Crab Salad (sans pasta)
We’ve taken the building blocks of the classic seafood salad and enhanced it. Not only by using the tastiest crab meat around (jumbo lump blue crab meat), but by also pairing that crab with summery ingredients and seasonal staples. This salad is a standout! Great as a solo act (a tasty sandwich topper too) or paired with additional picnic or BBQ fare.
https://www.cameronsseafood.com/blogs/recipes/summer-crab-salad-with-jumbo-lump?_pos=4&_sid=b150cb9a7&_ss=r
Vibrantly Vinegar Potato Salad with Blue Crab Meat
Potato salad and lump crab meat are the perfect picnic partners. We love how the sweet and buttery crab meat mellows the tart vinegar-based dressing. The garlicky and herbaceous additions enhance this salad with notes of fresh seasonality. Delicious!
Serves 8
Ingredients:
Dressing:
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar or white balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon grainy mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 pounds red bliss potatoes or yukon gold potatoes, sliced, cooked, and cooled
- 1 cup red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh scallions, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
- 1 pound Cameron’s Seafood Lump Crab Meat, drained
Instructions
- Place the olive oil, vinegar, honey, garlic, Dijon, grainy mustard, salt, and pepper in a large bowl, and whisk to combine.
- Add the cooked potatoes, onion, parsley, scallions, and dill to the bowl, and toss to coat and combine with the dressing.
- Add the lump crab meat to the bowl and gently toss to combine (adjust the seasoning by adding additional salt and pepper to taste). Serve immediately.
Want to make this potato salad recipe creamy? Use this recipe for the dressing instead…
Dressing:
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or white balsamic
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon grainy mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Ready to Craft some Summery Crab Salads?
Stock up at CameronsSeafood.com! Cameron’s Seafood is your one-stop-shop for all things seafood. Whether you need to stock up on jumbo lump crab meat, lump crab meat or ready-to-eat blue crabs, Cameron’s has everything you need to have a delicious Summer meal, served inside or outside.
Do you have some picnic, potluck, or BBQ meal ideas using crabmeat? Let us know. We are always happy (and hungry) to hear from you! Reach out on any of our social media sites @cameronsseafoodonline on Instagram or Cameron’s Seafood Online on Facebook. You can even email your ideas to us at contact@cameronsseafood.com
