Creatively Delicious Seafood Pasta Salad
Dive into a refreshing and flavor-packed culinary creation with this *Creatively Delicious Seafood Pasta Salad*! This vibrant dish combines tender penne pasta with succulent shrimp, savory imitation crab meat, and a medley of crisp vegetables like cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion. Tossed in a creamy and zesty dressing made with olive oil, fresh lemon juice, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and aromatic dill, this seafood pasta salad is a perfect balance of bright, tangy, and savory flavors. Ready in just 35 minutes and served chilled, it’s an ideal make-ahead option for summer picnics, potlucks, or as a light yet satisfying main dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese for an optional touch of indulgence, and enjoy a seafood pasta salad that’s as creative as it is delicious!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 8 ounces shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 6 ounces imitation crab meat
- 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 cucumber (diced)
- 0.5 red onion (thinly sliced)
- 0.25 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill (chopped)
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese (optional, grated for garnish)
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, bring a smaller pot of water to a gentle simmer. Add the shrimp and poach for 3-4 minutes, or until they turn pink and are fully cooked. Remove with a slotted spoon and place in a bowl of ice water to chill. Once cooled, drain the shrimp and pat dry.
Roughly chop the imitation crab meat into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, shrimp, imitation crab meat, cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, and sliced red onion.
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, chopped dill, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.
Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss gently to coat all the ingredients evenly. Adjust seasoning to taste if needed.
Refrigerate the salad for at least 20 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
When ready to serve, garnish with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Enjoy your Creatively Delicious Seafood Pasta Salad chilled!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
300 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 15.3 g | 20% | |
| Saturated Fat | 3.1 g | 16% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 85 mg | 28% | |
| Sodium | 511 mg | 22% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 25.4 g | 9% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.9 g | 7% | |
| Total Sugars | 3.7 g | ||
| Protein | 16.9 g | 34% | |
| Vitamin D | 1.7 mcg | 9% | |
| Calcium | 88 mg | 7% | |
| Iron | 1.2 mg | 7% | |
| Potassium | 283 mg | 6% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
