This Easy Seafood Salad is a light, refreshing, and flavorful dish made with tender shrimp, mussels, calamari, and baby squid tossed in a zesty lemon herb dressing. Perfect as an appetizer, light lunch, or elegant dinner, this seafood salad is packed with fresh Mediterranean-inspired flavors and is ideal for warm-weather gatherings or holiday celebrations.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fresh, light, and full of flavor
- Packed with protein and nutritious seafood
- Perfect for entertaining or special occasions
- Bright lemon herb dressing
- Easy to prepare with simple ingredients
- Great served chilled or at room temperature
- Naturally gluten-free and dairy-free
Ingredients
For the Poaching Liquid
- 8 cups water
- 2 lemons, sliced
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes
- 3 garlic cloves, sliced
- 2 teaspoons salt
For the Seafood
- 1 pound (500 g) shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 pound (500 g) mussels, cleaned and debearded
- ½ pound (250 g) calamari and baby squid, cleaned
- ½ cup celery, finely chopped
- ½ red onion, finely chopped
For the Lemon Herb Dressing
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot, combine the water, sliced lemons, chili flakes, garlic, and salt.
- Bring the poaching liquid to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.
- Add the calamari and baby squid, cooking for 1–2 minutes until just tender.
- Remove the calamari with a slotted spoon and transfer it to a large mixing bowl.
- Add the shrimp and mussels to the hot poaching liquid.
- Turn off the heat, cover the pot, and allow the seafood to poach for 4–5 minutes, or until the shrimp are pink and the mussels have opened.
- Remove the shrimp and mussels with a slotted spoon and add them to the bowl with the calamari. Discard any mussels that do not open.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, oregano, and black pepper until well combined.
- Pour the dressing over the seafood.
- Add the chopped celery and red onion.
- Gently toss everything together until evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate the Easy Seafood Salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
- Serve chilled or slightly cool with fresh lemon wedges and chopped parsley if desired.
Tips & Tricks
- Avoid overcooking the seafood to keep it tender.
- Use the freshest seafood available for the best flavor.
- Chill the salad before serving for maximum freshness.
- Add chopped parsley or fresh dill for extra brightness.
- A pinch of red pepper flakes adds gentle heat.
- Serve with crusty bread or over mixed greens for a complete meal.
Details
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Marinating Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Yield: 6 servings
Category: Salad
Method: Poaching
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Difficulty: Easy
Dietary Notes: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, High-Protein
Notes
- Scallops or cooked crab meat can be added for extra variety.
- Fresh oregano may be substituted for dried oregano.
- This salad tastes even better after chilling for a few hours.
- Garnish with extra lemon slices and fresh parsley before serving.
Nutrition (Approximate Per Serving)
- Calories: 285
- Protein: 34g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fat: 13g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 690mg
FAQ
Can I make Easy Seafood Salad ahead of time?
Yes. It can be prepared up to one day in advance and stored in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Can I use frozen seafood?
Absolutely. Fully thaw the seafood and pat it dry before cooking for the best texture.
How do I know when the seafood is cooked?
Shrimp should turn pink and opaque, calamari should be just tender, and mussels should open during cooking. Discard any unopened mussels.
Can I add other seafood?
Yes. Scallops, crab meat, lobster, or octopus all make excellent additions.
How long does seafood salad last?
Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
What should I serve with seafood salad?
It pairs beautifully with crusty bread, garlic toast, mixed greens, roasted vegetables, or a light pasta salad.
Storage
Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Freezer: Freezing is not recommended, as the seafood texture may become rubbery after thawing.
Serving Tip: Stir gently before serving and add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to brighten the flavors.
Similar Recipes
Easy Seafood Salad
Ingredients
For the Poaching Liquid
- 8 cups water
- 2 lemons sliced
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes
- 3 garlic cloves sliced
- 2 teaspoons salt
For the Seafood
- 1 pound 500 g shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 pound 500 g mussels, cleaned and debearded
- ½ pound 250 g calamari and baby squid, cleaned
- ½ cup celery finely chopped
- ½ red onion finely chopped
For the Lemon Herb Dressing
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot, combine the water, sliced lemons, chili flakes, garlic, and salt.
- Bring the poaching liquid to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.
- Add the calamari and baby squid, cooking for 1–2 minutes until just tender.
- Remove the calamari with a slotted spoon and transfer it to a large mixing bowl.
- Add the shrimp and mussels to the hot poaching liquid.
- Turn off the heat, cover the pot, and allow the seafood to poach for 4–5 minutes, or until the shrimp are pink and the mussels have opened.
- Remove the shrimp and mussels with a slotted spoon and add them to the bowl with the calamari. Discard any mussels that do not open.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, oregano, and black pepper until well combined.
- Pour the dressing over the seafood.
- Add the chopped celery and red onion.
- Gently toss everything together until evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate the Easy Seafood Salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
- Serve chilled or slightly cool with fresh lemon wedges and chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
- Scallops or cooked crab meat can be added for extra variety.
- Fresh oregano may be substituted for dried oregano.
- This salad tastes even better after chilling for a few hours.
- Garnish with extra lemon slices and fresh parsley before serving
Conclusion
This Easy Seafood Salad is fresh, elegant, and bursting with bright citrus flavor. Tender shrimp, mussels, calamari, and baby squid are lightly poached and tossed in a simple lemon herb dressing that highlights the natural sweetness of the seafood. Whether served as an appetizer, light lunch, or impressive dinner, this refreshing seafood salad is sure to become one of your favorite recipes.