Craving crab salad but not sure what to pair it with? Look no further. This iconic dish, with its delicate, sweet flavors, can be wonderfully complemented with a range of different sides.
You will learn about 15 tasty side dishes in this article that will take your crab salad from scrumptious to heavenly.
When you serve crab salad with mashed potatoes, salad Nicoise, Hawaiian roll breakfast sliders, chicken drumsticks, sweet potato fries, garlic bread, grilled asparagus, coconut rice, quinoa salad, bruschetta, cucumber salad, and roasted Brussels sprouts, these foods go really well together.
These fritters offer a fantastic accompaniment to crab salad. The slightly bitter zucchini balances out the sweetness of the crab, and the crunchy outside goes well with the soft salad. Topped with some yogurt or sour cream, these fritters bring an unexpected yet delicious edge to your meal.
Embrace summer vibes with this side dish. Its sweet crunchiness pairs wonderfully with the delicate flavors of the crab salad. If you butter the corn and sprinkle it with salt, you’ll have a tasty side dish that goes well with the crab’s sweetness.
Crab salad is a refreshing delicious meal that works great as an appetizer entree or even a light lunch. With crab meat mixed into a creamy, tangy dressing, it delivers a sweet yet savory burst of flavor in every bite. But what should you serve alongside this seafood delicacy to make it a complete and satisfying meal?
Here are 15 amazing side dishes that pair perfectly with crab salad, adding color, texture and flavor to round out your plate.
Hoagie Rolls
These soft yet crusty submarine-style rolls make excellent vessels for your crab salad. Simply pile the crab mixture onto hoagie rolls for handheld crab salad sandwiches. The bread soaks up the creamy dressing while adding a pleasant chew. For an extra kick of flavor brush the insides with garlic butter before assembling.
Zucchini Corn Fritters
Golden crispy fritters studded with sweet corn and shredded zucchini offer a nice crunch to contrast the rich crab salad. The veggie-packed fritters also help to balance the meal nutritionally. Fry them up hot so they melt the creamy dressing a bit when layered over the crab mixture.
Spicy Cheese Crackers
These sharp cheddar crackers spiced up with cayenne pepper provide a spicy, bold counterpart to the sweet crab. The crispy baked crackers hold up well when dipped into the salad, making them a fun finger food accompaniment. They also deliver a nice hit of protein thanks to the cheese.
Grilled Avocado Halves
Give your crab salad a fun twist by serving it stuffed into halves of grilled avocado. The smoky char on the avocado flesh enhances the sweetness of the crab. And the cool, creamy avocado balances the richer dressed crab salad beautifully.
Garlic Butter Potato Skins
Buttery, garlicky potato skins make a hearty, satisfying side for rich crab salad. Load the scooped-out potato shells with the salad for an easy meal. The contrast of hot and cold, crispy and creamy, as well as starchy and fresh really elevates this dish.
Tomato Cucumber Salad
This simple chopped salad offers a refreshing contrast to the richer crab salad. Diced tomatoes and cucumbers add juicy crunch while enhancing the light flavors of the crab mixture. Toss everything in a lemony vinaigrette to brighten up the plate.
Grilled Shrimp Skewers
For the ultimate surf and turf meal, serve sizzling grilled shrimp alongside crab salad. The charred shrimp pack a tasty punch of smoky flavor to balance the crab’s sweetness. Alternate bites of shrimp skewers and creamy crab salad for a mouthwatering duo.
Coconut Rice
Fluffy coconut rice brings a touch of the tropics to your crab salad meal with its subtly sweet aroma and flavor. The mild rice allows the sweet crab to shine while offering a creamier, more filling base than plain white rice. Garnish with toasted coconut for extra texture.
Quinoa Cucumber Salad
This light and refreshing salad pairs perfectly with rich crab salad. Quinoa offers a high protein, gluten free base while cucumbers provide crunch and moisture. Toss everything in a lemon or lime vinaigrette to make it really sing alongside the crab.
Garlic Bread
Warm, crusty garlic bread is a classic accompaniment for seafood. It helps temper the richness of crab salad while adding its irresistible garlicky aroma. Use a crusty artisan loaf, brush generously with garlic butter and toast until golden and crispy. The crab salad can even be spread onto the bread.
Grilled Asparagus Spears
Simple grilled asparagus makes an elegant, tasty side for dressed-up crab salad. The smoky char enhances the vegetable’s subtle bitter flavors, balancing the sweet crab mixture. Drizzle with good olive oil and season with salt and pepper for perfect grilled spears.
Sweet Potato Fries
Crispy sweet potato fries offer a healthier spin on typical fried spuds, with a touch of natural sweetness that complements crab salad. Fry up some curly fries or waffle fries and season generously with salt. The starchy crunch pairs so well with the creamy crab.
Mashed Potatoes
Comforting, butter-laden mashed potatoes might seem an unlikely pairing for delicate crab salad, but the two work wonderfully together. The creamy spuds help temper the richness of the crab while delivering homey satisfaction. Add cheese, roasted garlic or chives to jazz them up.
Bruschetta
Fresh tomato bruschetta serves as a bright, lively contrast to sweet crab salad. Toasted bread topped with juicy tomatoes, fragrant basil and a drizzle of balsamic makes the perfect light starter before indulging in the rich main course. Offer bruschetta as an app or side.
Arugula Salad
Peppery arugula greens tossed with fresh lemon juice and olive oil provide a bitter, lively base for crab salad. The contrast of textures from soft crab and crunchy greens keeps things interesting. Top the arugula with crab salad for an elegant composed salad.
Hawaiian Rolls
These fluffy, sweet Hawaiian rolls may seem like an unconventional match for crab salad, but their airy texture and hint of sweetness actually work beautifully. The rolls soak up the creamy dressing and add a soft base for the chunky crab mixture. Make mini crab sliders on Hawaiian rolls.
Crab salad truly shines when served with complementary sides that engage the senses. Any of these 15 flavorful dishes make perfect additions to a meal featuring crab salad. From crispy, crunchy crackers and fritters to grilled meats and vegetables, fresh salads and warm bread, there are so many delicious ways to round out your plate.
Be creative and have fun pairing sides and enhancements with your crab salad. A well-composed meal can really take this signature seafood salad from basic to brilliant. Play with contrasting textures, colors, flavors and temperatures to delight your tastebuds. Crab salad works for everything from casual lunches to elegant dinner parties. Now that you have some sensational side dish ideas, you can serve up this salad anytime and impress your guests.
Garlic Bread
Garlic bread is delicious with any meal, even crab salad. It’s warm, crunchy, and full of garlic butter. The strong, savory flavors of the garlic provide a wonderful contrast to the crabs mild sweetness. Plus, the breads crusty texture offers a nice change from the soft crab meat.
This simple and healthy side dish is a lovely counterpart to crab salad. Along with its slightly bitter and earthy taste, asparagus can cut through the richness of the crab. Its firm texture also adds a nice crunch. Drizzle with some olive oil, sprinkle some salt, and grill to perfection.
1 Cucumber Salad
This light, refreshing salad can be a great palate cleanser. The vinegar’s sour taste, the cucumber’s crunch, and the dill’s freshness can all make your crab salad taste better. Its a simple, no-cook side dish thats easy to whip up.
CRAB SALAD that’s super easy and a lunchtime favorite!
FAQ
What is good to eat with seafood salad?
Is crab salad healthy for you?
What to eat with crab salad?
Here’s the short answer. The best dishes to serve with crab salad are zucchini corn fritters, spicy cheese crackers, cucumber lemon orzo salad, and pita chips. You can also serve it with hoagie rolls, grilled avocado, and garlic butter potato skins. For a surf-and-turf twist, go for grilled T-bone steaks. Ready? Let’s jump right in.
Are coconut crabs healthy to eat?
Crabs are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, protein, vitamins like riboflavin and minerals like selenium, copper, phosphorus. Coconut crabs are not known to be poisonous. The fat in the abdomen and the egg inside the female are the delicious edible parts. It is prepared by steaming or boiling them in coconut milk. Consuming coconut crab along with sea mango, cerbera manghas may make the coconut crab toxic due to the presence of cardiac cardenolides(cardiac active steroids). This causes electrolyte imbalance that affects the electrical conductivity of the heart.
What can I use to make a crab salad?
If you want to splurge, you can use real crab or even make this salad with steamed lobster! Seasonings: Some other popular flavorings for Crab Salad are Old Bay seasoning, celery seed, and even some cayenne pepper for a little kick. A squeeze of lemon or lime are a great way to add some zesty freshness.
How do you eat crab salad sandwich?
Throw it on a bed of lettuce or a thick tomato slice for a low-carb, light lunch. Spread it on a hoagie roll for any easy, inexpensive twist on lobster rolls. Serve your Crab Salad Sandwiches with some Fruit Salad for a classic deli meal that is nostalgic, filling, and delicious. What is the difference between Crab Salad and Surimi Salad?