Creamy Crab Stick and Cucumber Salad: A Super Simple Recipe for Impressive Entertaining
Perfect for Guests! An Effortlessly Simple and Elegant Crab Stick and Cucumber Salad
When unexpected guests arrive and you want to elevate your dining table, this visually appealing and delicious crab stick and cucumber salad is a guaranteed showstopper. It’s both beautiful and incredibly tasty, making it a fantastic main dish.
Main Ingredients- 1 oriental cucumber (gasi-oi)
- 4 imitation crab sticks (king crab flavored)
Dressing- 1 Tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp condensed milk
- 1 tsp whole grain mustard
- 1 tsp vinegar
- A pinch of black pepper (freshly ground)
- 1 Tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp condensed milk
- 1 tsp whole grain mustard
- 1 tsp vinegar
- A pinch of black pepper (freshly ground)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare one oriental cucumber. Using a vegetable peeler, do not peel the entire cucumber. Instead, peel it in stripes, leaving some of the green skin on. This decorative peeling adds visual appeal and a pleasant texture to the salad.
Step 2
Now, thinly slice the cucumber crosswise. Aim for very thin slices; this helps maintain the cucumber’s crispness and allows it to meld beautifully with the other ingredients.
Step 3
You can slice the cucumber into rounds or create elongated, ribbon-like slices. The choice is yours and depends on the presentation you prefer. These thin cucumber slices will be perfect for arranging around the salad.
Step 4
Prepare two packages of imitation crab sticks. Typically, each package contains two sticks, so you’ll be using a total of four crab sticks.
Step 5
Use the four imitation crab sticks prepared. Each package usually contains two sticks, so you’ll be using two packages in total. (This step reiterates information from the previous one for clarity.)
Step 6
Gently shred the imitation crab sticks lengthwise, following the natural grain. Avoid breaking them into tiny pieces; slightly larger shreds will provide a better mouthfeel. Thinly shredded crab meat will absorb the dressing wonderfully, enhancing its flavor.
Step 7
Time to make the dressing! In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon of condensed milk, 1 teaspoon of whole grain mustard, 1 teaspoon of vinegar, and a pinch of freshly ground black pepper. The whole grain mustard adds a lovely subtle tang and texture.
Step 8
Lightly whisk the dressing ingredients together using a small whisk or fork. Mix just until everything is well combined; overmixing isn’t necessary.
Step 9
Finally, let’s plate the salad beautifully. Arrange the shredded imitation crab sticks attractively in the center of a serving plate. Then, artfully layer the thinly sliced cucumber around the edges. Overlapping two layers of cucumber slices will create a more abundant and elegant presentation. To serve, guests can take some crab meat and place it on top of the cucumber slices for a delightful bite.
