Louise’s Old Ranch Sea Salad 🦀🥗

Overview:

Louise’s Old Ranch Sea Salad is a refreshing delight, perfect for those warm summer gatherings where you want to impress without slaving away in the kitchen for hours. This salad, born out of a desire to please picky eaters while still offering a burst of flavor and nutrition, has won the hearts (and taste buds) of many. With a blend of seafood goodness, crunchy vegetables, and the creamy tang of ranch dressing, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 277.9 per serving
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (from aggregated reviews)

Ingredients:

4 cups cooked pasta
1 cup shrimp
1 onion
1 cucumber
1 red bell pepper (for garnish)
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 clove garlic
2 imitation crab legs (shredded)
Ranch dressing (to taste)
Chopped parsley (for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Cook Pasta:

Begin by cooking the pasta according to package instructions. Once cooked, set it aside to cool.

2. Prepare Shrimp:

Peel and devein the shrimp, then cook them until they are perfectly tender and pink.

3. Shred Sealegs:

Take the imitation crab legs and shred them until they resemble spaghetti. This adds a unique texture to the salad.

4. Prep Vegetables:

Peel and seed the cucumber, then chop it into bite-sized cubes. Dice the onion and set aside.

5. Combine Ingredients:

In a large mixing bowl, toss together the cooked pasta, shrimp, shredded crab legs, chopped cucumber, diced onion, seasoning salt, and garlic powder.

6. Add Ranch Dressing:

Gently fold in ranch dressing to coat the salad evenly. The amount can vary depending on personal preference, so add it gradually and taste as you go.

7. Garnish:

Sprinkle chopped parsley over the salad for a fresh burst of flavor and color. Thinly slice the red bell pepper and use it to garnish the salad attractively.

8. Refrigerate:

For the flavors to meld together beautifully, refrigerate the salad overnight. This allows the ingredients to marry, resulting in a more delicious outcome.

Serving:

Serve Louise’s Old Ranch Sea Salad chilled, either as a standalone lunch or snack, or as a delightful side dish alongside grilled meats or sandwiches.

Nutritional Information (per serving):

Calories: 277.9
Fat: 15.7g
Saturated Fat: 2.4g
Cholesterol: 80.8mg
Sodium: 632.6mg
Carbohydrates: 24.9g
Fiber: 4g
Sugar: 1.7g
Protein: 10.3g

Keywords:

Crab, Kid Friendly, Spring, Summer, Quick & Easy, Refrigerator Friendly, Small Appliance, Lunch, Snacks 🦐🥒🥗

Recipe Notes:

Feel free to customize this salad to your taste preferences by adding or omitting ingredients as desired.
You can substitute real crab meat for the imitation crab legs for an even more authentic seafood flavor.
Don’t skip the refrigeration step; it really enhances the flavors and makes this salad even more delicious the next day!