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!

Nutriscore Rating: 71/100

Prep Time:25 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:35 mins

Servings: 6

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)

Directions

Step 1

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.

Step 2

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.

Step 3

Roughly chop the imitation crab meat into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.

Step 4

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, shrimp, imitation crab meat, cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, and sliced red onion.

Step 5

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, chopped dill, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.

Step 6

Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss gently to coat all the ingredients evenly. Adjust seasoning to taste if needed.

Step 7

Refrigerate the salad for at least 20 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 8

When ready to serve, garnish with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

Step 9

Enjoy your Creatively Delicious Seafood Pasta Salad chilled!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1268.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2654.6

Total Fat 105.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 22.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5.5g
Cholesterol 530.7mg	0%
Sodium 3614.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 300.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 16.7g	0%
Total Sugars 19.6g
Protein 135.6g	0%

Vitamin D 405.6IU	0%
Calcium 812.1mg	0%
Iron 15.2mg	0%
Potassium 2203.3mg	0%

*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.

Source of Calories

Fat: 35.3%

Protein: 20.1%

Carbs: 44.6%