Sushi Crab Salad Recipe

Sushi is a treat we all look forward to. But you can't go out to a sushi restaurant or get takeout every night. And making your own sushi? Well, that adventure is not for the faint of heart. Enter Jason Goldstein, who blogs at Chop Happy, and who has created an easy-to-prepare take on your own sushi that anyone can try without fear or fuss. As he explained to Tasting Table about his inspiration for his sushi crab salad, "I love sushi and sometimes like to make it at home. But this salad allows you to eat sushi without all the work."

He notes about his visually stunning bowl, "This is a perfect midweek meal for something special that takes no time at all!" So, if you are a sushi fan and want your fix sans a pricey dinner out or an involved kitchen sesh, try this salad for your next lunch or dinner.

You may think a sushi salad would require multiple specialty ingredients, but no! Goldstein's recipe is super accessible, and a quick trip to your local store should supply you with everything needed to enjoy this fun meal whenever you'd like. Here is your shopping list: sushi rice, cooked crab meat, a cucumber, avocado, scallions, ginger, garlic, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, your favorite extra virgin olive oil, and a lime.

The only specialty ingredient Goldstein's sushi crab salad calls for is sheets of roasted seaweed. "You can find them in Trader Joe's or your local supermarket," he told us, but adds, "If you can't find them, just leave them out!"

Once your ingredients are assembled, you will turn your attention to a bit of prep work with the veggies — but this is the most involved step in the recipe, and it's hardly involved at all.

You can go ahead and prep the vegetables needed for your colorful sushi crab salad first. So, cut a small cucumber into thin, round slices. Slice one half of an avocado, chop two scallions, and grate your garlic and ginger. Set the prepared veggies aside for a moment.

Meanwhile, you will cook your rice. Goldstein told Tasting Table, "I use sushi rice, but you can use any rice you want." So, if you are unable to find sushi rice at your local store, do not care for sushi rice, or if you want to pump up the health benefits of this bowl by making it with brown rice instead, that is completely fine. You will simply cook your rice of choice to the package instructions. Then, your cooked rice gets divided into two serving bowls. 

Now it's time to make your bowl as pretty as a picture. You already have your rice arranged in the bowl. Now, you will add your crab meat, the sliced cucumbers, avocado, your roasted seaweed sheets, and the chopped scallions, creating a distinct section for each ingredient. 

To make this tantalizing meal even more special, Goldstein suggests sprinkling some sesame seeds on top.

The final step before indulging in the salad is to make your dressing, which Goldstein describes as "tangy and creamy with a bright vinegar taste." He also says the dressing is like sunshine. To see what he means, let's get started creating a memorable finish to this mouthwatering meal.

To whip up a salad dressing that not only serves as a perfect complement to Goldstein's sushi crab salad but that he also says is "sunshine on happy dinner day," first, grab a bowl. You will add the grated ginger and garlic, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, and extra virgin olive oil. Whisk all of the ingredients together, and then, at last, drizzle the dressing over the rice, veggie, and crab salad.

Your meal is ready to munch on, with or without chopsticks. Nope — we won't judge if you opt to eat this salad with a fork. Either way, we bet your sushi craving will be more than satisfied and that you will return to this dish over and over again.