Crab Salad with Pineapple - General Cooking Principles
Crab salad with pineapple attracts a rich interesting flavor, as well as ease of preparation and availability of ingredients. The dish perfectly decorates the festive table, you can also diversify this bright salad and a regular lunch. From the name of the salad it follows that the main components of the dish are pineapple and crab meat.
Due to the low calorie content of the ingredients, crab salad with pineapple is easily absorbed by the body and does not harm the figure. For cooking, you can use both fresh pineapple and canned product. The second option is more suitable for home cooking, as it is not always possible to quickly find fresh pineapple.
In the menu of restaurants you can find both versions of crab salad with pineapple, but the chefs prefer the product that has not been preserved. This feature also concerns the second component - crab meat. With this product things are much more serious. This is due to the fact that it is quite difficult to find real crab meat on the Russian market. This product is expensive, and in order to purchase it, you need to make a special order to suppliers. Therefore, the recipe for crab salad with pineapple involves the use of imitation crab meat. Among buyers, this ingredient is known as “crab sticks” or “crab meat”.
You can also buy canned crab meat, which is sold in some supermarkets. The basis of cooking crab salad with pineapple, and any other salad, is the main principle - the use of the binder ingredients of the component. For these purposes, you can use a variety of sauces and dressings, both home-made and industrial production. If there is not much time, the usual mayonnaise (preferably low fat) is suitable. In the other case, a well-made sauce would be an excellent option. It all depends on the imagination and knowledge in the field of taste compatibility of products. Pineapple and crab meat are perfectly combined with each other, and the sauce with the addition of lemon juice and fresh greens will only enhance the taste and make the salad more piquant and fragrant.
Crab salad with pineapple - preparing food and tableware
Before cooking crab salad with pineapple should carefully prepare all the necessary ingredients and utensils. It is best to put the sliced products in a deep bowl or salad bowl (in such dishes it will be more convenient to mix the salad with dressing). If homemade sauce is to be used for dressing, you also need to prepare a separate bowl for it.
Canned pineapples are of two types: cut into rings and small cubes. In the second case, it is enough to drain the water from the can, discard the product in a colander and allow the remaining water to drain. After that, pineapples can be used for direct cooking. The same must be done with the fruit in the form of rings, only in the future you will need to cut them.
As for crab meat, apart from thawing the packaging of crab sticks, nothing more needs to be done. Canned crab meat does not need to be pre-processed and prepared. In case of using fresh crab meat, it must be boiled and cooled beforehand.
Recipes for Crab Salad with Pineapple:
Recipe 1: Crab Salad with Pineapple
Bright juicy salad of canned pineapples and crab meat with lemon sauce. The dish is perfect for those who are on a diet, and can also be an interesting addition to the festive table.
Ingredients Required:
- A can of canned pineapples (preferably cut into “cubes”);
- Fresh crab meat - 400 g;
- 1 lemon;
- Parsley greens;
- Ground black pepper to taste;
- Any vegetable oil (preferably olive or corn) - 4 tbsp. l .;
- Tarragon bunch.
Preparation Method:
Fresh crab meat is boiled in slightly salted water. To do this, put the product in boiling water and cook for about three minutes after re-boiling. After that, the meat must be removed from the pan, cool and cut into small cubes. Pineapples need to drain in a colander and let the water drain. Canned fruits are combined with sliced crab meat, after which the salad is seasoned with lemon sauce. Preparation of sauce: 1 lemon juice is mixed with vegetable oil, black pepper and chopped parsley and tarragon.
Recipe 2: Crab Salad with Pineapple and Eggs
Delicious hearty salad, which is suitable for every day, and for a special occasion. This dish is eaten with pleasure by adults and children.
Ingredients Required:
- Bank of canned pineapples;
- 2 packs of chilled crab meat;
- 3 chicken eggs;
- 40 g pine nuts;
- Mayonnaise - to taste.
Preparation Method:
Canned pineapples should be removed from the jar, drain in a colander and let the water drain. While the liquid flows, you need to cut the crab meat into strips or small cubes. Pineapples in the form of rings should also be cut into cubes. If the fruit is conserved in the form of cubes, then it is not necessary to cut it. Eggs are boiled hard boiled and crushed. All ingredients are combined and dressed with mayonnaise. Ready crab salad with pineapple sprinkled with roasted pine nuts.
Recipe 3: Crab Salad with Pineapple and Apples
Delicate sweet taste of salad will not leave indifferent even the most fastidious gourmet.
Ingredients Required:
- 1 fresh pineapple;
- 2 red apples;
- 350 g fresh crab meat;
- Black pepper - to taste;
- Dill bundle;
- Low-fat sour cream - to taste.
Preparation Method:
Crab meat is boiled in salted water for three minutes after boiling. After that, the product is removed from the pan and cooled. Fresh pineapple is peeled and cut into cubes. Crab meat and pre-peeled apples are likewise sliced. All components are mixed and dressed with sour cream. Crab salad with pineapple is seasoned with black pepper and finely chopped dill.
Recipe 4: Crab Salad with Pineapple, Parmesan Cheese and Shrimps
Spicy seafood salad perfectly complemented by juicy canned fruit and cheese. This unusual combination of ingredients not only quenches hunger, but also gives an unforgettable taste.
Ingredients Required:
- A jar of canned crab meat (if necessary, be noticed with crab sticks);
- 250 g tiger prawns;
- Parmesan cheese -250 g;
- Bank of canned pineapples;
- Mayonnaise - to taste.
Preparation Method:
Crab meat (or crab sticks) is cut into small pieces. Shrimps are boiled in salted water with the addition of bay leaf and a few black peppercorns (boil for 3-4 minutes after boiling). Pineapples should be separated from the juice. Cheese is rubbed on a coarse grater. Large shrimp can be cut. All ingredients are mixed in a deep bowl and dressed with mayonnaise.
Recipe 5: Crab Salad with Pineapple and Chicken
This hearty salad is distinguished not only by its excellent taste, but also by its high content of vitamins and nutrients. Dish can be served to the festive table or diversify their usual everyday menu.
Ingredients Required:
- Bank of canned pineapples;
- 400 g fresh crab meat;
- Chicken fillet - 350 g;
- Ripe tomatoes - 2 pcs .;
- Salad leaves;
- Mayonnaise or low-fat yogurt.
Preparation Method:
Canned pineapples need to fold in a colander and let the juice drain. Boil the crab meat (cook for 3 minutes after boiling), chicken fillet also boil or cook for a couple. Crab and chicken meat should cool. Crab and chicken are cut into small cubes and combined with canned pineapples. Tomatoes are cut into small slices or diced. All components are laid out on lettuce leaves and dressed with mayonnaise or yogurt.
Crab salad with pineapple - secrets and useful tips from the best chefs
The success of cooking crab salad with pineapple depends primarily on the quality and freshness of the products. If the recipe uses fresh pineapple, it must be ripe and fresh, otherwise the taste of the dish will be significantly affected. It is also important to cook fresh crab meat properly. It must be remembered that cooking it for a long time is impossible. Otherwise, the meat will become tough and will resemble rubber.
Chefs of the best restaurants also recommend actively experimenting with sauces and dressings. You can give vent to fantasy and invent your own signature recipe for the sauce. You should also try to use all sorts of herbs: from the addition of fresh herbs the taste of crab salad with pineapple only benefits.