Seafood Salad Recipe

Prepare seafood

If using pre-cooked seafood: drain and pat the shrimp, crab, scallops, and calamari dry with paper towels. Chop any larger pieces (crab lumps or large shrimp) into bite-size chunks so all pieces are similar in size. Place seafood in a large mixing bowl. If seafood is raw: poach or sauté until just cooked through (see note) then cool completely before proceeding.

To poach raw seafood: bring a pot of water or court bouillon to a gentle simmer, add a pinch of salt and a squeeze of lemon, add seafood and poach shrimp 2–3 minutes, scallops 1–2 minutes, calamari 30–60 seconds (until opaque). Remove into an ice bath to stop cooking, then drain and pat dry.

Finely dice the celery and red bell pepper so pieces are small and uniform (about 1/4-inch). Thinly slice the green onions and chop the parsley and dill. Add all the prepared vegetables and herbs to the bowl with the seafood and gently toss to combine.

In a separate medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, and Worcestershire sauce until smooth.

Season the dressing by whisking in Old Bay seasoning, kosher salt, and black pepper. Taste and adjust acidity or sweetness: add an extra teaspoon lemon juice if you want brighter flavor or a pinch more honey if too tart.

Pour the dressing over the seafood and vegetable mixture. Using a flexible spatula, fold gently until everything is evenly coated, taking care not to break up the seafood. Stir in lemon zest and capers if using.

Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld. If chilling longer than 2 hours, check seasoning before serving and adjust salt/acid as needed.

Toss mixed greens or arrange butter lettuce leaves on a platter or individual plates. Spoon the seafood salad onto the greens or into lettuce cups. Sprinkle additional chopped parsley, a few extra capers, and a crack of black pepper over the top.

Serve chilled with lemon wedges on the side and crusty bread or crackers if desired.