Spicy Sriracha Crab and Cucumber Salad (Kani Salad) Recipe (2024)

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Published: June 13, 2014Updated: April 19, 2022Author: Jenn Laughlin

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This Spicy Sriracha Crab and Cucumber Salad is refreshing and flavorful!This Japanese-inspired kani salad is my absolute favorite sushi restaurant appetizer. Make it at home with the recipe for this quick and easy dish!

Spicy Sriracha Crab and Cucumber Salad (Kani Salad) Recipe (1)

I swore I would take a break from veggie noodles and get back to work on some of the other recipes I have up on the testing block, but then I found a secret cucumber in my crisper.

It’s like reaching in to Narnia every time I open that plastic bin, I never know what on earth is creeping around.

Last time it was a brick of sharp cheddar (darling if you’re going to try to hide the cheese from me, don’t put it in with the veggies!) and this time it was a perfectly ripe cucumber.

So I had to noodle-ize it. I. Had. To.

This salad is my absolute favorite appetizer to order from Japanese restaurants and sushi bars. It’s typically dubbed the Kani Salad and loaded with imitation crab meat, but I was lucky enough to have the real deal on hand from my crab dip faceplant. It’s divine and quite the textural smorgasbord! [crunchy. crisp. tender. awesome.]

Skip the go-to tuna salad for lunch today and make this instead!

Spicy Sriracha Crab and Cucumber Salad (Kani Salad) Recipe (2)

Spicy Sriracha Crab and Cucumber Salad

A Japanese restaurant Kani Salad copycat with a tasty twist!Cucumber noodles make the perfect base for this fun and fiery sriracha crab salad and the delectable crunch of panko-crusted avocado makes the perfect topper. Grab your chopsticks and meet me in the kitchen!

Spicy Sriracha Crab and Cucumber Salad (Kani Salad) Recipe (3)

Spicy Sriracha Crab and Cucumber Salad

This Japanese-inspired salad is my absolute favorite sushi restaurant appetizer. Make it at home with the recipe for this quick and easy recipe!

5 from 10 votes

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Course: Salad

Cuisine: Japanese

Keyword: Spicy Sriracha Crab and Cucumber Salad

Prep Time: 18 minutes minutes

Total Time: 18 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 servings

Author: Jenn Laughlin - Peas and Crayons

Ingredients

  • 1 large cucumber
  • rice vinegar to taste
  • 4 oz qualityjumbo lump crab meat (the pre-cooked kind)
  • 1 TBSP homemade or store-bought mayo
  • 2 tsp Sriracha plus extra to taste
  • 1/2-1 avocado sliced
  • a pinch of salt

TASTY TOPPINGS:

  • 1-2 tsp toasted sesame and/or chia seeds
  • 1 TBSP panko breadcrumbs (optional - skip for paleo/GF)

Instructions

  • First peel the skin from your cucumber.

  • Next, use a spiralizer or a vegetable peeler to turn that super refreshing veggie into even more refreshing noodles.

  • Drizzle the noodles very lightly with rice vinegar. You can skip this step if you're not a fan of vinegar or acidity; I've had the dish both ways and find it delightful regardless.

  • Next, use a fork or your fingers to shred the crab.

  • Combine with mayo and sriracha and set atop the noodles.

  • Top with sliced avocado. I added extra after the photo was snapped; helloooo healthy fats.Sprinkle avocado with a teeny pinch of salt to season.

  • Garnish with sesame/chia seeds and optional panko and dig in!

Notes

If paleo or gluten-free simply skip the optional panko topping.

Nutrition Facts below are estimated using an online recipe nutrition calculator. Adjust as needed and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 446kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 27g, Fat: 28g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 53mg, Sodium: 1376mg, Potassium: 1127mg, Fiber: 11g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 363IU, Vitamin C: 35mg, Calcium: 150mg, Iron: 3mg

Did you make this recipe?I want to see! Tag @peasandcrayons on Instagram and Facebook!

special diets andswaps

  • GLUTEN-FREE? simply skip the panko and you’re good to go!
  • This dish also be positively divine usingtuna salador topped with sliced seared sesame tuna steaks. Restaurants typically serve this dish up with imitation crab, so feel free to follow suit if you’re a fan!
  • SPIRAL SHENANIGANS: This recipe utilizes one of my all-time favorite tools: a spiralizer! You can also use a sharp veggie peeler to make thin veggie noodles, or simply chop the cucumber. I love the combination of the cool cumber noodles with the crab salad!

The ingredient’s above yieldtwo appetizer-sized bowls to share or one large bowl, perfect for a light lunch!

Spicy Sriracha Crab and Cucumber Salad (Kani Salad) Recipe (4)

If you get a chance to try this crazy deliciousSpicy Sriracha Crab and Cucumber Salad, let me know! You can leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) or tag @PEASandCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your cucumber creations. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!

Crazy for crab? Try my crab stuffed mushroomsnext!

Peas and Crayons is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites at no cost to readers.

Spicy Sriracha Crab and Cucumber Salad (Kani Salad) Recipe (5)

About The Author:

Jenn Laughlin

Hi! I’m Jenn and I’m here to help you eat your veggies! It'll be fun, painless, and pretty darn delicious as I teach you to plan your meals around fresh, seasonal produce with a little help from healthy freezer and pantry staples.

Learn More

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Spicy Sriracha Crab and Cucumber Salad (Kani Salad) Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is spicy kani salad made of? ›

Spicy kani salad is one of those rare recipes that is packed with flavor, but surprisingly so. It has only a few ingredients – imitation crab, a dressing (made from mayonnaise, sriracha, and a bit of mirin or rice vinegar), and cucumber.

What is kani made of? ›

Kani is made from a white fish like pollock, processed and mixed with starch to mimic crab legs. It can also refer to lobster or shrimp. The shape, texture, and even flavor all mirror real crab meat. Keep in mind that Kani sushi combines both Kani and Sushi.

What does crab salad contain? ›

Gently mix crabmeat, celery, ranch, mayonnaise, sugar, and parsley in a salad bowl until thoroughly combined. Refrigerate, stirring occasionally, for 8 hours to overnight. Stir again just before serving. Enjoy!

How many calories are in a kani salad? ›

Kani Salad Nutritional Facts and Calories
Amount Per Serving% DV
Calories125kcal6%
Fats7g9%
Sat. fats0g0%
Mono. Fats0g0%
7 more rows

Is spicy crab cooked or raw? ›

Today's recipe is a favorite of mine – raw crabs marinated in a spicy seasoning, called yangnyeom-gejang. Yangnyeom means spicy sauce, and gejang is seasoned raw crab. It's sweet, soft, spicy, and has a jelly-like texture.

Is imitation crab healthy? ›

It's a highly processed food containing minced fillet, egg whites, salt, sugar, and other additives to make it look like real crab meat. It's more affordable, but less nutritious, than fresh crab meat. The decision is yours to make as to which you'll buy for dinner.

What kind of meat is imitation crab? ›

Imitation crab is made from surimi, which is fish flesh that has been deboned, washed to remove fat and unwanted bits, then minced into a paste. This paste is blended with other ingredients before being heated and pressed into shapes that mimic crab meat ( 1 ).

What is inside an imitation crab? ›

Imitation crab is made with surimi, a paste made out of finely shredded or pulverized fish. After the fish is minced, it is heated and pressed into shapes that resemble meat from a crab leg.

Can you eat Kani raw? ›

Can you eat imitation crab raw? Yes. It is pre-cooked, so you are able to eat it straight from the package. Many people use it as part of a larger recipe though, adding it to cream of crab soup, crab Rangoon or crab salad.

What seasonings go well with crab? ›

Don't be shy about adding salt, pepper, lemon juice and lemon rinds, or the classic Old Bay seasoning to your pot before boiling or steaming your crab legs. In fact, if you plan to boil, we'd recommend the proportion of 4 quarts of water to 6 ounces of seasoning.

Is eating crab salad good for you? ›

Crab is packed with protein, which is important for building and maintaining muscle. Crab also contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, and selenium. These nutrients play vital roles in improving general health while helping prevent a variety of chronic conditions.

How long does crab salad last in the fridge? ›

Make ahead: The crab salad can be made one to two days in advance, but crab tastes best when it's fresh. Given this recipe's quick prep time, you'll reap the most rewards if you make it just before eating. Storage: The crab salad will keep for about 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

What does kani salad contain? ›

This Kani Salad is light and refreshing using imitation crab together with cucumber, and mango in a creamy spicy mayonnaise dressing. A Kani Salad is a Japanese style salad made with crab and julienned thinly sliced ingredients with a creamy spicy mayonnaise dressing. It's very popular in American Japanese restaurants.

Is Kani the same as crab? ›

In Japan, imitation crab meat is referred to as kanikama. In the U.S., it is often referred to simply as kani. Imitation crab is a key ingredient in California sushi rolls, along with avocado and cucumber, and is used as a crab substitute in Japanese cuisine.

How many calories in a bowl of spicy crab salad? ›

There are 368 calories in 1 serving of Spicy Crab Salad. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

What is a spicy Thai salad called? ›

In Thai cooking, the nation's spicy salad is called som tam, or sometimes som tum. It is derived from Laos to the north of Thailand from a dish called tam mak hoong or the Cambodian version is known as bok l'hong.

What is a kani roll made of? ›

Spicy Kani Roll is a popular Japanese sushi roll that is creamy, yet spicy. It features shredded kani crab sticks tossed in a spicy Kewpie mayo sauce, then rolled in seasoned sushi rice, nori, and your choice of sesame seeds or tobiko.

What is mango kani salad made of? ›

Combine lettuce, cabbage, mangoes, crabsticks, and cucumber in a bowl. Drizzle prepared dressing on top and toss to combine. Top salad with tobiko, nori strips, and fried wonton. Serve immediately.

Can you eat kani raw? ›

Can you eat imitation crab raw? Yes. It is pre-cooked, so you are able to eat it straight from the package. Many people use it as part of a larger recipe though, adding it to cream of crab soup, crab Rangoon or crab salad.

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