Red Potato and Imitation Crab Salad
Sweet red potatoes and imitation crab make a cool and refreshing salad side dish that is perfect for your 4th of July gathering or next barbecue.
Equipment
- 1 3-quart pot
- 1 large cutting board
- 1 chef's knife
- 1 Large mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 2 pounds red potatoes
- ¼ tsp salt
- 4 ounces imitation crab (surimi) shredded
- ¾ cup light mayonnaise
- ¼ cup red onion or 2 shallots diced
- 15 turns fresh ground black pepper about 3 pinches
- ½ cup frozen peas (optional) defrosted
Instructions
- Wash 2 pounds red potatoes and put in a pot with enough water to cover them. Turn heat to high. When the water reaches a boil, cook for 30 to 40 minutes depending on the size of your potatoes. Use a fork and pierce your largest potato to check for doneness. If the fork goes in easily it is cooked through.
- Drain the potatoes and let cool. You can put it in an ice bath to speed up the process or let cool on the counter for an hour. Peel off the potato skins when the potatoes are cool enough to touch.
- Cut the potatoes into ½-inch to ¾-inch cubes and place in a large bowl. Sprinkle ¼ tsp salt over the potatoes and stir to evenly coat. Add 4 ounces imitation crab (surimi), ¾ cup light mayonnaise, ¼ cup red onion or 2 shallots, 15 turns fresh ground black pepper, and ½ cup peas (optional). Mix until well combined.
- Store in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Best when served cold.
Notes
Tips and Tricks
Can I peel the potatoes before I boil it?
You can peel the potatoes before you boil it. However, I find that the potato is less creamy if you peel it before cooking. You also get a little bit more potato if you peel it after cooking because you are cutting off part of the potatoes when you peel it with a vegetable peeler. The potato skins come off very easily so it’s no trouble at all!
My potatoes are not the same size. Should I cut the larger potatoes?
I recommend cooking them all at the same time but take out the small potatoes when they are cooked and continue cooking the large potatoes until fork tender. If you cut the potatoes the resulting potato tastes more starchy and less creamy.
Can I use canned peas instead of frozen?
Yes, feel free to use canned peas if that’s what you have. I just love the color of frozen peas, but in Hawaii we do love our potato macaroni salad with canned peas! Make sure you drain the canned peas well before you add it to the salad. Consider rinsing the peas before adding it to the salad to reduce the salt content since canned foods generally have a lot of added salt.
Variations?
Make a fancy special occasion potato salad by swapping the imitation crab with real shredded snow crab meat or a steamed chopped lobster tail.
Can I make this for a potluck?
Yes! Double, triple, or even quadruple (4x) the recipe if you are making this for a potluck. I recommend boiling the potatoes at least a day before you plan to serve it because it will take a lot of time to cool and peel the potatoes.