This crab salad is my trademark dish; I usually make this for parties and family gatherings because it is so easy and quick to make. If it doesn’t disappear by the end of the meal it’s only because I made way too much! The secret to the great flavor is in the horseradish sauce.
Servings: 8 (If it’s a potluck, probably 15 to 20 small servings)
Cost to make: $7 to $8
Ingredients:
1 ½ pounds imitation crab meat (chopped – using a knife or food processor)
6 or 7 hard boiled eggs (diced)
1 small onion (finely diced)
1 cup real mayonnaise
1 teaspoon cream-style horseradish sauce
1 (15 oz) can corn (well-drained)
1 (15 oz) can peas (well-drained)
How to make Crab Salad:
In a large bowl, combine chopped Crab, corn, eggs, onion, mayo and horseradish. Mix well.
Fold in the peas last to keep them from breaking.
Add more mayo and horseradish to taste.
Notes: A food processor is not necessary, but it makes the recipe even faster and easier to make. You can cut the recipe in half if you are making it for a smaller crowd.
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
this is hands down the best crab salad ever, if natasha werent my sister i would invite her just because of this salad
I love crab salad. But I make it differently. I don’t use peas, but add 1/2 cup of rice, bell peper (usually red to give some color) and olives from the can.
Great blog, btw.
Thank you!! Bell pepper sounds interesting. My aunt makes hers with rice too.
Wow that does sound good. Thank you so much for this recipe… I make my crab salad with tomatoes and green onions and then put mayo, salt and black pepper to taste… When i take it to church parties, everybody likes it.. I will try this next time. Sounds yummmmyyyy
Just thought that I’d return and tell you how much I enjoyed this recipe. THANKS!
I LOVE this salad! Our first Russian exchange student made this for us for Thanksgiving and we have added it to our holiday menu ever since. His mother made it for me this summer when I visited them in Russia and of all the salads that were made for me this is still my favorite!
I like to serve a few salads on my zakusky table and this turned out absolutely delicious. Your recipes are divine and I am so happy I found you.
Thanks Zina!
i always make my crab salad with rice, eggs, corn and crab meat and this time i thought i’d try yours out-sure glad i did. the husband loved it and i couldnt keep my hands off of it!!
Thanks for letting me know. So glad you enjoyed it!
Hi – I have recently discovered your site and absolutely LOVE it! Quick question: can this salad be made the day before it is eaten or is it best freshly made and served?
This salad keeps well in the fridge for 3 or 4 days.
Hey there…this salad sounds really good. I have a different way of making a crab salad…I will try yours and let you know how it goes. But i usually make mine with fresh cabbage, the crabs, green onions, and mayo. I add a little bit of salt and a little more pepper. Thanks for the recipes..God Bless
Hi Natasha! I just made this salad and its soo delicious! Thank you for sharing your recipes. I enjoy trying them out:)
I always love to hear when people try and enjoy my recipes.
it adds sweetness to my day so thank you!
Thank you very much for the recipe of this salad, I love it.
Sounds delicious I’ll have to try it, I make mine with just crabmeat, boiled eggs, corn, green onion and mayo. What are the black things on the picture above?
Those are canned peas
I love this salad! We make it exactly the same except we use the imitation crab meat sticks. All you do is hold it between your hands and rub it together. It comes apart easily and we just throw it and mix it together.
My husband is Russian and when I first learned to make this recipe I asked a Russian friend.Her recipe has carrots instead of the corn and finely diced apple and pickle.It’s delicious.
That sounds very interesting. Thanks for sharing Lydia!
Love your blog!! Keep up the fabulous work!
I guess in the 90th when the salad was invented they used crab meat imitation because of the bad economy Recently I tryed to use fresh shrimps instead of fake crab meat and frozen corn instead of caned I was so surprized how the test changed! The salad came out very delicious Also I know another varian of this salad – when you use fresh carbage instead of eggs and onions – more light variant but also very good (i m making with shrimps)
That does sound nice! Thanks for sharing
I make my salad exactly but also add quartered cucumbers..what kinda rice would you add to make it like your aunt? That sounds interesting, and I’m curious how it would taste;)
Hi Natasha,
I have to tell you, I work with a few young Russian women and one of them brought this to work one day for a pot luck and it was so divine! I told my husband about it and he was quite eager to try it, so after searching online, I came across your recipe and tried making it on my own and it was sooo delish! Personally, I thought your recipe was much better than my Russian friend’s. We nearly made ourselves sick while trying to eat it all and we even bickered over who would get the last of it!! Ha ha ha ha!! I have also tried other recipes of yours and you, ma’am, are a kitchen goddess!! Thank you for your site!!
Ha! Sounds like you enjoyed it a little too much! Thank you Heather! I am blessed to be surrounded by wonderful cooks in my family; who have taught me most of what I know
Love crab salad! The way I make mine is as follows (amount of ingredients varies from person to person and preference):
Imitation crab meat- chopped
Red bell pepper- cut in thin strips
Canned corn
Celery- cut in tiny cubes
Olives- cut in thin circles or half moons
Green onion- chopped
Dill
A little mayo to coat
I like to eat it just like that where as my mom likes to mix in some cooked rice and my sister-in-law likes to mix in some cooked tiny shells. Enjoy!
Oh! And my mother also adds some grated hard boiled eggs to her salad too when she mixes it with the rice.
I should try adding the dill. Sounds like a nice touch!
My family’s recipe for crab salad is made with equal parts cauliflower, diced tomato, and imitation crab (all diced to about the same size). We then dress it with sour cream and mayo and salt to taste. Will have to try yours. Sounds yummy.
Tomato and cauliflower sound nice. I’ll have to try your version as well! Thanks for sharing!