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    Kani Salad Recipe With Dressing Included

    Published: Jul 1, 2022 · Modified: Sep 22, 2023 · By: Joseph Duff

    Jump to Recipe

    This kani salad is so fresh, so flavorful, and so easy to make! And this kani salad recipe includes a creamy and slightly spicy mayonnaise dressing that enhances all of the flavors.

    Kani salad in a glass bowl on a white tile counter.

    Table of Contents

    • THE BEST KANI SALAD
      • INGREDIENTS
      • HOW TO MAKE KANI SALAD
        • STEP 1: MAKING THE KANI SALAD
        • STEP 2: MAKING THE DRESSING
        • STEP 3: COMPLETING THE SALAD
      • HOW TO STORE KANI SALAD
      • FAQS ABOUT THIS KANI SALAD RECIPE
        • What is kani?
        • What is kani salad?
        • What does kani taste like?
      • WRAPPING IT ALL UP
    • More Seafood Recipes
    • Kani Salad Recipe With Dressing Included
      • Ingredients
      • Instructions
      • Nutrition
      • Did you make this recipe?

    THE BEST KANI SALAD

    If you've never heard of a kani salad before, it's something that has been going viral on Tiktok recently. Kani is just imitation crab meat, so this recipe really is an imitation crab salad.

    Now, if you've had it before, odds are it was at one of the delicious American Japanese restaurants. And although it's great to order at a restaurant or get for take out, I think it's even better made at home with this crab salad. 

    This recipe includes all of the classic complementary ingredients like carrots, cucumber, mango, and couple additions for a crunchy texture. And this easy spicy kani salad is completed with the homemade creamy sriracha mayo dressing.

    It is just so fresh, healthy, and delicious that there's really nothing else like this kani salad recipe.

    It makes for an excellent quick lunch or dinner since it only takes 15 minutes to make! And if you want to add another component to the meal, it goes great with our chicken tempura and sushi rice.

    Kani salad in a glass bowl on a white tile counter. Beind it is a white cup of black sesame seeds.

    INGREDIENTS

    Another reason to love this spicy kani salad is that it's made with only 5 ingredients! And the dressing is made with all staple kitchen ingredients, so you might have everything you need on hand.

    Here's what you'll need to make kani salad:

    • 5 oz imitation crab (crab sticks)
    • 1 carrot
    • 1 cucumber
    • 1 ripe mango
    • 2 tablespoons panko
    • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds optional

    And for the dressing:

    • ¼ cup mayonnaise
    • 1 teaspoon sriracha
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
    • ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

    The ingredient list is really great and something I love about this imitation crab recipe. 

    Now, I used imitation crab sticks, and turned them into shredded crab sticks for the best textural combinations. But if you want, you can also use real crab meat!

    It's as simple as the list to make this spicy southwest salad! So you might want to give that a try next!

    Shredded carrots in a white bowl, shredded cucumber in a white bowl, shredded mango in a white bowl, shredded imitation crab in a white bowl, a bowl of mayonnaise, a bowl of black sesame seeds, and a bowl of sriracha all on a white tile counter.

    HOW TO MAKE KANI SALAD

    The process of making kani salad at home is quicker and easier than driving to pick it up for takeout. Seriously, all you need is about 15 minutes to do a little chopping and mixing - that's it! 

    So let's not waste any more time - get out all of the ingredients and let's get to it!

    Some shredded cucumber, some shredded carrots, and half a mango on a wood cutting board on a white tile counter. Also on the counter is a bowl of imitation crab, a bowl of shredded cucumber, a small glass bowl of Sriracha, small glass bowl meal, a bowl shredded mango, and part of a bowl of shredded carrots.

    STEP 1: MAKING THE KANI SALAD

    First, wash the cucumber and carrot. Then cut both of them into long, thin strips and set them aside. 

    Next, take the imitation crab sticks out of the package, cut it into long and thin strips, and set them aside as well. Oh, and you can also make them into shredded crab sticks.

    After that, cut the mango in half, cut the inside into long and thin strips, and set it aside along with the other ingredients. I made of the strips for the salad around 3 inches, but you can cut them however you want.

    I think this salad is so great because everything is julienned, so they easily mix and blend so well together. 

    Kearny salad dressing in a white bowl on top of the white tile counter.

    STEP 2: MAKING THE DRESSING

    To make the dressing for the crab salad - also known as Japanese mayonnaise- add the mayo, sriracha sauce, lemon juice, sugar, salt, and pepper to a small bowl and mix everything until combined.

    Oh, and if you don't like one of these ingredients, feel free to leave it out!

    Kani salad dressing, julienned carrots, cucumber, mango, and imitation crab in a white bowl on a white tile counter.

    STEP 3: COMPLETING THE SALAD

    Now that the salad and dressing are ready let's bring the two together!

    First, add all of the julienned salad ingredients to a large bowl. Then pour all of the mixed dressing over the top and mix the salad to cover it in the dressing.

    Sprinkle the panko and toasted sesame seeds on top for the finishing touch, and enjoy!

    A glass bowl filled with kani salad with black sesame seeds on top.

    HOW TO STORE KANI SALAD

    This kani salad recipe will make about 2 servings, so odds are you probably won't have any leftovers!

    But if you serve it as a side with dinner, like with this fried mahi mahi, and have some left, transfer it immediately to an airtight container. It'll then last in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

    Honestly, I think this crab salad tastes even better days after making it since the ingredients and flavors all get a chance to meld together. 

    Kani sald in a glass bowl on a white tile counter.

    FAQS ABOUT THIS KANI SALAD RECIPE

    What is kani?

    Kani - the main ingredient for this salad - is imitation crab meat that is made out of white fish. Kani actually means "crab" in Japanese, so that is where this recipe gets its name from. Kani is commonly found in Japanese dishes, like sushi.

    What is kani salad?

    Kani salad is a Japanese-style salad made with crab meat and julienned ingredients, typically carrots, cucumber, and mango. Then it's tossed in a creamy and sometimes spicy mayonnaise based dressing. 

    What does kani taste like?

    Kani tastes identical to real crab, so it has a slightly sweet and super mild flavor. Then the taste of the whole salad is light and refreshing with a sweet, spicy, and fresh flavor.

    Part of a glass bowl that has kani salad in it.

    WRAPPING IT ALL UP

    That is how to make spicy kani salad at home with a couple of fresh, wholesome ingredients in only 15 minutes! It's so light, refreshing, healthy, and has so many good flavors.

    Either serve it on the side with dinner or enjoy it for lunch. However you eat it, it'll be delicious, and anyone you share it with is sure to love it!

    I hope you enjoy this tasty spicy kani salad as much as I do. If you make it, be sure to leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts!

    More Seafood Recipes

    If you want to give some more delicious recipes a try, we have a ton on the blog that you have to try!

    Check these recipes out:

    • Honey walnut shrimp
    • Loaded shrimp fries
    • Firecracker shrimp
    • Deep fried salmon 
    • Baked talaba 
    • Crab casserole
    • Seafood pasta salad
    Print

    Kani Salad Recipe With Dressing Included

    Kani salad on a fork being held over a glass bowl filled with kani salad..
    Print Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 6 reviews

    This kani salad is so fresh, so flavorful, and so easy to make. And this kani salad recipe includes a creamy and slightly spicy mayonnaise dressing that enhances all of the flavors.

    • Author: Joe Duff
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 0 minutes
    • Total Time: 10 minutes
    • Yield: 2 servings 1x
    • Category: Lunch/Dinner
    • Method: Mixing
    • Cuisine: Japanese

    Ingredients

    Scale

    5 oz (250g) imitation crab (crab sticks) shredded into thin strips

    1 carrot, julienned 3" long (about 1 cup)

    1 cucumber, julienned 3" long (about 1 and ½ cups)

    1 ripe mango, julienned 3" long

    2 tablespoons panko

    1 teaspoon sesame seeds optional

    Dressing:

    ¼ cup mayonnaise

    1 teaspoon sriracha 

    1 teaspoon lemon juice

    ½ teaspoon granulated sugar

    ½ teaspoon salt

    ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

    Instructions

    1. Cut the crab, carrot, cucumber, and mango into long, thin strips.
    2. Mix all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl.
    3. Mix the crab, carrot, cucumber, mango and dressing in a large bowl.
    4. Top with panko and sesame seeds.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving
    • Calories: 147
    • Fat: 1
    • Carbohydrates: 28
    • Protein: 9

    Keywords: kani salad, kani salad recipe, spicy kani salad, spicy kani salad recipe, kani salad ingredients, kani salad dressing, kani salad recipe japanese, how to make kani salad, what is kani salad, kani salad recipe easy, kani salad recipe dressing, kani salad recipe with mango, what does kani taste like, best kani salad, kani salad recipe tiktok

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Megan

      March 11, 2022 at 10:49 am

      Super delicious!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Jamie

      March 12, 2022 at 2:12 pm

      Are together quick and was super tasty too!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Felix

      March 13, 2022 at 12:43 pm

      Made this the past 4 days!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Alana

      March 15, 2022 at 10:07 am

      I loved the dressing in this recipe. I have had kani salad before but it never tasted as good as this one.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    5. Gwen

      March 15, 2022 at 12:22 pm

      One of the best salads I’ve made.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. J

      July 03, 2022 at 4:45 pm

      Loved it

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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    Recipe rating ★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆

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