Bright Summer Joy: Ina Garten’s Seafood Salad Recipe

Summers call for light, refreshing dishes that dance on your palate, and this Ina Garten seafood salad recipe captures that essence perfectly.

Cool ocean flavors mingle with crisp vegetables, creating a delightful melody of textures.

Fresh seafood takes center stage, promising a luxurious dining experience.

Each bite delivers a sophisticated blend of tender shrimp and delicate herbs.

The recipe speaks to those who appreciate clean, elegant coastal cuisine.

Simple ingredients come together with remarkable ease, turning an ordinary meal into something extraordinary.

You’ll love how this salad brings the seaside right to your dinner table.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Calories: 350 kcal

Servings: 6

The Seafood Ingredients That Make This Salad Shine

• Shrimp: Sweet ocean gems that bring delicate marine flavor and tender texture.
• Scallops: Luxurious pillowy morsels offering rich, buttery taste and elegant protein.
• Calamari: Tender rings adding Mediterranean coastal character and delightful chewiness.
• Mussels: Briny shellfish delivering deep oceanic complexity and robust seafood essence.

• Garlic: Pungent flavor booster with warming Mediterranean spirit.
• Oregano: Earthy herb providing robust Mediterranean seasoning and herbaceous undertones.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Vibrant spice contributor adding subtle heat and zesty complexity.
• Fennel: Crisp vegetable bringing refreshing anise-like crunch and light sweetness.
• Parsley: Fresh green herb offering bright, clean finishing notes.

• Old Bay Seasoning: Classic seafood spice blend delivering signature maritime warmth.
• Salt: Essential flavor amplifier balancing overall recipe profile.
• Pepper: Subtle heat enhancer providing depth and gentle spiciness.
• White Wine: Elegant liquid for poaching, infusing delicate acidic undertones.
• Olive Oil: Smooth cooking medium with rich Mediterranean character.
• Limoncello: Bright citrus liqueur adding luxurious Italian-inspired zestiness.
• Lemon: Versatile citrus fruit providing fresh acidity and aromatic brightness.
• Tomatoes: Juicy base adding vibrant color and sweet-tangy dimension.

Tools for Chilling & Dressing Seafood Right

• Large pot: Essential for boiling water and cooking seafood.
• Wooden spoon: Perfect for stirring and moving seafood during cooking.
• Colander: Needed to drain seafood after poaching.
• Medium sauté pan: Critical for making the flavorful dressing.
• Mixing bowl: Used to collect and toss seafood and dressing.
• Cutting board: For slicing lemon and preparing ingredients.
• Sharp knife: To thinly slice lemon and chop parsley.
• Plastic wrap: For covering and chilling the salad.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Ensure precise ingredient quantities.
• Citrus zester: Optional tool for creating lemon zest.

How to Build Ina’s Coastal-Style Seafood Salad

• Ocean's Bounty Preparation

Craft a flavorful seafood bath using water, seasoning, and salt that will transform raw seafood into tender delicacies.

• Seafood Symphony

Gently poach shrimp, scallops, calamari, and mussels in stages, ensuring each type remains perfectly tender and retains its delicate essence.

• Aromatic Infusion

Create a vibrant sauce by sautéing garlic with aromatic herbs and spices, then introducing bright tomatoes and zesty citrus elements.

• Flavor Fusion

Combine the poached seafood with the warm sauce, allowing the ingredients to mingle and develop a complex flavor profile.

• Fennel and Herb Embrace

Fold in crisp fennel and fresh parsley, adding layers of texture and refreshing notes to the salad.

• Chilling Strategy

Cover and refrigerate the salad, letting the flavors harmonize and intensify over several hours or overnight.

• Final Touch

Just before serving, brighten the dish with additional lemon juice and a sprinkle of seasoning to elevate the maritime medley.

Variations with Citrus, Avocado, or Herbs

• Choose the freshest seafood possible from a reliable fishmonger, ensuring peak flavor and quality for your salad.
• Watch seafood closely while cooking to prevent overcooking; each type has a different ideal cooking time to maintain tenderness.
• Swap or add different seafood like crab meat, langoustines, or lobster to create your personalized Mediterranean-style seafood blend.
• Prepare the salad a day in advance to allow flavors to meld and develop a more complex taste profile in the refrigerator.
• Adjust red pepper flakes to increase or decrease heat according to your personal spice preference, making the dish adaptable to different palates.

Serve This Over Greens or In Shells

• Serve with Crusty Bread: Grab a rustic baguette or ciabatta to soak up the delicious citrusy dressing. The bread perfectly complements the seafood's delicate flavors.
• Pair with Chilled White Wine: Select a crisp Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc that matches the salad's bright, zesty notes. The wine's acidity will enhance the seafood's freshness.
• Create a Mediterranean Platter: Arrange the seafood salad on a large platter with olives, sliced cucumbers, and roasted red peppers. This presentation transforms the dish into a stunning appetizer or light meal.
• Garnish with Fresh Herbs: Sprinkle extra chopped parsley or add a few fresh basil leaves just before serving. These herbs will add a vibrant pop of color and additional layer of flavor to the salad.

Store It Well: Seafood Storage Tips

• Maximize Freshness: Store seafood salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain crisp flavors and textures.
• Chill and Enhance: Refrigerate for 3-6 hours before serving to allow ingredients to marinate and develop deeper, richer taste profiles.
• Smart Timing: Consume within 2-3 days for optimal quality, ensuring seafood remains tender and herbs stay vibrant.
• Safe Handling: Keep seafood salad consistently cold, below 40°F, to prevent bacterial growth and maintain food safety standards.

Ultimate Ina Garten Seafood Salad Recipe

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4.7 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s seafood salad brings Mediterranean flavors to dinner tables with fresh ingredients. Crisp vegetables and tender seafood create a light, zesty meal perfect for summer gatherings when you want something elegant and refreshing.

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Ingredients

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• 2 pounds fresh mussels
• 1 pound sea scallops, halved crosswise
• 1 ½ pounds (16- to 20-count) peeled and deveined shrimp
• 1 pound cleaned fresh calamari, sliced crosswise in ½-inch-thick rings
• 1 ½ cups dry white wine
• ½ cup good olive oil
• ½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, lightly packed
• 4 tsps minced garlic (4 cloves)
• 3 plum tomatoes, seeds and pulp removed and medium-diced
• 1 small fennel bulb, trimmed, cored, and thinly sliced crosswise
• ½ cup limoncello liqueur
• ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
• 2 lemons
• Grated zest of 1 lemon
• 2 tsps dried oregano
• 1 tbsp Old Bay seasoning
• ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Poaching Preparation: Fill a large pot with water, seasoning with Old Bay and salt to create a flavorful poaching liquid.
2. Seafood Cooking Sequence: Systematically poach shrimp, scallops, calamari, and mussels in the seasoned liquid, carefully transferring each type of seafood to a mixing bowl after precise cooking times. Extract mussel meat and reserve 12 decorative shells.
3. Liquid Reduction: Strain and reserve 120 milliliters of the poaching liquid, ensuring seafood is thoroughly drained.
4. Aromatic Dressing Creation: In a sauté pan, warm olive oil and bloom garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes to release their essential oils. Add diced tomatoes, reserved poaching liquid, limoncello, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper, simmering briefly to harmonize flavors.
5. Salad Assembly: Gently coat the seafood with the warm dressing, carefully integrating thinly sliced fennel and chopped parsley. Incorporate lemon slices and refrigerate for a minimum of 3 hours to allow flavors to meld.
6. Final Preparation: Before serving, season with additional salt and pepper, squeeze fresh lemon juice, and adjust flavors to taste. Serve chilled or at room temperature, presenting the seafood salad with a vibrant, Mediterranean-inspired profile.

Notes

• Seafood Selection Matters: Choose fresh, high-quality seafood from a reliable fishmonger to ensure the best flavor and texture in your salad.
• Precise Poaching Technique: Cook each seafood type separately to prevent overcooking and maintain individual texture, creating a perfectly tender result.
• Flavor Infusion Strategy: Allow the salad to marinate for at least 3 hours to develop deep, complex flavors that blend the seafood with the aromatic dressing.
• Serving Temperature Tip: The salad tastes best when served chilled or at room temperature, allowing the delicate seafood and herb notes to shine through.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 450 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 10 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 150 mg