This is not your ordinary imitation crab salad recipe. Featuring corn, eggs, rice, and cucumber, this Russian salad version is comforting, filling, and really easy & quick to make!
Throughout the years I heard many negative opinions about imitation crab meat. Some people say that it has nothing in common with real crab meat, others are put off by the contents of the product. The first concern is usually voiced by those with pockets full of money. Of course, I would choose real crab meat over the imitation one anytime, duh. But it’s too darn expensive! Imitation crab, on the other hand, is really cheap. It’s accessible even for the poorer people in my country.
Now let met tell you this. When I buy imitation crab, I don’t even expect it to taste like crab. I don’t look at it as a substitute for the real one. For me, it’s an individual product with its own flavor and texture (which I love very much). What about the contents, imitation crab meat is made of different kinds of fish with the addition of starch, sodium, and artificial flavors. The fish are pulverized to a paste called surimi which is then used to create crab sticks. So what? What’s wrong in here? You can’t expect it to be made of salmon and still be as cheap. That’s the reality and you either accept it or not. I certainly do.
Imitation crab is super popular in my and all the nearby countries. In my family, it’s usually used in salads. My mom has been making a crab meat salad with rice, corn, eggs, and other stuff for years! It has since become my ultimate comfort food. Only later I found out that it wasn’t her special recipe, such a combination of ingredients is used by many people in our region. I don’t know how this exact salad recipe was invented and who did it but its usually called “Russian-Style” imitation crab salad.
You know what’s funny? This recipe is so simple and so widespread that I hesitated to publish it on the blog for a long time. I thought: “Everyone knows it, so what’s the point?” But I forgot one important thing. What’s popular here, in my country, is not necessarily popular on the other side of the globe. And that was the case with this salad.
I checked out the most popular imitation crab salad versions on Pinterest and Google and, surprisingly, found out that almost no one uses corn and rice in their recipes. Americans usually add celery, dill, and other stuff. That’s why I’m sharing this childhood salad of mine with you, guys. I am sure you’ll love it!
Russian-Style Imitation Crab Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 11 oz. (300g) imitation crab meat , cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 English cucumber , chopped
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup rice
- 1 small can corn (I used 7oz. or 200g)
- 3 tablespoons mayo
- 3 tablespoons yogurt
- a small bunch dill
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper , or to taste
- 1 teaspoon salt , or to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the rice according to the package instructions. Let cool.
- Hard-boil the eggs. Peel and chop them.
- In a big bowl, mix the cooked rice, eggs, crab meat, cucumber, corn, mayo, yogurt, dill, and mix carefully. Season and serve chilled. Enjoy!
40 Comments
Julia @ HappyFoods Tube
February 25, 2017 at 12:27 pmI made this salad a few weeks ago! I just didn’t use dill :). It’s a great salad for parties :)! I don’t think there is anything wrong with using immitation crab. For most people it’s the only option.
Jovita
February 28, 2017 at 8:53 amThat’s right, Julia. Not everyone has enough money for the real one 🙂 This salad is great for any occasion!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
February 25, 2017 at 1:07 pmI’m from the Chesapeake Bay region originally and we would go crabbing every summer – so I’m definitely partial to the real thing. But you recipe interests me, because I’ve never had a crab salad with rice and corn in it.
Jovita
February 28, 2017 at 8:54 amThat’s really awesome when you can get a real, fresh, local crab. I envy you!
Deanna
February 25, 2017 at 3:40 pmI love this! This is perfect for Ash Wednesday lunch! YUM!!!
Jovita
February 28, 2017 at 8:55 amI am glad you liked it, Deanna!
Raia Todd
February 25, 2017 at 4:12 pmI’ve never made crab salad before. This looks beautiful and sounds pretty easy!
Jovita
February 28, 2017 at 8:56 amYou HAVE to try this one!
Kavey at Kavey Eats
February 25, 2017 at 4:24 pmI really like Russian salads but never had one with imitation crab in it – I like this addition a lot!
Jovita
February 28, 2017 at 8:56 amIf you like other Russian salads, then you’ll surely love this one 😉
Annie
February 25, 2017 at 5:51 pmI could eat this forever. It looks so perfect!
Jovita
February 28, 2017 at 8:57 amI could too, Annie!
J @ Bless Her Heart Y'all
February 25, 2017 at 7:36 pmWhat a beautiful spring plating! I am sure that this is a hit with anyone who tries it! YUM!
Jovita
February 28, 2017 at 8:59 amYup, I haven’t met a person who wouldn’t like this salad yet 🙂
debi at Life Currents
February 26, 2017 at 2:59 pmThis salad looks delicious. Unless you can get fresh crab, I think imitation crab tastes so much better than most of the other canned or jarred crab.
Jovita
February 28, 2017 at 9:00 amMaybe maybe, Debi. We don’t have canned crab here so I can’t compare 🙂
Sam | Ahead of Thyme
February 26, 2017 at 7:56 pmThis looks amazing! And I love how easy it is!!
Jovita
February 28, 2017 at 9:02 amIt can’t get any easier, Sam!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
February 27, 2017 at 11:14 amNice and easy, just like me need!
Jovita
February 28, 2017 at 12:32 pmYou will love it, Rebecca!
Inna
January 23, 2018 at 1:14 amThis was one of the quickest russian salads I’ve made. My husband and I ate this within a day! It was just so good!
Jovita
February 1, 2018 at 7:54 pmSuper quick and super delicious 🙂
Marina
January 25, 2019 at 8:33 pmWhat kind of yogurt is required?
Jovita
March 27, 2019 at 2:11 pmAny will do. It will just be easier to mix everything if the yogurt won’t be too thick 🙂
Natasha
January 31, 2020 at 2:40 amI am Russian and that’s one of my favorite salads! But… use mayo for dressing, it will make salad much better!!!
Jovita
February 23, 2021 at 1:17 pmI tried to make it a bit healthier, that’s why 🙂
Crystal
May 4, 2020 at 9:07 pmYummy! I didn’t have corn or plain yogurt but I used sour cream and softened cream cheese in place of the yogurt and it tastes like crab sushi!!! I love it! Thanks for the recipe!!!
Jovita
February 23, 2021 at 10:51 amI love your modifications, Crystal! Glad you liked the recipe 🙂
Jeremy
June 25, 2020 at 12:01 amWe looked in the fridge and had imitation crab, frozen corn, part of a cucumber, and left over rice from the night before and were wondering what to make for dinner. I googled it and this came up! Fantastic dinner, and it used up all our leftovers! Thanks!
Jovita
June 25, 2020 at 2:57 pmI’m so happy to hear it, Jeremy!
Helen
December 31, 2020 at 3:42 pmI also add the red bell pepper and substitute the yogurt with sour cream, but I’m sure your variation should also be great.
Jovita
January 5, 2021 at 9:56 amBell pepper sounds like a great idea, Helen! Thank you for the comment 🙂
Connie
June 5, 2021 at 1:12 pmMy husband is Georgian, and remembers “Russian” type salads from his childhood, can’t wait to try this one together.
Jovita
July 13, 2021 at 9:15 pmI hope you’ll like it, Connie!
Geras
June 5, 2021 at 9:11 pmTastes mild, complete meal.
Mike
June 27, 2021 at 8:28 amJust finished a bowl of this salad for breakfast. My girlfriend made a batch and it’s great! This recipe is pretty popular in Poland, greetings from Warsaw.
Jovita
July 13, 2021 at 9:14 pmI didn’t know that this salad is also known in Poland 🙂 Thank you for the comment, Mike!
Veronica
July 18, 2021 at 10:03 pmThis is so surprisingly fantastic!!! We absolutely loved it and will definitely be making it again!! Thanks from BC Canada!
Jovita
July 19, 2021 at 8:49 amI am so glad you enjoyed this salad so much, Veronica! 🙂
Margarette
October 3, 2022 at 7:46 pmI didn’t have yogurt or sour
cream, but used softened cream cheese and milk. Also added some thawed frozen peas. Turned out very well. Love the corn in it!