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Russian-Style Imitation Crab Salad

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!

Check out this Russian version of the Imitation Crab Salad. Featuring corn, rice, eggs, and cucumber, it's comforting, filling, and crazy delicious! | yummyaddiction.com

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.

Check out this Russian version of the Imitation Crab Salad. Featuring corn, rice, eggs, and cucumber, it's comforting, filling, and crazy delicious! | yummyaddiction.com

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.

Check out this Russian version of the Imitation Crab Salad. Featuring corn, rice, eggs, and cucumber, it's comforting, filling, and crazy delicious! | yummyaddiction.com

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.

Check out this Russian version of the Imitation Crab Salad. Featuring corn, rice, eggs, and cucumber, it's comforting, filling, and crazy delicious! | yummyaddiction.com

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! Check out this Russian version of the Imitation Crab Salad. Featuring corn, rice, eggs, and cucumber, it's comforting, filling, and crazy delicious! | yummyaddiction.com

Russian-Style Imitation Crab Salad Recipe

This Russian-Style Imitation Crab Salad features corn, rice, eggs, and cucumber. It's really filling and easy to make!
5 from 11 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6
Author: Yummy Addiction

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Mixing Bowls
Cutting Boards
Knife Set

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 pm

    I 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.

    Reply
    • Jovita
      February 28, 2017 at 8:53 am

      That’s right, Julia. Not everyone has enough money for the real one 🙂 This salad is great for any occasion!

      Reply
  • Lisa | Garlic & Zest
    February 25, 2017 at 1:07 pm

    I’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.

    Reply
    • Jovita
      February 28, 2017 at 8:54 am

      That’s really awesome when you can get a real, fresh, local crab. I envy you!

      Reply
  • Deanna
    February 25, 2017 at 3:40 pm

    I love this! This is perfect for Ash Wednesday lunch! YUM!!!5 stars

    Reply
    • Jovita
      February 28, 2017 at 8:55 am

      I am glad you liked it, Deanna!

      Reply
  • Raia Todd
    February 25, 2017 at 4:12 pm

    I’ve never made crab salad before. This looks beautiful and sounds pretty easy!

    Reply
    • Jovita
      February 28, 2017 at 8:56 am

      You HAVE to try this one!

      Reply
  • Kavey at Kavey Eats
    February 25, 2017 at 4:24 pm

    I really like Russian salads but never had one with imitation crab in it – I like this addition a lot!

    Reply
    • Jovita
      February 28, 2017 at 8:56 am

      If you like other Russian salads, then you’ll surely love this one 😉

      Reply
  • Annie
    February 25, 2017 at 5:51 pm

    I could eat this forever. It looks so perfect!

    Reply
    • Jovita
      February 28, 2017 at 8:57 am

      I could too, Annie!

      Reply
  • J @ Bless Her Heart Y'all
    February 25, 2017 at 7:36 pm

    What a beautiful spring plating! I am sure that this is a hit with anyone who tries it! YUM!5 stars

    Reply
    • Jovita
      February 28, 2017 at 8:59 am

      Yup, I haven’t met a person who wouldn’t like this salad yet 🙂

      Reply
  • debi at Life Currents
    February 26, 2017 at 2:59 pm

    This 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.

    Reply
    • Jovita
      February 28, 2017 at 9:00 am

      Maybe maybe, Debi. We don’t have canned crab here so I can’t compare 🙂

      Reply
  • Sam | Ahead of Thyme
    February 26, 2017 at 7:56 pm

    This looks amazing! And I love how easy it is!!5 stars

    Reply
    • Jovita
      February 28, 2017 at 9:02 am

      It can’t get any easier, Sam!

      Reply
  • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
    February 27, 2017 at 11:14 am

    Nice and easy, just like me need!

    Reply
    • Jovita
      February 28, 2017 at 12:32 pm

      You will love it, Rebecca!

      Reply
  • Inna
    January 23, 2018 at 1:14 am

    This was one of the quickest russian salads I’ve made. My husband and I ate this within a day! It was just so good!5 stars

    Reply
    • Jovita
      February 1, 2018 at 7:54 pm

      Super quick and super delicious 🙂

      Reply
  • Marina
    January 25, 2019 at 8:33 pm

    What kind of yogurt is required?

    Reply
    • Jovita
      March 27, 2019 at 2:11 pm

      Any will do. It will just be easier to mix everything if the yogurt won’t be too thick 🙂

      Reply
  • Natasha
    January 31, 2020 at 2:40 am

    I am Russian and that’s one of my favorite salads! But… use mayo for dressing, it will make salad much better!!!5 stars

    Reply
    • Jovita
      February 23, 2021 at 1:17 pm

      I tried to make it a bit healthier, that’s why 🙂

      Reply
  • Crystal
    May 4, 2020 at 9:07 pm

    Yummy! 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!!!5 stars

    Reply
    • Jovita
      February 23, 2021 at 10:51 am

      I love your modifications, Crystal! Glad you liked the recipe 🙂

      Reply
  • Jeremy
    June 25, 2020 at 12:01 am

    We 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!

    Reply
    • Jovita
      June 25, 2020 at 2:57 pm

      I’m so happy to hear it, Jeremy!

      Reply
  • Helen
    December 31, 2020 at 3:42 pm

    I also add the red bell pepper and substitute the yogurt with sour cream, but I’m sure your variation should also be great.5 stars

    Reply
    • Jovita
      January 5, 2021 at 9:56 am

      Bell pepper sounds like a great idea, Helen! Thank you for the comment 🙂

      Reply
  • Connie
    June 5, 2021 at 1:12 pm

    My husband is Georgian, and remembers “Russian” type salads from his childhood, can’t wait to try this one together.

    Reply
    • Jovita
      July 13, 2021 at 9:15 pm

      I hope you’ll like it, Connie!

      Reply
  • Geras
    June 5, 2021 at 9:11 pm

    Tastes mild, complete meal.5 stars

    Reply
  • Mike
    June 27, 2021 at 8:28 am

    Just 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.5 stars

    Reply
    • Jovita
      July 13, 2021 at 9:14 pm

      I didn’t know that this salad is also known in Poland 🙂 Thank you for the comment, Mike!

      Reply
  • Veronica
    July 18, 2021 at 10:03 pm

    This is so surprisingly fantastic!!! We absolutely loved it and will definitely be making it again!! Thanks from BC Canada!5 stars

    Reply
    • Jovita
      July 19, 2021 at 8:49 am

      I am so glad you enjoyed this salad so much, Veronica! 🙂

      Reply
  • Margarette
    October 3, 2022 at 7:46 pm

    I 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!5 stars

    Reply

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