Spicy Sriracha Crab and Cucumber Salad (Kani Salad) Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is kani salad made of? ›

This Kani Salad is light and refreshing using imitation crab together with cucumber, and mango in a creamy spicy mayonnaise dressing. A Kani Salad is a Japanese style salad made with crab and julienned thinly sliced ingredients with a creamy spicy mayonnaise dressing. It's very popular in American Japanese restaurants.

The base is crab meat and cold rice noodles, with a fresh element from carrots, cucumbers, and scallions. The dressing is a tangy and spicy combination of sriracha, vinegar, and mayo. It's one of the most flavorful side salads you'll ever eat, and it only takes 10 minutes to make!

First, what is kani? Kani simply means 'crab' in Japanese. In this context, it refers to imitation crab meat. They look like real crab legs, but instead are made from white fish, such as pollock, that has been processed and mixd with starch to mimic the shape, texture, and flavor of crab legs.

Kani is most commonly served as a spicy Kani maki roll, consisting of cooked crab meat covered in rice and then wrapped in seaweed. Kani can be served shredded or in Kani sticks, which are meant to be eaten like crab legs.

In Japan, imitation crab meat is referred to as kanikama. In the U.S., it is often referred to simply as kani. Imitation crab is a key ingredient in California sushi rolls, along with avocado and cucumber, and is used as a crab substitute in Japanese cuisine.

Kani sushi literally translated to "crab sushi" in Japanese, as the word Kani or Kanikama translates to crab. This doesn't however mean it always uses real crab meat. Typically, Kani sushi uses imitation crabmeat which is also known as surimi or crabsticks.

It's a highly processed food containing minced fillet, egg whites, salt, sugar, and other additives to make it look like real crab meat. It's more affordable, but less nutritious, than fresh crab meat.

The Japanese word for “crab” is 「カニ」pronounced as 'kani' .

Can you eat imitation crab raw? Yes. It is pre-cooked, so you are able to eat it straight from the package. Many people use it as part of a larger recipe though, adding it to cream of crab soup, crab Rangoon or crab salad.

You can find imitation crab either in the refrigerated or frozen section of stores. They sell several types, including flake-style, chunks, sticks, and shreds. Since imitation crab is precooked, you can use it straight from the package for cold dishes, such as dips and salad, or add it to dishes you heat.

Are fake crab sticks healthy? ›

Imitation crab also has fewer vitamins and minerals than real crab. Like other processed foods that contain stabilizers, preservatives, sugars and added salt, it's best avoided. Save your money for the real thing.

No, it's not. Imitation crab is mostly made from pulverized fish meat, often Alaska pollock, with crab flavoring and some amount of wheat and egg white to maintain its texture. Think of it as flavored fish paste, really. If you're not allergic to seafood, it's very unlikely to cause any health problems.

Imitation crab is a highly processed food made by combining minced fish with starch, egg whites, sugar, salt, and additives to mimic the flavor, color, and texture of real crab meat. While it's significantly less expensive than real crab, it's also less nutritious.

Just like the name implies, imitation crab contains no crabmeat. Fish is, however, one of the main ingredients. It is made using surimi, which is a paste made of fish and a few other ingredients. Surimi is often made with pollock, which is also used to make fish sticks and breaded fish products.

Wondering about kani salad calories? Each serving has 169 calories. The full nutrition facts can be found below, on the recipe card.