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Easy Restaurant Style Spicy Kani Salad

Close-up of a creamy, spicy kani salad topped with sliced green onions and sesame seeds in a light bowl.
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Make a quick, creamy, and spicy Kani salad at home that tastes just like your favorite sushi restaurant version. This imitation crab salad is ready in minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces imitation crab meat (kani), shredded
  • 1 large cucumber, thinly sliced or julienned
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup Japanese mayonnaise (Kewpie recommended)
  • 1 tablespoon Sriracha (adjust to your spice preference)
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 green onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

  1. Shred the imitation crab meat into thin strips using your fingers or two forks. Place the shredded kani in a medium bowl.
  2. Add the sliced cucumber to the bowl with the kani.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, sugar, and salt until the sugar dissolves. Pour this mixture over the kani and cucumber. Toss gently to coat. Let this sit for 5 minutes to slightly pickle the vegetables.
  4. In a separate small bowl, prepare the spicy mayo dressing by mixing the Japanese mayonnaise, Sriracha, and sesame oil until smooth.
  5. Pour the spicy mayo dressing over the kani and cucumber mixture. Fold everything together until the salad is evenly coated.
  6. Stir in the sliced green onion.
  7. Serve the Kani salad immediately, or chill for 15 minutes for a colder texture. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds before serving.

Notes

  • For a lower-carb option, substitute the imitation crab with real cooked crab meat.
  • If you do not have Japanese mayonnaise, use regular mayonnaise but add a small squeeze of lemon juice for tang.
  • You can prepare the dressing up to one day ahead and store it in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://savoryskies.com/easy-restaurant-style-spicy-kani-salad-recipe/