Japanese kani salad
Kani salad is the quiet side dish on every sushi bar menu, the one you order to try and finish first. The formula is simple: surimi strips, crunchy cucumber and Japanese mayo with a touch of heat.
Instructions
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Thaw the surimi
Leave the surimi 2 hours in the fridge. Ready to eat, no cooking.
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Pull into strips
Pull the surimi slices into long strips by hand, along the natural grain. That crab-like texture is exactly what makes kani salad special.
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Drain the cucumber ⏱ 5 min
Cut the cucumber into fine julienne, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, wait 5 minutes, then squeeze it well. That keeps the salad creamy instead of watery.
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Dress and serve
Mix the Kewpie with sriracha and lemon juice, then coat the surimi and cucumber in the dressing. Mound into bowls, top with the sesame mix and spring onion.
Good to know
For the bowl version: pile kani salad over warm sushi rice with avocado and you have a full lunch. Surimi Naruto works just as well here, sliced thin and pulled apart.
Frequently asked questions
What is kani salad?
It is the Japanese sushi bar salad made from surimi, cucumber and Japanese mayonnaise with a touch of heat. Kani means crab, and the crab-like texture comes from surimi pulled into strips.
Does the surimi need cooking for kani salad?
No, the Surimi Topping is ready to eat. You just leave it 2 hours to thaw in the fridge, then pull it apart by hand into long strips along the natural grain.
How do I stop the salad going watery?
Sprinkle the julienned cucumber with a pinch of salt, wait 5 minutes and squeeze it well. That removes the water and keeps the salad creamy with the 80 g of Kewpie.
What can I serve kani salad with?
It works as a simple side in bowls or as a full lunch over warm sushi rice with avocado. Surimi Naruto works just as well, sliced thin and pulled apart.
Ready to cook Seriosly?
Authentic taste isn't improvised, it's taken Seriosly.
Japanese kani salad
Japanese kani salad
Kani salad is the quiet side dish on every sushi bar menu, the one you order to try and finish first. The formula is simple: surimi strips, crunchy cucumber and Japanese mayo with a touch of heat.
Notes
For the bowl version: pile kani salad over warm sushi rice with avocado and you have a full lunch. Surimi Naruto works just as well here, sliced thin and pulled apart.
