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Chilled Italian Seafood Salad (Insalata di Mare)

A refreshing and vibrant Italian seafood salad featuring tender shrimp, calamari, and mussels, poached gently and tossed in a zesty lemon, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil dressing. Marinating allows the bright flavors to meld perfectly.

Chilled Italian Seafood Salad (Insalata di Mare)
Prep 20 min Cook 15 min Total 2h 35m Level Intermediate
Serves 6

Ingredients

Seafood

  • 1 lb Large shrimp — Peeled, deveined, and tails removed
  • 1 lb Calamari (squid) — Cleaned, bodies cut into 1/2-inch rings, tentacles left whole if small or halved
  • 1 lb Mussels — Scrubbed and debearded

Poaching Aromatics

  • 8 cups Water — For boiling
  • 0.5 cup Dry white wine — For steaming mussels
  • 0.5 whole Lemon — Cut into chunks
  • 1 whole Bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon Black peppercorns — Whole
  • 1 tablespoon Kosher salt — For the poaching liquid

Dressing and Mix-ins

  • 0.5 cup Extra virgin olive oil — High quality
  • 0.25 cup Fresh lemon juice — From about 1-2 lemons
  • 2 cloves Garlic — Minced or grated
  • 0.25 cup Fresh flat-leaf parsley — Finely chopped
  • 1 stalk Celery — Very thinly sliced (plus a few celery leaves if available)
  • 0.25 teaspoon Red pepper flakes (optional) — Adjust to taste
  • 0.5 teaspoon Kosher salt — Plus more to taste
  • 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper — Freshly ground

Instructions

  1. Prepare an ice bath in a large bowl and set it aside. This will be used to stop the cooking process of the shrimp and calamari immediately after poaching, ensuring they remain tender.

    ~5 min
    Have your colander ready inside or next to the ice bath.
  2. In a large pot, bring the white wine to a simmer over medium heat. Add the cleaned mussels, cover tightly, and steam for 3-5 minutes until the shells open. Shake the pot occasionally. Remove from heat, discard any mussels that did not open, and let cool slightly. Remove most of the mussels from their shells, leaving a few in the shell for presentation if desired. Set aside.

    ~10 min
    You can strain and reserve a tablespoon of the mussel cooking liquid to add to the dressing for extra savory seafood flavor.
  3. In the same large pot (rinsed out), combine the water, lemon chunks, bay leaf, whole peppercorns, and 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat.

    ~10 min
  4. Reduce the heat to medium so the water is at a gentle simmer. Add the calamari rings and tentacles. Poach just until opaque and firm, about 1 to 2 minutes. Do not overcook or they will become rubbery. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the calamari immediately to the ice bath. Let cool completely, then drain well.

    ~2 min
  5. Return the poaching liquid to a gentle simmer. Add the shrimp and cook until pink and opaque throughout, about 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer immediately to the ice bath. Let cool completely, then drain well along with the calamari. Pat all seafood thoroughly dry with paper towels.

    ~3 min
    Drying the seafood prevents the salad dressing from becoming watered down.
  6. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, chopped parsley, sliced celery, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.

    ~3 min
  7. Add the drained, dried calamari, shrimp, and shelled mussels to the bowl with the dressing. Toss gently but thoroughly to ensure all the seafood is evenly coated.

    ~2 min
  8. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to overnight. This resting time is crucial as it allows the seafood to absorb the flavors of the lemon, garlic, and herbs.

    ~2h
    Toss the salad once or twice during the marination time if possible.
  9. Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or a squeeze of lemon juice if needed. Serve chilled or slightly cooler than room temperature.

    Serve with crusty Italian bread to soak up the delicious juices.
Nutrition
280
Calories
26
Protein (g)
6
Carbs (g)
16
Fat (g)
2
Sat. Fat (g)
1
Fiber (g)
1
Sugar (g)
520
Sodium (mg)
290
Cholesterol (mg)
Equipment
  • Large pot
  • Slotted spoon
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Whisk
  • Colander
  • Ice bath (large bowl filled with water and ice)
Tips & Storage
  • The secret to a great seafood salad is not overcooking the seafood. Keep an eye on the clock during poaching.
  • Use the highest quality extra virgin olive oil you have, as it makes up the base of the dressing.
  • You can customize the seafood mix by adding poached bay scallops or chunks of firm white fish, or omitting the mussels if preferred.
  • Storage: Store leftover seafood salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The flavors will continue to develop, but the lemon juice may begin to break down the seafood texture after 48 hours.
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🤖 This recipe was created with AI assistance. If you spot a mistake or something that doesn't look right, please report it.