Spicy Kani Salad (Printable)

Japanese-inspired salad with shredded crab, crisp veggies, and creamy spicy mayo-sriracha dressing. Ready in 15 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad Base

01 - 7 oz imitation crab sticks (kani), shredded lengthwise into thin strips
02 - 1 medium cucumber, julienned into matchsticks
03 - 1 medium carrot, julienned into matchsticks
04 - 2 tablespoons sweet corn kernels
05 - 1 tablespoon green onions, finely sliced
06 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

→ Spicy Dressing

07 - 4 tablespoons Japanese mayonnaise (Kewpie preferred)
08 - 1 tablespoon Sriracha or chili sauce
09 - 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
10 - 1 teaspoon soy sauce
11 - 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
12 - ½ teaspoon toasted sesame oil

# How To Make It:

01 - Hold each crab stick firmly and shred lengthwise by hand into thin, uniform strips. Set aside in the mixing bowl.
02 - Using a sharp chef's knife, cut the cucumber and carrot into matchstick-sized julienne pieces, approximately 2 inches long.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, add the shredded kani, julienned cucumber and carrot, sweet corn kernels (if using), and sliced green onions.
04 - In a separate small bowl, whisk together Japanese mayonnaise, Sriracha, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, and toasted sesame oil until completely smooth and emulsified.
05 - Pour the spicy dressing evenly over the salad mixture. Using salad servers or spoons, toss gently until all ingredients are thoroughly coated.
06 - Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over the top as garnish. Serve immediately chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It comes together in literally fifteen minutes but tastes like something you'd order at a proper Japanese restaurant
  • The spicy creamy dressing is addictive and you'll want to put it on everything from salads to burgers
02 -
  • The salad needs to be eaten immediately after dressing because the salt in the soy sauce will draw water out of the vegetables and make everything soggy within an hour
  • Imitation crab already contains sugar and salt, so taste your dressed salad before adding any additional seasoning
03 -
  • If you're meal prepping, keep the dressing separate and toss everything together right before serving
  • Freeze your imitation crab sticks for 15 minutes before shredding—they'll firm up and shred into cleaner strands

Go Back