Insalata di Mare (Italian Seafood Salad)

 

 Insalata di Mare is a refreshing and flavorful Italian seafood salad that's perfect for a light lunch or appetizer. It's packed with tender seafood, crisp vegetables, and a delicious lemon vinaigrette dressing.

 

Ingredients:

 

½ pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined (about 12-15 shrimp)

¼ pound sea scallops, cut into bite-sized pieces

¼ pound calamari rings, cleaned and sliced

½ pound mussels, debearded and scrubbed (discard any unopened mussels)

1 celery stalk, thinly sliced

½ red onion, thinly sliced

¼ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved

¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

¼ cup chopped fresh basil

For the Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing:

 

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

½ teaspoon dried oregano

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

 

Cook the Seafood:

 

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Add the shrimp and scallops and cook for 2-3 minutes or until pink and opaque. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside to cool slightly.

Add the mussels to the boiling water and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until the shells open. Discard any unopened mussels. Remove the mussels from the shells and set aside to cool.

In a separate pan, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the calamari rings and cook for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown and tender. Set aside to cool.

Assemble the Salad:

 

In a large bowl, combine the cooked and cooled seafood, celery, red onion, olives, parsley, and basil.

Make the Dressing:

 

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and oregano. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve:

 

Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

Tips:

 

For a richer flavor, you can add a tablespoon of mayonnaise to the dressing.

If you don't have fresh herbs, you can substitute 1 teaspoon of dried parsley and ½ teaspoon of dried basil.

If you can't find fresh sea scallops, frozen scallops that have been thawed will work just fine.

This salad can be served chilled or at room temperature.

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Insalata di Mare is a delicious and easy way to enjoy the flavors of the Italian coast.  This recipe is sure to impress your family and friends!

 

I hope you enjoy this blog post. Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions.