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The Best Spicy Kani Salad Recipe

Thinly shredded imitation crab tossed in a homemade Asian-inspired Sweet and Spicy Mayo Sauce, makes the BEST Spicy Kani Salad Recipe. Better than any take-out you’ve ever had! And unlike the restaurant version, this healthier recipe is Gluten-Free with 30% less carbs.

The Best Spicy Crab Kani Salad Recipe {Gluten-Free}

I’ve been a long time fan of Asian-Inspired flavors. Some of my favorite recipes include my Firecracker Grilled Salmon, Sriracha Lime Chicken Thighs and Spicy Tuna Poke Bowls.

And with Spicy Kani Salad recipe, it was love at first bite!

No need to splurge on a meal our at a Japanese steakhouse or Japanese food take out for spicy crab salad when you can make this easy spicy kani salad recipe at home using simple ingredients.

What is Kani Salad?

Kani, is the Japanese word for crab, however this salad it refers to imitation crab/surimi. Kani Salad is a popular side dish that is served at Japanese, Asian, Chinsese or Sushi Restaurants.

The Best Spicy Crab Kani Salad Recipe {Gluten-Free}

Imitation crab is tossed in a creamy sauce that is spicy and mayonnaise based. The optional additions and garnishes vary.

It’s addictively delicious.

Is Crab Kani Salad Gluten Free?

Most people don’t realize that Kani Salad that your favorite restaurant serves most likely contains gluten. That’s because most brands of imitation crab meat is made with wheat.

That’s why it’s so important for your health to ditch the take out and make crab Kani Salad at home instead!

When you control the ingredients that go into the food(s) you make, you can be sure that you won’t sacrifice your health accidentally. Nothing is worse than getting ‘glutened’ if you have an allergy or intolerance!

The same goes with the ingredients that are used in a spicy Kani dressing!

Is Crab Kani Salad Low-Carb?

All Crab Kani Salads are made with imitation crab, which does contains sugar and sugar is a carb. The carb count per serving varies greatly depending on the brand that you choose.

THIS Imitation Crab is lowest in carbohydrates with only 9g of carbs per serving. Compared to other brands that on average have 13g carbs per serving. Not only does it taste great, it’s also certified gluten free! Plus it’s doesn’t contain any artificial flavors/colors and is GMO-Free.

How much spicy Kani salad you can enjoy while on a low-carb or keto diet depends on your carbohydrate macro goals and what other foods you eat that day. 1 serving of the Best Spicy Crab Kani Salad (which is 1/4 of this recipe) contains roughly 10g of carbohydrates.

If you aren’t worried about carbs or gluten, feel free to use any imitation crab that you like!

Spicy Kani Salad Ingredients:

Here is a list of the ingredient you will need to make a Japanese crab salad at home, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full details.

  • Imitation Crab Sticks (ake pollock or white fish that is flavored to taste like real crab meat)
  • julienned cucumber strips, starting with an English cucumber or Persian cucumbers and using a julienne peeler)
  • Regular mayonnaise is what I use for this recipe because our local grocery stores and asian markets do not carry kewpie mayo or Japanese mayonnaise. IF you have it available, please use it!
  • Sriracha Sauce (hot sauce)
  • Sweetner; I use monk fruit to keep my carbs low but sugar works good too.
  • Rice vinegar/Rice wine vinegar
  • Toasted Sesame oil
  • Soy Sauce

How to Make the Best Spicy Crab Kani Salad

The crab legs are unrolled and thinly sliced to resemble the texture of shredded fish. After you shred crab sticks into thin strips of crab; grab a small bowl to combine the dressing ingredients –> Asian Sweet and Spicy Mayo Sauce is the creamy spicy mayonnaise dressing that makes this delicious Japanese inspired salad it’s kick!

Toss your shredded crab sticks with the kani salad dressing in a medium bowl then, let it chill in the fridge in an airtight container for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight for the flavors to come together.

The Best Spicy Crab Kani Salad Recipe {Gluten-Free}

I prefer to enjoy my Homemade Crab Kani Salad with a side of thinly sliced fresh cucumbers. However, feel free to try popular additions like shredded carrots, chopped mango, corn kernels, etc

How to Garnish Japanese kani salad

And don’t forget to garnish your Low-Carb Crab Kani Salad! I’m pretty minimalist with just a few green onions from our garden and black sesame seeds for that pretty contrast. Pro tip; you can also use white sesame seeds, panko breadcrumbs, fish roe or kelp noodles as garnishes! Additionally adding some sushi rice to your bowl will give your kani salad that spicy crab roll/sushi roll feeling that you crave from Japanese food take out; only now you’ve made it at home!

The Best Spicy Crab Kani Salad Recipe {Gluten-Free}

I also love to sprinkle on a little Tobiko (Orange Fish Roe/Caviar) too! Just a reminder, to keep this dish gluten free you want to avoid adding crunch garnishes like panko bread crumbs or tempura bits, both contain gluten. A better choice would be sprinkle of pork Panko!

To make a kani salad without mayonnaise, I suggest substitute Greek yogurt in place of of the mayonnaise. Kani salad no mayo an be just delicious, too!

I hope you enjoy this Gluten Free Crab Kani Recipe!

The Best Crab Kani Salad Recipe

The BEST Spicy Crab Kani Salad

Thinly shredded imitation crab tossed in a homemade Asian-inspired Sweet and Spicy Mayo Sauce, makes the BEST Spicy Crab Kani Salad. Better than any take-out you've ever had! And unlike the restaurant version, this healthier recipe is Gluten-Free with 30% less carbs.
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

Sweet and Spicy Mayo Sauce

For the Crab Kani Salad

  • 1 pound imitation crab

Optional Garnishes

Instructions

  • Combine all sauce ingredients and mix well.
  • Shred imitation crab, toss with sauce. Can be served immediately to made up to 2 days in advance. Garnish as desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 154kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 579mg | Potassium: 10mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 17IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @hayley_inthekitchen or tag #hayley_inthekitchen!
The Best Spicy Crab Kani Salad Recipe {Gluten-Free}

The BEST Spicy Crab Kani Salad Recipe {Gluten-Free}

Thinly shredded imitation crab tossed in a homemade Asian-inspired Sweet and Spicy Mayo Sauce, makes the BEST Spicy Crab Kani Salad. Better than any take-out you've ever had! And unlike the restaurant version, this healthier recipe is Gluten-Free with 30% less carbs.
Print Pin Facebook
Prep Time: 5 minutes
30 minutes
Servings: 4

Instructions

  • Unroll your stick style imittion crab and slice lengthwise, to look like it's shredded
  • Toss imiataion crab with asian sweet and spicy mayo.
  • Chill for 30+ minuntes for the flavors to combine.
  • Serve with cucumber, if desired and granish with black sesame seeds. Enojy!

Nutrition

Calories: 275kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 656mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 18IU | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @hayley_inthekitchen or tag #hayley_inthekitchen!

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