Kani Salad Recipe - Chefjar (2024)

FAQs

What is kani salad made of? ›

This Kani Salad is light and refreshing using imitation crab together with cucumber, and mango in a creamy spicy mayonnaise dressing. A Kani Salad is a Japanese style salad made with crab and julienned thinly sliced ingredients with a creamy spicy mayonnaise dressing. It's very popular in American Japanese restaurants.

Kani is made from a white fish like pollock, processed and mixed with starch to mimic crab legs. It can also refer to lobster or shrimp. The shape, texture, and even flavor all mirror real crab meat. Keep in mind that Kani sushi combines both Kani and Sushi.

Bento Nouveau Kani (imitation Crab) Salad Salade De Crabe) (1 serving) contains 10g total carbs, 10g net carbs, 7g fat, 6g protein, and 130 calories.

The word Kani translates to “crab” in Japanese, and is used to make many variations of sushi rolls. Its usually made with surimi which is an imitation crab meat from processed white fish, typically aslaska pollock. It's flavored, colored and shaped to resemble more expensive seafood such as crab, lobster and shrimp.

Imitation crab is made with surimi, a paste made out of finely shredded or pulverized fish. After the fish is minced, it is heated and pressed into shapes that resemble meat from a crab leg.

Imitation crab is a highly processed food made by combining minced fish with starch, egg whites, sugar, salt, and additives to mimic the flavor, color, and texture of real crab meat. While it's significantly less expensive than real crab, it's also less nutritious.

First, what is kani? Kani simply means 'crab' in Japanese. In this context, it refers to imitation crab meat. They look like real crab legs, but instead are made from white fish, such as pollock, that has been processed and mixd with starch to mimic the shape, texture, and flavor of crab legs.

In Japan, imitation crab meat is referred to as kanikama. In the U.S., it is often referred to simply as kani. Imitation crab is a key ingredient in California sushi rolls, along with avocado and cucumber, and is used as a crab substitute in Japanese cuisine.

Can you eat imitation crab raw? Yes. It is pre-cooked, so you are able to eat it straight from the package. Many people use it as part of a larger recipe though, adding it to cream of crab soup, crab Rangoon or crab salad.

Why is imitation crab high in carbs? ›

To add stiffness, starch from corn, wheat or tapioca is added, along with egg white, hydrolyzed soy, corn or wheat protein, artificial colours and flavours, vegetable oils, monosodium glutamate (MSG), salt, and, of course, sugar.

Imitation Crab Meat (1 cup, chunks or flakes) contains 18.9g total carbs, 18.3g net carbs, 0.6g fat, 9.6g protein, and 120 calories.

Why Was Imitation Crab Created? Even processed crab—packaged and sold in refrigerated containers or cans—can wield a heavy price tag. Imitation crab meat, on the other hand, is not only more affordable, but a serviceable substitute in sushi rolls, salads, and dips.

Just take them out of their Individual wrappers and press down on them with a rolling pin. Roll until you get them as shredded as you'd like. Bonus points if you do this in a large zip top bag to keep the mess contained. If you're shredding lots and lots, just use an electric mixer!

In Japan, imitation crab meat is referred to as kanikama. In the U.S., it is often referred to simply as kani. Imitation crab is a key ingredient in California sushi rolls, along with avocado and cucumber, and is used as a crab substitute in Japanese cuisine.

Today, most imitation crab meat is made with pollock, whiting, hoki or tilapia. These are all relatively abundant and inexpensive fish. Imitation crabmeat is made with surimi. Surimi is a paste made with a mild white meat fish.

In many cases, kani sushi is made with imitation crab meat, which is a processed seafood product made from white fish that has been flavored and colored to resemble crab meat. This is often referred to as “kanikama” or “surimi” in Japanese. Kani sushi is a popular delicacy in Japan and around the world.