Coastal Italy Appetizer
Insalata di Mare
Make insalata di mare with tender seafood, celery, parsley, lemon, olive oil, and a bright chilled dressing.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Serves
- 6
- Level
- Moderate
Instructions
- Steam mussels or clams until they open, then remove the meat and discard unopened shells.
- Poach calamari gently until tender, then lift it out to cool.
- Poach shrimp just until pink and firm.
- Combine seafood with celery, carrot, and parsley.
- Whisk lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper into a bright dressing.
- Fold the dressing through the seafood while it is still slightly warm.
- Chill for at least 30 minutes, then taste again before serving.
This insalata di mare recipe is a chilled Italian seafood salad with lemon, olive oil, celery, and parsley. It works as an antipasto or a light main dish on warm days.
Why This Insalata di Mare Recipe Works
Cooking each seafood type separately prevents overcooking. Dressing while slightly warm lets the lemon and olive oil soak in without making the salad heavy.
Key Tips
- Keep the poaching liquid gentle for tender calamari.
- Cut vegetables small so they support rather than dominate the seafood.
- Taste after chilling because cold food needs careful seasoning.
Variations and Serving Ideas
The same technique helps when you want Italian seafood salad, cold seafood antipasto, and calamari shrimp salad. Keep the character of Insalata di Mare in mind: choose good ingredients, control texture, and serve the dish when its flavor and texture are at their best.
Coastal Italy Appetizer seafoodsaladlemonmake-ahead
