By Dr. Leah Alexander | Published on September 26, 2023 | Last Updated on September 26, 2023
Costco is a well-known retail chain that is loved across the world for its amazing quality products and unbeatable prices.
But few people know about its lesser talked about hidden gem – the Costco Food Court! Located in select locations, this food court offers a variety of delicious items such as pizza, hot dogs, and salmon sandwiches.
One of their most popular items is the Costco Seafood Salad, a delicious mix of seafood. This salad is easy to make and can be served as an appetizer or a main course – it’s sure to please everyone!
In this article, we will show you how to make your own version of the famous Costco Seafood Salad at home. We have included a step-by-step guide and tips to make sure that your salad turns out perfect.
What is Costco Seafood Salad?
Costco Seafood Salad is a delicious mix of seafood such as shrimp, bay scallops, crab meat, and elbow macaroni in a light mayo-based dressing. The salad also contains vegetables such as red bell pepper and onion for added flavor and crunch.
The addition of lemon juice gives the salad a bright and refreshing citrus note while Worcestershire sauce and Old Bay seasoning add depth and complexity.
Not only does it taste delicious, but it also packs a lot of nutrition – shrimp and crab meat are both great sources of lean protein! Plus, the addition of vegetables adds important vitamins and minerals that your body needs.
With its combination of protein, vegetables, and taste, Costco Seafood Salad is perfect to enjoy as a meal or appetizer. If you’re looking for an easy-to-make side dish that is sure to please everyone at your table, give this one a try.
What does it taste like?
The Costco Seafood Salad is a delicious mix of sweet and savory flavors. The sweetness comes from the sugar and sweet relish, while the savoriness comes from the Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and pepper.
The salad has a nice texture, with the shrimp and bay scallops providing a nice bite, the macaroni adding some chewiness, and the vegetables providing crunch.
The mayonnaise adds creaminess to every bite, while the lemon juice adds brightness and freshness. All in all, this is an incredibly flavorful dish that is sure to satisfy.
How did I first get introduced to the Costco Seafood Salad?
I first heard about the Costco Seafood Salad when I visited a local Costco store. I’d been curious about their food court and decided to take a look around. As soon as I saw it, I knew that I had to try it!
The salad looked so inviting with its mix of seafood and vegetables in a creamy dressing. I couldn’t wait to try it! I took a bite and was amazed by the mix of flavors. The sweetness balanced with the subtle heat from the hot sauce was incredible.
The crunch from the vegetables and macaroni and the creaminess from the mayonnaise all worked together in perfect harmony.
I knew immediately that I wanted to learn how to make this salad for myself! Fortunately, the staff at Costco was more than happy to share their recipe with me. They gave me step-by-step instructions and helpful tips on how to make it just like they do in the store.
I went home and made my own version of the salad. I was so proud of how it turned out! I’ve been making this salad ever since, and it’s become a favorite of mine. My family members and friends would agree that it’s absolutely delicious.
If you haven’t tried Costco Seafood Salad yet, I highly recommend that you give it a try. You won’t regret it!
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How to make Costco Seafood Salad?
Making your own Costco Seafood Salad is easy. All you need are a few simple ingredients and a bit of time to put it all together.
Ingredients
- Butter: It is essential to use high-quality butter for this recipe.
- Shrimp: Fresh shrimp is best, but frozen can also be used. Be sure to thaw the shrimp before adding it to the salad.
- Bay Scallops: These are small, sweet scallops that provide a nice burst of flavor and texture.
- Lemon Juice and Zest: The lemon juice and zest add a great brightness to the salad.
- Red Bell Pepper: This adds a nice crunch and color to the salad.
- Sugar: A touch of sugar helps to balance the sweetness in this dish.
- Hot Sauce: Hot sauce enhances the flavor of the seafood without overpowering it.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Worcestershire sauce adds a great depth of flavor to the salad.
- Elbow Macaroni: Elbow macaroni helps to thicken and bind the salad together.
- Green Onion: A garnish of green onion gives this dish an extra kick of color and flavor.
- Sweet Relish: Sweet relish adds a delicious sweetness to the salad.
- Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise helps to bind the other ingredients together and add a creaminess to the salad.
- Salt, Pepper, Garlic, Onion Powder, Old Bay: These spices provide additional flavor and depth to the dish.
- Crab Meat: Crab meat is what takes this salad from good to great!
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add shrimp and bay scallops and cook for 3-4 minutes until the shrimp are pink and the scallops are just cooked through.
Step 2
Add onion, red bell pepper, lemon juice and zest. Cook for an additional 2 minutes until the vegetables are just softened.
Step 3
Add sugar, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and macaroni. Stir to combine and cook for another 4-5 minutes until the macaroni is cooked through.
Step 4
Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in green onion, sweet relish, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Old Bay seasoning. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
Step 5
Add in the crab meat and gently fold everything together until combined. Serve immediately.
Tips
- Use fresh ingredients whenever possible for the best flavor.
- Adjust the spices to suit your own taste.
- This salad can be made ahead of time and served chilled or at room temperature.
- Feel free to add in other ingredients such as celery, olives, or green peppers for additional flavor and texture.
Nutrition Information
What to serve with Costco Seafood Salad?
Here are a few ideas of what to serve with Costco Seafood Salad:
- Fresh crusty bread
- Grilled vegetables
- Green salad
- Roasted potatoes
- Rice Pilaf
- Quinoa tabbouleh
- Steamed asparagus
- Pickled cabbage and carrot slaw
- Baked sweet potato chips
- Garlic butter shrimp
- Grilled zucchini and squash
- Roasted cauliflower
- Baked salmon with dill sauce
- Crispy fried tofu
- Creamy macaroni and cheese.
How to store leftover Costco Seafood Salad?
Leftover Costco Seafood Salad should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. When reheating, make sure that it is heated all the way through before serving.
If you want to extend the shelf life of this salad even further, you can freeze it for up to a month. To do this, place the salad in a container or freezer bag and make sure that all of the air is removed. When ready to eat, let it thaw completely before reheating.
Can pregnant women eat this?
Yes, pregnant women can eat Costco Seafood Salad. This dish is a great source of lean protein and contains healthy fats from the butter and mayonnaise.
The vegetables in this salad provide plenty of essential vitamins and minerals, while the seafood provides omega-3 fatty acids which are important for fetal development.
The seafood used in Costco Seafood Salad is cooked through, so pregnant women can have this dish without worrying about the risks of ingesting undercooked seafood.
However, it is important to note that raw or undercooked shellfish should be avoided during pregnancy due to the risk of foodborne illness.
Pregnant women should always consult their healthcare provider before consuming any seafood and follow their recommended guidelines. It is also important to avoid over-indulging in this dish, as it is high in calories and fat.
Costco Seafood Salad Recipe
Equipment
- Skillet
Ingredients
- 3 teaspoon butter
- ½ lb Medium Shrimp
- ½ lb Bay Scallops
- ½ yellow onion chopped
- 1 Lemon juice and zest
- 1 Diced Red bell pepper
- 2 pinches of sugar
- 6 teaspoon Hot sauce
- 6 teaspoon butter
- 1 lb Medium Shrimp
- 1 lb Bay Scallops
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 2 Lemon juiced
- 1 Red bell pepper Diced
- Sugar to taste.
- 1/4 cup Hot sauce
- 1 lb Elbow Macaroni
- 1 Green Onion Diced
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Garlic
- 2 lb Crab Meat
- Old Bay
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup Sweet Relish
- 2 stalks of Celery Diced
Instructions
- In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add shrimp and bay scallops, and cook until the shrimp are pink and the scallops are cooked through.
- To the skillet, add onion, red bell pepper, lemon juice and zest. Cook for an additional two minutes to soften the vegetables.
- Stir in sugar, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce and macaroni. Cook until the macaroni is cooked through.
- Remove skillet from heat and mix in green onion, sweet relish, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and Old Bay seasoning. Adjust seasonings to taste.
- Gently fold in the crab meat and combine all ingredients. The seafood salad is ready to serve.
Notes
- Use fresh ingredients whenever possible for the best flavor.
- Adjust the spices to suit your own taste.
- This salad can be made ahead of time and served chilled or at room temperature.
- Feel free to add in other ingredients such as celery, olives, or green peppers for additional flavor and texture.
FAQs
How can I make this salad vegan?
To make this salad vegan, simply omit the seafood and use a vegetable broth instead of butter to sauté the vegetables. You can also add other ingredients such as tofu or tempeh for additional protein.
Can I make this with canned crab meat?
Yes, you can make this with canned crab meat. Be sure to drain the crab meat and pat it dry before adding it to the salad. Canned crab meat is often already cooked, so you don’t need to cook it further. However, fresh or frozen crab meat should be cooked thoroughly before being added to the salad.
Can I use frozen shrimp?
Yes, frozen shrimp can be used in this salad. Just make sure that it is completely thawed before adding it to the skillet. You may need to adjust the cooking time slightly if you are using larger shrimp.
How can I make this for diabetes patients?
To make this dish suitable for diabetes patients, you can skip the sugar and adjust the other seasonings as needed. You can also use low-fat mayonnaise and reduced-fat dairy products instead of full-fat ones. Sweet relish can be replaced with a sugar-free alternative or omitted altogether.
Wrapping Up
Thank you for taking the time to learn about how to make a delicious Costco Seafood Salad. This dish is a great option for those who are looking for a healthy and tasty meal.
Please share this article with anyone who might be interested in trying this kind of salad. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments section.
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Dr. Leah Alexander, M.D., is a board-certified Pediatrician in New Jersey and has been working at Elizabeth Pediatric Group of New Jersey since 2000.
She also has a passion for culinary arts that extends beyond the medical realm. After completing culinary school at the French Culinary Institute, she started Global Palate, LLC, a catering firm, in 2007. She ran her own six-year-old catering company and served small group parties as an owner and executive chef.
