Cucumber boats with crab salad is an easy, quick and super versatile dish. It’s perfect for a light lunch, snacks or as a party finger food. You name it!
This cucumber boat recipe (some less adventurous people might just call it ‘stuffed cucumbers’) is one of my first recipes I shared on this blog back in 2006. (But I decided to rewrite and add some fresh photographs for your sake. 🙂 )
Then, after making some delicious Korean kimbap / gimbap (김밥, Korean rice rolls), I had a few leftover ingredients (e.g. cucumber and some crab sticks).
Coincidentally, I also had some capsicums / bell peppers in my fridge waiting to be used as well. So, I came up with these cucumber boats with crab salad to rescue my leftovers.
I thought it was a pretty clever idea!
What is more, once you try these cucumber boats, you will know how some random leftover ingredients can transform into a beautiful salad!
My guests love these when I serve them at a party. These are irresistible crunchy savory bites!
The other day, my little girl even asked me whether I can pack these up for her kindy lunchbox. Unfortunately, I had to say no to that. The boat might capsize during transport!
Regardless, I love these cucumber boats for their versatility.
In that regard, if you’re not into (imitation) crab meat, then you can go for tuna (tinned) or salmon (tinned or smoked) instead. As they’re great in cucumber boats too!
I hope you try these soon.
Ingredients for Cucumber Boats (Stuffed Cucumbers)
- 2 Lebanese cucumbers or 1 English cucumber, rinsed (peeling skin is optional)
- 25 g / 0.9 ounces onion, diced
- 25 g / 0.9 ounces red capsicums / bell peppers, diced
- 25 g / 0.9 ounces yellow capsicums / bell peppers, diced
- 60 g / 2 ounces crab stick, diced
- 3 Tbsp mayonnaise
- fine sea salt; to taste
- ground black pepper; to taste
*1 Tbsp = 15 ml
How to Make Cucumber Boats Appetizer
1.Cut the cucumber in half length way. Carve out the seeds from the cucumber using a small spoon (or a melon baller – it’s super handy!) to form a boat. (If it’s for a finger food, cut it into bite size pieces.)
2. Put the remaining ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix them well. This is the crab salad.
3. Divide the crab salad mixture evenly and place it onto the cucumber boats. Serve.
Ingredients
- 2 Lebanese cucumbers or 1 English cucumber, rinsed (peeling skin is optional)
- 25 g onion (0.9 ounces), diced
- 25 g red capsicums / bell peppers (0.9 ounces), diced
- 25 g yellow capsicums / bell peppers (0.9 ounces), diced
- 60 g crab stick (2 ounces), diced
- 3 Tbsp mayonnaise
- fine sea salt ; to taste
- ground black pepper ; to taste
Instructions
- Cut the cucumber in half length way. Carve out the seeds from the cucumber using a small spoon (or a melon baller – it’s super handy!) to form a boat. (If it’s for a finger food, cut it into bite size pieces.)
- Put the remaining ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix them well. This is the crab salad.
- Divide the crab salad mixture evenly and place it onto the cucumber boats. Serve.
When recipes call for crab meat I always wonder if it’s imitation crab or real canned crab they are using?
I used imitation crab in this recipe, but if you have real crab, you can use that instead. 🙂
Sue, I just joined your blog, and I have a suggestion for you, for your daughter’s school lunch: Make the cucumber boats for her and wrap each one in aluminum foil. That will keep the boats from capsizing!
PS — Please check out my blog FoodTradeTrends.com.
Maybe you could cut cucumbers in the round and make little cups for your daughter to take in her lunch. Maybe chop the ingredients really fine and use it to dip cucumber, celery and carrots sticks in. You could also slice cucumbers lengthwise and make little sandwiches.
Do I have to saute the onion, bell pepper, and crabstick?
I tried this out and it’s delicious! I just want to ask if the taste will be the same if I boil the vegetables so that they won’t be very crunchy?
Personally, I strongly associate the taste with the texture of food. So, I don’t think you will get the same taste if you boil or stir fry the vegetables. It might be still acceptable to your preference though. 🙂
Hi sue..was browsing thru to look for some side dishes..
Thank you for such simple easy to do..
Love Korean food.
Thanks Margaret, Hope you like it! 🙂
Hi Sue,
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I tried it this past Wednesday and it was awesome! I made it for a second time yesterday for dinner and added a bit of Sriracha sauce to the mayo since my husband likes spicy foods. Let me tell you, it was phenomenal!! This will be a recipe we’ll cook often in the future. Thanks again!
Great to hear, Edel! I’ll give a try with Sriracha sauce too. Sounds too tempting! 🙂
Sue,
I love this idea. Will definitely make these this weekend. Thank you.
Great! Hope you like it! 🙂
Your AWESOME!!! I can’t tell you how much I love the step by step pictures!!! This makes it so nice! It leaves no questions as to if I’m doing it right! Love it! Keep up the great work you put into this website!!!
Thank you!
Amy
Thanks, Amy! 🙂