Chinese BBQ Grilled Seafood Salad is a light yet flavorful dish that combines the smokiness of grilled seafood with a refreshing, crisp salad. This vibrant meal is perfect for warm weather, offering a balance of savory, tangy, and umami flavors from the unique blend of Chinese BBQ marinade and fresh vegetables.
The seafood for this salad typically includes a mix of shrimp, scallops, and fish, all marinated in a sweet and savory Chinese BBQ sauce. The marinade often features ingredients like hoisin sauce, soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, and a touch of Chinese five-spice powder, which gives the seafood a fragrant and slightly smoky flavor. Once marinated, the seafood is grilled until just cooked through, with a nice char on the outside to enhance its natural sweetness.
The salad base is made up of a variety of fresh, crunchy vegetables like cucumber, carrots, bell peppers, and cabbage. These add texture and freshness, making the salad light and vibrant. Fresh herbs such as cilantro or mint are often included to add a burst of flavor, while a simple dressing of rice vinegar, sesame oil, and a dash of soy sauce brings it all together with a subtle tang.
To assemble the salad, the grilled seafood is placed on top of the chilled vegetable mix, and everything is tossed lightly to combine. You can also sprinkle some toasted sesame seeds, crushed peanuts, or sliced chili for an extra layer of crunch and heat. The combination of smoky, tender seafood with the coolness of the salad makes each bite refreshing and satisfying.
Chinese BBQ Grilled Seafood Salad is an excellent dish for any occasion, from a light lunch to a dinner party starter. It’s easy to make, and the grilled seafood gives it a gourmet touch while the crisp vegetables keep it healthy and fresh. Serve it as is, or pair it with steamed basmati rice or noodles for a more filling meal. This salad offers a perfect balance of flavors that celebrates the unique tastes of Chinese BBQ cuisine.
Ingredients
- 1 pound shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 pound calamari cleaned and sliced
- 1 pound scallops
- 1 red bell pepper sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper sliced
- 1 green bell pepper sliced
- red onion small, thinly sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 inch ginger grated
- 1 tsp Chinese five spice powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
- In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, honey, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, Chinese five spice powder, salt, and pepper.
- Place shrimp, calamari, and scallops in a large bowl. Pour the marinade over the seafood and toss to coat. Let marinate for 10 minutes.
- Thread the shrimp, calamari, and scallops onto skewers.
- Grill the seafood skewers for 3-4 minutes per side, or until cooked through and slightly charred.
- Remove the seafood from the skewers and place in a large bowl. Add the sliced bell peppers, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and cilantro. Toss to combine.
- Serve the salad as is, or on a bed of lettuce or rice noodles.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
seafood ain’t my fav but this looks good. can i use chicken instead?
You can try it with chicken! Just cook it a bit longer. 😊
I wish it was easier to make. I got lost halfway through the instructions lol. Too many steps.
It was good, but I think there are too many ingredients. A bit overwhelming!
I totally get that! Sometimes less is more. Maybe try cutting down on the veggies?
Grilled seafood salad = best summer dish ever. 🌞 So fresh!
Tasty! But, like, do I have to grill it? What if I just boil the seafood? Will it taste the same? 🤔
Grilling gives it a nice char taste. Boiling might make it kinda bland… 🤷♂️
You can boil it, but it won’t have that smoky flavor from grilling! Just sayin’.
Took me a while to prep all the ingredients, but the end result was worth it! The seafood was tender and juicy.
Where do you find Chinese 5 spice? I wanna try it out but can’t find it in stores.
I don’t know… doesn’t seem very authentic to me. Where’s the traditional recipes at? Chef must be confused.
I thought it was just ok. My kids didn’t like the sauce, too sweet for them.
Kids can be picky! I loved it but my 5-year-old wouldn’t touch anything green… Lol.
Maybe try reducing the honey next time? Sounds like a great recipe otherwise!
Not sure if I did sumptin wrong, but it didn’t taste like much. Needs more spice, I think.