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 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!
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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 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!
I dunno about all this. Seems like too many ingredients for a salad. How about just tossing some shrimp with a bit of lemon?
Delicious and fresh! Made it for a BBQ party and my friends went nuts! Thanks for sharing!
Sounds amazing! I’m planning to try it for my next get-together!
Not a fan of seafood, but my husband loved it! He said this is a keeper.
I don’t like seafood that much, but this was tasty! My husband loved it! 😋
Absolutely loved this recipe! The combination of flavors was to die for. Will definitely make again.
Absolutely loved this recipe! The flavors were incredible! Would definitely make it again.
It was okay… but I think the five spice was too much for my taste. Not really for me.
Who has time to grill seafood? I just boiled mine and it was fine. Can’t imagine firing up the grill for this.
I used shrimp and scallops only because I ain’t got calamari. Still turned out delicious! 😋
Yum! I swapped out calamari for lobster and it turned out amazing! Gonna be a regular in my meal prep.
Seafood salad? Not my thing! But looks cool 🤷♂️
This is not authentic Chinese food at all. I’ve eaten real Chinese BBQ and this ain’t it.
Looks fancy but not sure if it’s worth the effort. Who has time to marinate seafood and grill? Just saying.
Can u make this with chicken instead of seafood? I don’t eat fish. Thx!
Seafood salad? More like heaven on a plate! Loved it!
Totally agree, this salad was amazing! The flavors just blend so well! 😍
Yum! But where’s the lettuce in the ingredients list? I had to add my own.
Just wow! The char on the seafood was perfection! Keep it up!
Thanks for sharing! I’ve been looking for a seafood recipe to impress my friends. This one looks great!
I tried this for the first time and it was a disaster. The seafood got burnt on the grill! Not sure if I did it wrong.
Absolutely delicious! The flavors merged beautifully, it’s a hit at my BBQ parties.
I accidentally used shrimp paste instead of soy sauce 😅 ended up being really bad, but my friends thought it was a new recipe! LOL.
This salad was a hit at my BBQ! The flavors were incredible. Definitely making again!
One of the best salads I’ve ever had! Grilling the seafood made it so tasty. A perfect summer dish.
Wasn’t really impressed. The sauce was kinda too sweet for my taste. I guess I’ll stick to my plain old grilled shrimp.
You must not know how to appreciate good flavors, that sauce is great! The sweetness balances everything out!
I hear ya! Some people love that sweet flavor, but it’s not for everyone. I usually go for a spicier option myself!
Honestly, wasn’t a fan. The ginger and hoisin combo was too strong for me.