How to Make Shrimp Salad

Use seasonal fruits in your shrimp salad for an extra treat.

The next time you are in the mood for a seafood salad, try featuring shrimp as the main ingredient. Shrimp pairs well with a variety of flavors, so you can use your favorite ingredients to create a shrimp salad that is versatile, healthy and delicious. Although you can use fresh shrimp in your salad, frozen is often better - it is widely available and keeps in the freezer until ready to use.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 1 lb. precooked frozen shrimp, shelled and deveined
• 3 tbsp. lime juice, freshly squeezed
• 2 tbsp. canola oil
• 2 tsp. sugar
• 2 medium tomatoes
• 2 ripe avocados
• 2 green onions
• Cilantro
• Salt

Preparation

1. Frozen shrimp is easy to use and often more affordable than fresh. Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images

   Select precooked frozen shrimp that is shelled and deveined for the easiest to make shrimp salad. Plan on 1/4 lb. shrimp per serving. This recipe yields four servings.

2. Thaw the amount of shrimp you need overnight in the refrigerator. To quick thaw, place shrimp in a bowl and run under a trickle of cool water until thawed - about 15 minutes. Allow the shrimp to drain, or pat dry with a paper towel.

3. Experiment with other citrus flavors, such as lemon and orange. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

   Combine oil, lime juice and sugar in a bowl. Whisk until blended and set aside.

4. Select an avocado that is barely firm to the touch Polka Dot Images/Polka Dot/Getty Images

   Chop the tomatoes and avocado into 1/2-inch pieces, add to the bowl with the dressing, and stir to combine. This will keep the avocado from turning brown. Thinly slice the green onions - both green and white parts (but not the root) - and add them to the bowl. Chop the cilantro and add to the bowl.

5. You can also add cooked pasta to your shrimp salad. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

   Add the shrimp to the bowl and gently stir until all ingredients are coated with the dressing. Season with salt to taste. Serve right away over a bed of lettuce or mixed greens, or cover and chill up to an hour.

Tips & Warnings

• If you cannot find shelled and deveined shrimp, you can use shell-on frozen shrimp. After thawing, you will need to remove the shell and cut out the vein that runs along the back of the shrimp. Visit Epicurious for a video on how to easily prepare shrimp for your salad. (Resource 1)

• Experiment with flavor combinations and ways to serve shrimp salad. Try Asian-inspired flavors, or a healthy yogurt-based salad. When in season, add fresh mango to shrimp salad.

• Use baby shrimp if you want to use shrimp salad as a sandwich filling. Use larger shrimp if the salad will serve as an entree.

References

• 5 Ideas for Frozen Cooked Shrimp
• A Quick Way to Thaw Shrimp

Resources

• 1. Seafood: How to Peel and Devein Shrimp
• Asian Shrimp Salad
• Shrimp, Lemon and Spinach Whole-grain Pasta Salad
• Mango Avocado Shrimp Salad