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.

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

Instructions

Preparation

1. 

   Frozen shrimp is easy to use and often more affordable than fresh.

   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.

   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

   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.

   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