Description
This Zesty Avocado Shrimp Salad is a refreshing and nutritious meal upgrade featuring tender boiled shrimp, creamy ripe avocados, crisp vegetables, and a tangy lime dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or a healthy dinner, this salad combines vibrant flavors and textures that make it both satisfying and easy to prepare in under an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp
- 1 pound large shrimp (peeled, deveined, and cooked)
Vegetables and Herbs
- 2 medium ripe avocados (or substitute with puréed avocado)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1/4 cup red onion (finely chopped)
- 1 medium cucumber (diced)
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro or parsley (chopped)
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons lime juice (or lemon juice)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil (or neutral oil)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Begin by gathering all ingredients and prepping your workspace to ensure a smooth cooking process.
- Prepare the Shrimp: Boil water in a pot, add the raw shrimp, and cook for 2-3 minutes until they turn pink and opaque. Immediately drain and transfer the shrimp to ice water to cool, preserving their texture and stopping the cooking process. Once cooled, chop the shrimp into bite-sized pieces.
- Mix Vegetables: In a large mixing bowl, combine the diced avocados, halved cherry tomatoes, finely chopped red onion, diced cucumber, and chopped cilantro or parsley. Toss gently to keep the avocado pieces intact and vibrant.
- Make the Dressing: In a small separate bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes until emulsified and well combined.
- Combine and Serve: Add the chopped shrimp to the vegetable mixture, drizzle the dressing over everything, and gently toss to combine all ingredients evenly. Chill the salad in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld before serving.
Notes
- Ensure shrimp is fully cooked and cooled properly to maintain texture and safety.
- Use ripe but firm avocados to avoid mushy texture in the salad.
- Chilling the salad before serving enhances the overall flavor and makes it more refreshing.
- You can substitute lime juice with lemon juice depending on your preference.
- Adjust the red pepper flakes according to your spice tolerance or omit if sensitive to heat.
