Shrimp Salad is a light, refreshing, and creamy summer dish renowned for its delightful blend of flavors and textures. This salad features succulent shrimp, crisp vegetables, basic seasonings, fresh herbs, and a creamy dressing with mayonnaise.
This Shrimp Salad recipe is among the finest cold seafood salad options, making it a perfect choice for warm summer days. It pairs wonderfully with butter lettuce, flatbread, or a side of grilled, roasted & baked vegetables.
The recipe I've shared here provides easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions for preparing this delectable Shrimp Salad. Additionally, there's a detailed video available to visually guide you through the entire preparation process, ensuring your salad turns out perfectly.
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What is Shrimp Salad?
Shrimp Salad is a creamy, crunchy, and refreshing seafood dish. This classic salad features succulent shrimp, crunchy veggies, refreshing herbs, and creamy additions like mayonnaise. The combination of these components results in a salad that's not only delicious but also offers a well-rounded meal with roasted or baked vegetables, bread, and other side dishes.
This Shrimp Salad recipe shines as one of the best cold salad options, particularly during the hot summer months. The succulent shrimp, combined with the creamy dressing and refreshing herbs, creates a vibrant and invigorating treat for your taste buds. Whether you're hosting a summer party, looking for a light and satisfying lunch, or planning a breezy dinner, this Shrimp Salad is an ideal choice.
Shrimp Salad's versatility is another one of its highlights. It can be served in various settings, from casual gatherings to formal events, making it a crowd-pleaser that suits a range of occasions. Whether you serve it as a side dish, an appetizer, or a main course, its succulent shrimp and creamy dressing never fail to leave a lasting impression.
Ingredients & Substitutions
The ingredients you will need to create a delicious Shrimp Salad contain some basic elements, fresh produce, and a variety of seasoning herbs. Let's delve into the details of these components below.
- Shrimp: You can use either fresh or frozen shrimp for your salad. If opting for fresh shrimp, ensure they haven't been sitting on the counter for too long to maintain their freshness. Alternatively, frozen or pre-shell, peeled, and deveined shrimp are convenient options that still deliver excellent flavor and quality for your salad
- Onions: Onions contribute a mild to sharp, pungent flavor, depending on the variety used. They also offer a savory and slightly sweet note to the salad
- Celery: Brings a refreshing, crisp texture to the salad. Its flavor is mild and subtly earthy, with a hint of herbal freshness
- Garlic: Adds a robust and slightly spicy flavor to the salad. It offers a pleasant, aromatic pungency that complements the sweetness of the shrimp and balances the creamy dressing
- Mayonnaise: Provides a rich and creamy texture to the salad. It imparts a luxurious, mildly tangy flavor that binds the ingredients together
- Dijon Mustard: It introduces a tangy and slightly spicy kick to the dressing. Its flavor is both sharp and zesty, elevating the overall taste of the salad
- Lemon Juice: It brings a bright and zesty acidity to the salad. It adds a refreshing citrusy note that enhances the flavors of the shrimp and dressing while providing balance
- Herbs (Dill Leaves and Spring Onions): Dill leaves offer a fresh, grassy flavor with a hint of anise, providing a pleasant herbal contrast. Spring onions contribute a mild oniony taste and a touch of crispness, enhancing the salad's overall complexity
- Seasoning (Black Pepper and Salt): Black pepper adds a subtle spiciness and depth to the salad, enhancing its overall flavor. Salt brings out the natural flavors of the ingredients and balances the dish's taste
For a detailed ingredients list, please check out the recipe card below.
How to Make Shrimp Salad at Home?
The recipe I've shared here is for a creamy and classic Shrimp Salad, a delightful seafood dish. It is made with succulent shrimp, crisp vegetables, and a creamy mayonnaise dressing. This seafood salad is an excellent choice for summer, perfect for potlucks, a light lunch, or a satisfying dinner, all ready in under 30 minutes.
Below are the high-level instructions for this recipe, but for detailed step-by-step instructions with photos and a video, please see the recipe card below.
- Prepare the Dressing: To start, gather all the dressing ingredients in a bowl. Then, thoroughly mix them until they blend together perfectly. Set this creamy dressing aside for later use, allowing its flavors to meld
- Cook the Shrimp: In a wide pan over medium heat, pour a generous amount of water and season the water with a pinch of salt. As the water gradually comes to a gentle simmer, add the peeled and deveined shrimp. Let them cook for about 3 to 5 minutes or until they turn pink and become opaque
- Remove and cool down: Once they reach this perfection, carefully remove the shrimp from the water and set them aside to cool. If you want to halt the cooking process immediately, a quick rinse with cold water over the cooked shrimp does the trick
- Prep veggies: Begin by chopping the onion and celery into bite-sized pieces. Place these freshly chopped veggies into a bowl with cooked shrimp
- Dress the salad: Drizzle the creamy dressing you prepared earlier over the ingredients in the bowl. Gently toss everything together
- Chill: Pop the salad into the refrigerator for at least an hour, allowing it to chill and meld the flavors together. When you're ready to enjoy this delightful dish, plate it up with some fresh butter lettuce, alongside warm tortillas, and bread, or as a delightful companion to roasted vegetables
Tips
- Fresh Ingredients: Use fresh, high-quality shrimp and crisp vegetables for the best flavor and texture
- Proper Cooking: Cook shrimp just until they turn pink and opaque to prevent overcooking, which can make them rubbery
- Chill Shrimp: Allow cooked shrimp to cool before adding them to the salad to maintain its freshness
- Creamy Dressing: Prepare a well-balanced creamy dressing with the right blend of flavors to enhance the salad
- Chill Before Serving: Refrigerate the salad for at least an hour before serving to let the flavors meld together
- Customize: Customize your salad with additional ingredients like avocado, herbs, or nuts to suit your taste
- Serve Cold: Shrimp salad is best enjoyed cold, making it a perfect choice for a refreshing meal
- Garnish: Add a final touch with a garnish of fresh herbs or a drizzle of extra dressing before serving
- Non-Creamy Option: If you're not a fan of creamy salads, marinate the shrimp in Cajun or Creole seasoning and pan-sear them until they're crispy. Then, combine them with crisp vegetables, avocado, lettuce, and tomatoes, and dress the salad with a zesty vinaigrette or your favorite everyday salad dressing. This variation adds a flavorful, spicy kick to your shrimp salad while keeping it refreshingly light
Storage Suggestions
You can keep this Shrimp Salad fresh for 2 days by placing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Remember to seal it tightly after each use to maintain flavor and quality.
Serving Suggestions
When serving Shrimp Salad, you'll want to pair it with side dishes that complement the flavors and textures of the salad while creating a balanced and satisfying meal. Here are some ideas for what to serve with it:
- Crusty Bread or Rolls: A basket of freshly baked bread or rolls is always a great choice to soak up the dressing and add a bit of crunch to your meal
- Rice Dishes: Steamed white or brown rice can serve as a neutral base for your salad, allowing you to spoon the salad over it or serve it alongside
- Couscous: Couscous is a quick-cooking grain that works well with this seafood salad. You can flavor it with herbs and spices to complement the salad's flavors
- Quinoa: Quinoa is a nutritious and protein-rich grain that can be a great side dish to your Shrimp Salad
- Roasted Vegetables: Roasted vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, bell peppers, zucchini, or cherry tomatoes can add a lovely roasted flavor to your meal
- Soup: A light soup, such as a gazpacho or a tomato basil soup, can be a great starter before enjoying your salad
- Dips and Sauces: Offer some dipping sauces like cocktail sauce, tartar sauce, or a homemade aioli for those who like extra flavor
- Greens: If your shrimp salad is not already served on a bed of greens, consider offering a simple side salad with mixed greens and a light vinaigrette
Related Recipes
You can also find similar salad recipes below and more at summer recipes, and seafood recipes.
- Tuna Salad
- Salmon Salad
- Chicken Salad
- Macaroni Salad
- Caesar Salad
- Cobb Salad
- Potato Salad
- Broccoli Salad
- Pasta Salad
- Coleslaw
- Cucumber Salad
More shrimp recipes.
- Garlic Butter Shrimp
- Shrimp Scampi
- Shrimp Stir Fry
- Shrimp Fried Rice
- Sauteed Shrimp
- Fried Shrimp
- Shrimp Alfredo Pasta
- Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
Shrimp Salad Recipe Video
I have also shared a detailed video of this Shrimp Salad recipe below, which I hope will assist you in preparing a delicious cold salad in the comfort of your home. You can also find this recipe in a story format.
📖 Recipe
Shrimp Salad
Ingredients
For Shrimp Salad
- 1½ lb Shrimp, large, peeled and deveined
- ½ Onion, chopped
- 2 ribs Celery, chopped
- 5 cups Water, to cook shrimp
- 1-2 tsp Salt, to season water
For Dressing
- 1 cup Mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
- 3 cloves Garlic, chopped
- 1 tsp Dill Leaves, chopped
- 3 tbsp Spring Onion, chopped
- ½ tsp Black Pepper, powder
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
Prepare the Dressing
- Add all the ingredients mentioned under dressing into a bowl
- Mix everything until well incorporated. Set this aside for later use
Cook the Shrimp
- In a wide pan over medium heat, add enough water to cook the shrimp and season with salt. Bring the water to a simmer
- Add the peeled and deveined shrimp to the water and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until the shrimp turns opaque and pink
- Remove the shrimp from the water and allow them to cool. You can run cold water over the cooked shrimp to stop the cooking process immediately
Prepare the Salad
- Chop the onion and celery into bite-sized pieces and add them to a bowl with cooked shrimp
- Drizzle these ingredients with the prepared creamy dressing and toss to combine. Your delicious and creamy Shrimp Salad is now ready. Before serving, refrigerate it for at least an hour to allow the flavors to meld together
To Serve
- Serve this Shrimp Salad with butter lettuce, tortillas, bread, or alongside roasted vegetables for a well-rounded lunch or dinner
Video
Notes
- Fresh Ingredients: Use fresh, high-quality shrimp and crisp vegetables for the best flavor and texture
- Proper Cooking: Cook shrimp just until they turn pink and opaque to prevent overcooking, which can make them rubbery
- Chill Shrimp: Allow cooked shrimp to cool before adding them to the salad to maintain its freshness
- Creamy Dressing: Prepare a well-balanced creamy dressing with the right blend of flavors to enhance the salad
- Chill Before Serving: Refrigerate the salad for at least an hour before serving to let the flavors meld together
- Customize: Customize your salad with additional ingredients like avocado, herbs, or nuts to suit your taste
- Serve Cold: Shrimp salad is best enjoyed cold, making it a perfect choice for a refreshing meal
- Garnish: Add a final touch with a garnish of fresh herbs or a drizzle of extra dressing before serving
- Non-Creamy Option: If you're not a fan of creamy salads, marinate the shrimp in Cajun or Creole seasoning and pan-sear them until they're crispy. Then, combine them with crisp vegetables, avocado, lettuce, and tomatoes, and dress the salad with a zesty vinaigrette or your favorite everyday salad dressing. This variation adds a flavorful, spicy kick to your shrimp salad while keeping it refreshingly light
Nutrition
FAQ
You can definitely make this Shrimp Salad using pre-cooked shrimp. Just ensure they are properly thawed and ready to use before mixing them into the salad.
Yes, you can omit the creamy dressing when making this Shrimp Salad and use an alternative dressing of your choice if desired.
A good substitute for Dijon mustard is yellow mustard or a mix of yellow mustard and mayonnaise.
I hope you found the recipe enjoyable and I would appreciate hearing about your experience with it.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to leave a comment and I will do my best to respond promptly. Thank you for reading and happy cooking!
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