Healthy Shrimp Avocado Salad (Printable version)
Vibrant salad with succulent shrimp, creamy avocado, fresh vegetables, and tangy lime dressing ready in 20 minutes.
# Ingredient List:
→ Seafood
01 - 14 oz large shrimp, peeled and deveined
→ Vegetables & Fruits
02 - 2 ripe avocados, diced
03 - 1 medium cucumber, diced
04 - 7 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
→ Dressing
08 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
09 - Juice of 2 limes
10 - 1 garlic clove, minced
11 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
12 - 1/2 tsp sea salt
13 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
14 - 1/4 tsp chili flakes (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add the shrimp and cook for 2–3 minutes until pink and opaque. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Pat dry with paper towels.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine the diced avocados, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper, and chopped cilantro.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, minced garlic, cumin, salt, pepper, and chili flakes if using, until emulsified.
04 - Add the cooled shrimp to the salad bowl. Pour the dressing over the ingredients and toss gently to combine without mashing the avocados.
05 - Serve immediately, or refrigerate for 10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld together.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- Everything comes together in under 20 minutes, making it perfect for those weeknights when you want something fresh but don't want to spend forever cooking
- The combination of creamy avocado, zesty lime, and sweet shrimp hits every flavor note your taste buds could possibly want
02 -
- Overcooked shrimp become rubbery and sad, so set a timer and pull them the second they turn pink, they'll continue cooking slightly from residual heat
- Wait to dress the salad until right before serving, otherwise the acid from the lime will start to break down the avocado and make it mushy
03 -
- Buy shrimp that are already peeled and deveined to save yourself time and hassle, or buy them frozen and thaw them yourself for better quality control
- Keep a cut lime half nearby while eating, sometimes you'll want that extra hit of acid on certain bites, especially the avocado pieces