Description
A refreshing and nutritious Shrimp Avocado Salad featuring tender shrimp, creamy avocados, and crisp vegetables tossed in a zesty lime dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or a healthy dinner, this salad combines vibrant flavors and textures for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Vegetables
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 medium avocados, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Dressing
- 1 unit lime, juiced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook Shrimp: Begin by boiling a medium saucepan of water. Once boiling, add the peeled and deveined shrimp. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until the shrimp turn pink and are opaque, indicating they are fully cooked.
- Prepare Shrimp: Drain the shrimp and let them cool slightly before chopping them into bite-sized pieces to make them easier to mix and eat.
- Combine Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked shrimp, diced avocados, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, finely chopped red onion, and fresh cilantro, ensuring an even mix of all flavors and textures.
- Make Dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to create a tangy and flavorful dressing that complements the salad ingredients.
- Toss Salad: Pour the dressing over the shrimp and vegetable mixture and gently toss to coat everything evenly, being careful not to mash the avocados.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary to achieve the desired balance of flavors. Serve the salad chilled or at room temperature on serving plates.
- Optional Spicy Kick: For extra flavor, consider adding diced jalapeños for a spicy kick, enhancing the salad’s zest and complexity.
- Make Ahead Tip: This salad can be made ahead of time; however, it’s best enjoyed soon after preparation to keep the avocados fresh and vibrant.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve with tortilla chips or over a bed of greens for a more complete and filling meal option.
Notes
- Use fresh, high-quality shrimp for the best taste and texture.
- To prevent avocado browning, toss avocado pieces in a little lime juice before mixing.
- Adjust garlic powder amount based on your preference for garlic flavor.
- If you prefer less acidity, reduce the lime juice slightly in the dressing.
- For a dairy-free and gluten-free meal, this salad is naturally suitable.
- Chop ingredients evenly to ensure consistent texture in every bite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling, mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 310mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 155mg
Keywords: shrimp avocado salad, healthy shrimp salad, easy summer salad, shrimp lime salad, avocado cucumber salad
