Description

This Zesty Avocado Shrimp Salad is a refreshing and healthy meal upgrade perfect for warm days or quick lunches. Combining tender, boiled shrimp with creamy ripe avocados, crisp cucumbers, juicy cherry tomatoes, and a vibrant lime-based dressing, this salad offers a vibrant burst of flavors and textures. Enhanced with fresh cilantro and subtle spices, it’s easy to prepare and delightful to enjoy chilled.

Ingredients

Scale

Shrimp

1 pound large shrimp (peeled, deveined, and cooked)

Vegetables & 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)

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Instructions

Preparation: Gather and prepare all your ingredients to ensure a smooth cooking process.
Prepare the Shrimp: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the raw shrimp and cook them for 2-3 minutes until they turn pink and opaque. Drain the shrimp and immediately transfer them to an ice bath to cool quickly. 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 fresh cilantro or parsley. Gently toss the mixture to combine, being careful to keep the avocado pieces intact for texture and color.
Make the Dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes until well blended.
Combine and Serve: Add the chopped shrimp to the vegetable mixture. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and gently toss everything together. For best flavor, chill the salad in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

Use fresh shrimp for best flavor, or substitute with pre-cooked shrimp for a quicker version.
The optional garlic powder and red pepper flakes can be adjusted depending on your preferred spice level.
If you prefer a smoother texture, substitute diced avocado with puréed avocado.
Chilling the salad allows the flavors to meld and enhances taste.
Serve this salad chilled as a light main dish or a side.
To keep avocados from browning, prepare and dress just before serving if not chilling long.