Healthy Shrimp Avocado Salad (Printable)
Succulent shrimp with creamy avocado, crisp vegetables, and zesty lime dressing for a light, satisfying meal ready in 20 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ 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
# Directions:
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 thoroughly.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine the diced avocados, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper, and chopped cilantro.
03 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, minced garlic, cumin, salt, black pepper, and chili flakes until emulsified.
04 - Add the cooled shrimp to the salad bowl. Pour the dressing over the ingredients and toss gently to coat evenly. Serve immediately or refrigerate for 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The lime cilantro dressing wakes up everything it touches, making even simple ingredients taste extraordinary
- You can have it on the table in 20 minutes flat with almost zero cleanup afterward
- It keeps beautifully for lunch the next day, meaning you cook once but eat twice
02 -
- Overcooked shrimp becomes rubbery and sad, so set a timer the moment they hit the boiling water
- The salad needs at least 10 minutes of resting time after dressing to let all the flavors really come together
- Avocado will brown slightly if the salad sits too long, though the lime helps slow this down considerably
03 -
- Pat the shrimp completely dry after rinsing to prevent watery dressing
- Room temperature ingredients absorb the dressing more evenly than cold ones from the fridge