Description
Refreshing shrimp avocado and spinach salad delivers Mediterranean coastal flavors with zesty lime dressing. Crisp ingredients and balanced textures create a nutritious meal perfect for summer dining.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) shrimp, peeled & deveined
- 5 cups baby spinach, fresh
- 1 large avocado, sliced
- ½ cup (75 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ¼ cup (60 g) feta cheese or goat cheese (optional)
- ¼ cup (30 g) toasted almonds or walnuts
- ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp honey (optional)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Season and Sear Shrimp: Generously coat shrimp with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook shrimp until they turn bright pink and become fully opaque, roughly 2-3 minutes per side.
- Prepare Zesty Dressing: Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until smoothly integrated.
- Compose Salad Foundation: Layer spinach leaves in a large bowl, then artfully distribute halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, and avocado chunks across the verdant base.
- Assemble and Enhance: Position seared shrimp strategically over the vegetable landscape, then garnish with crumbled feta cheese and toasted almond slivers to elevate texture and flavor profile.
- Final Touch: Delicately drizzle lemon-garlic dressing over the salad, gently tossing to ensure uniform coating without compromising the ingredients’ integrity. Serve immediately to capture the salad’s peak freshness and crisp character.
Notes
- Prevent Shrimp Overcooking: Watch carefully during searing to avoid rubbery texture; shrimp cook quickly and turn opaque pink within 2-3 minutes per side.
- Boost Dressing Flavor: Allow dressing ingredients to sit for 5-10 minutes before whisking to help garlic and lemon meld, enhancing overall taste profile.
- Maintain Avocado Freshness: Cut avocado just before serving to prevent browning; sprinkle with lemon juice to preserve bright green color and prevent oxidation.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap feta with dairy-free alternatives like nutritional yeast for vegan version; use gluten-free mustard for gluten-sensitive individuals; replace honey with maple syrup for plant-based option.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 200 mg