Amazing cold shrimp salad that is perfect for a variety of summer meals. This shrimp salad is made with delicious boiled shrimp, fresh avocado, fresh dill weed, green onions, and some celery for added crunch.
SHRIMP SALAD
Shrimp salad is a classic summer dish that you can serve any time of the day and for any occasion. It’s a refreshing, cold shrimp salad made creamy with avocado and a little bit of mayo. Fresh dill weed and green onions are the perfect compliments to this salad. Add a little citrus with fresh lime juice to make the flavors pop.
This cold salad is a nice summer dish and you can have it as a sandwich, as a salad, or as a side dish. You can also try it in tacos, lettuce wraps, and tortilla wrap sandwiches. It’s a perfect salad to serve at barbecues because it will add a beautiful fresh touch to hot, smoky meats and vegetables.
HOW TO CLEAN SHRIMP
You can get whole shrimp in a shell or you can get shrimp that have already been cleaned and peeled. If you choose to get whole shrimp, make sure to take time to peel, devein, and clean shrimp first, before starting to cook.
Shrimp has to be cleaned and deveined before cooking because that dark “vein” that you see running along the back of shrimp is actually shrimp’s digestive tract. It’s important to clean that out because there might be traces of sand and dirt in it along with whatever the shrimp ate.
First, take the shell off the shrimp, including the tail. It’s easy to take the shell off by starting to peel at shrimp’s feet.
Make a slight incision with a paring knife along the back of shrimp, just deep enough to slice the outer skin. This will expose the “vein.” Rinse out the cavity with cold water, taking out the “vein” and any dirt, leaving shrimp nice and clean.
It’s now ready to cook.
(You can read all about cleaning the shrimp and watch a video in my post on How To Peel and Devein Shrimp.)
CAN I USE PRECOOKED SHRIMP?
I got this question asked a couple of times and the answer is “yes, but I don’t you will lose some of the flavor.” Cooking shrimp yourself in seasoned water will infuse shrimp with flavor. If you get the pre-cooked plain shrimp that is meant for being served with cocktail sauce, the salad won’t have as much flavor.
So of course, you can use pre-cooked shrimp but you will lose some of the flavor.
HOW TO MAKE SHRIMP SALAD
Cook the shrimp in seasoned water until shrimp turns pink and opaque. Take it out immediately and let it cool to room temperature.
Cut, pit, and peel avocado. Dice avocado meat and add it to the bowl along with diced celery, green onion, and dill weed. Squeeze in lime juice, add salt, and gently mix.
Add mayo and mix until all evenly coated. Cool for about 30 minutes to an hour in the refrigerator and serve.
Store in the refrigerator, in an air-tight container for about a day but after that, the avocado will be getting dark and soft.
HOW TO SERVE SHRIMP SALAD
Lettuce wraps – use romaine lettuce leaves, iceberg lettuce leaves, or butter lettuce leaves to wrap the salad.
Sandwich – you can serve this shrimp salad on soft brioche buns or crescent rolls.
Salad – top off your dinner salad with some shrimp salad for a refreshing light dinner.
Tortilla wrap – make a sandwich wrap by wrapping this salad with some lettuce, tomatoes, and feta cheese in a large flour tortilla.
Tacos – you can also use hard or soft taco shells to make cols shrimp tacos.
Some More Salad Recipes To Try:
Avocado Shrimp Flatbread Sandwich
Balsamic Strawberry Chicken Salad
Shrimp and Pesto Panzanella Salad
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The BEST Avocado Shrimp Salad
Ingredients
Shrimp
- 1 1/2 lbs raw shrimp de-veined
- 1 lime
- 2 sprigs of dill weed
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tsp salt
- Fresh cracked black pepper
- About 2 quarts water
Shrimp Salad
- 1 ripe avocado
- 2 tsp lime juice
- 1/2 cup finely chopped celery
- 1/3 cup chopped green onion
- 3 Tbsp minced fresh dill weed
- Salt
- 1/4 cup mayo little more if you like it saucier
Instructions
- Clean and de-vein shrimp.
- Bring water to boil and add juice from lime, 1/2 of the squeezed lime, bay leaf, dill weed springs, salt, and pepper. Mix well and simmer for a few minutes.
- Add shrimp to the pot and cook until just done. (About 2-3 minutes)
- Strain off water and let shrimp cool in the strainer until easy to handle.
- Add shrimp to a mixing bowl.
- Cut, pit, and peel avocado. Dice avocado meat and add it to the bowl.
- Add diced celery, green onion, and dill weed.
- Add lime juice and salt, gently mix.
- Add mayo and mix until all evenly coated.
- Cool for 30 minutes to an hour and serve.
- Store in the refrigerator, in an air-tight container.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published on Will Cook For Smiles on June 29, 2017. Updated May 28, 2020.
Billy says
I am going to make this salad the next time I am craving something refreshing! this looks delicious! Thank you so much for sharing, I love avocado and shrimp together – but I love that you added dill to the recipe. Can’t wait to try!
Carol says
I found this recipe at a perfect time! I have shrimp that I am looking to use up and I think this would be so delicious with lobster, as well. Yum
Stanley.e.Hayward says
That looks good
LyubaB says
Thank you, Stanley!
Danny says
It all looks good except for the salt content. Do you really feal you need that much salt. Shrimp is already salty enough. Sure makes it difficult for those of us on low sodium diet. When I do it I’ll omit the salt and tell you what it’s like. I’m willing to bet it’s almost as good.
LyubaB says
You are boiling it in the saltwater so all the salt isn’t going to stick to the shrimp, you can just omit the salt if you can’t have it for your diet. I hope you still try it without 🙂
Michelle M says
Would love to try this but my husband is allergic to celery. Any recommendations for a substitute?
lyuba says
Hi Michelle!
I’m so sorry for the late response. You can add some diced cucumber to provide a little crunch that celery would. Otherwise, you can just leave out the celery 🙂
I really hope you guys like it.
Kathy E. says
Made this tonight and it was amazing! The only thing I would do differently next time is to chill the shrimp before adding it to the avocado and the rest of the ingredients … mine seemed a little ‘watery’ and I chose not to add more mayo as I thought there was enough. Will definitely make again!
lyuba says
Great suggestion, Kathy! I’m so happy that you liked it 🙂 Thank you for letting me know!
Margaret says
Could I use shrimp that already been cooked when I purchase it.
lyuba says
Hi Margaret! Do you mean shrimp that are generally make for shrimp cocktail? Yes, you definitely can. THere will be a little less flavor in the shrimp since they generally come plain but should definitely work.
Marianne Robinson says
I came across your recipe and can’t wait to try it. I had gone and gotten fresh shrimp and also some boiled shrimp. They season it very spicy so I hope it’s not too hot. Will let you know how it turns out.
lyuba says
I really hope you liked it!
With the spicy shrimp, cucumber, avocado, and feta cheese help cut the spice levels and make it more tolerable. I hope it turned out well 🙂
Nancy says
What is causing the sodium count of 2589 mg?
LyubaB says
Hi, Nancy! Thanks for pointing that out, my nutrition calculator must have messed up. I will look into fixing it!
Lisa Marie says
I CAN NOT WAIT TO MAKE THIS RECIPE, I AM DROOLING !!! THE PHOTOGRAPHY IS BEAUTIFUL,… IT MAKES ME WANT TO REACH INTO MY COMPUTER SCREEN AND TAKE A BITE LOL !!!
LyubaB says
Haha! Thank you, Lisa!
Donna Chouinard says
This shrimp salad is so refreshing. I’m the only one in my house who eats avocado ( more for me)but it’s definitely worth treating yourself!
Marie challender says
The recipe and ingredients are straight forward and easy to understand. The salad is delicious, love the addition of dill. Will make this many more times…..Marie
LyubaB says
Thank you, Marie! I am so glad to hear you liked it! 🙂
Susan says
It sounds great and I’m giving it a try tonight for supper. My husband and I love shrimp and avocado.
(By the way – lose (not loose) is the correct spelling for ” you will loose some of the flavor.”
LyubaB says
Hi Susan,
Oops that was a typo that I fixed, thanks for pointing it out. I hope you like the recipe!
Abby says
I don’t have fresh dill. I can’t ever find it. Will dried dill weed work as well?
LyubaB says
Hi Abby,
Yes, you can use dried dill. I hope you like it!
Keira says
I think my family might like this. I am going to add this to the must try list.
LyubaB says
I hope they do, Keira! Let me know! 🙂
Angela says
My husband has been craving shrimp salad, this looks like a tasty version.
LyubaB says
Thanks, Angela! I hope you give the recipe a try. 🙂
PamelaT says
This is absolutely wonderful. So easy, and the very reason to grow fresh dill. Definitely worth doing again. And again 😋
LyubaB says
Aw, thank you, Pamela! I am so happy you liked it!
Mark Kotov says
Thanks for the recipe! A great idea for a delicious salad on the holiday table or a healthy snack. Salads are generally such a versatile dish that it can be, for example, an addition to a steak or a full-fledged hearty meal. And you can spread it on bread or a tartlet and it will be a snack. Thank you.
LyubaB says
You are welcome, Mark!
Patrick says
Just made this recipe for my family for lunch, and it is the bomb! Creamy, sweet, and delicious! It hits on all the notes I love in a salad!
LyubaB says
Glad you liked it, Patrick! 🙂