This simple but totally flavorful shrimp salad makes the perfect meal-prep meal for lunch or dinner thanks to pan-seared citrus-flavored shrimp, creamy avocado, and the crunch of sliced almonds.
I grew up with a mother who 99% of the time ordered two things when we ate out at finer dining establishments. It was like she didn’t even need to look at the menu, yet she always did and still does.
So when it’s my mom’s turn to answer the usual round of “what are you going to have?” question because we all want to be 100% sure we’re ordering just the right thing on the menu, my husband and I always share a knowing grin when we hear her reply, “Oh, I think I’ll try the shrimp. Or maybe the scallops.”
My mom. She’s predictable that way. And to prove we share the same DNA, I unapologetically share her menu choosing tendencies. Man, I LOVE shrimp!
That’s why when I made my friend Robyn’s Pan-Seared Citrus Shrimp I was totally stoked there were leftovers to be had, because that meant that both of these recipes become the perfect solution for weeknight meal planning that turns into weekday salads.
So we can thank my leftovers for inspiring this ridiculously easy and delicious citrus shrimp and avocado salad that my mom would totally approve of.
What’s in This Shrimp Avocado Salad?
The ingredients list for this shrimp salad is short and sweet. Here’s what you’ll need to make this salad with shrimp:
- Pan-seared citrus shrimp
- Greens
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Lemon juice
- Avocado
- Shallot
- Sliced almonds
- Kosher salt and pepper
How to Make Shrimp Salad
This citrus shrimp recipe can be made in under 30 minutes so if you haven’t made it for meal planning, or have leftovers in the fridge, it really doesn’t take much doing to cook up a fresh batch — a quickly-prepared protein is one of the essential parts of composing a salad like this.
I had plenty of sauce left over after making the shrimp and because there’s no butter or cream in the sauce, it doesn’t coagulate into a gooey goop, but instead stays rather liquified when refrigerated, making it a perfect solution for creating a shrimp salad dressing. I drizzled a bit of olive oil on the greens and then mostly used the dressing I had to finish off my salads.
For a salad as simple as thism a little onion is always a favorite addition of mine. I used minced shallots this time around but you could always use red onion or even green onion if that’s what you have on hand.
I typically toast my almond slices to give them a little more oomph in flavor, but I was lazy so I just tossed them on naked. Guess what? They still tasted great.
What Type of Greens Should I Use in This Shrimp Salad?
The greens in this shrimp and avocado salad could very well vary on your tastes and what you have available, including:
- Spring mix salad greens — if you’re looking for a neutral flavored bite
- Spicy arugula — which is what I used and was so good
- Baby spinach leaves — I always prefer the bagged version, it’s just so much easier
- Romaine lettuce — for a more substantial crunch
Tips for Making Shrimp Avocado Salad
If you don’t have enough leftover citrus sauce, use a quality olive oil and a generous squeeze of fresh lemon or orange to finish off this simple salad. There will be plenty of gusto from the shrimp to carry it through.
Note that to determine if an avocado is ripe, flick the brown nub of the stem. Then:
- If the avocado stem comes off clean and is green underneath, your avocado is ripe.
- If the avocado stem comes off and you see brown underneath, your avocado is over ripe and will likely have brown spots.
- If the avocado stem doesn’t release, it’s not ready yet.
What to Serve With This Shrimp Salad
This shrimp salad could easily be served all on its own because it really does make a meal. But sometimes a little extra something is nice to nibble or slurp alongside. Here are a few suggestions to consider:
- Classic Tomato Gazpacho
- Mango Gazpacho
- Cucumber Delight Cocktail
- Grilled Artichokes with Garlic Butter
- Zucchini and Chorizo Cheese Toasts
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
Citrus Shrimp and Avocado Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound medium Pan-Seared Citrus Shrimp , (I use 31/40 shrimp)
- 8 cups greens , (such as arugula, spinach, or spring mix)
- Fruity or lemon-flavored extra virgin olive oil
- Juice of ½ lemon or ½ orange
- 1 avocado , sliced or diced
- 1 shallot , minced
- 4 ounces sliced almonds , toasted
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the recipe for the Pan-Seared Citrus Shrimp, or gently warm the leftover shrimp. Or, if you prefer, serve the shrimp chilled.
- Toss the shrimp with the salad greens in a large bowl.
- Lightly drizzle with olive oil, and if desired, some of the sauce remaining from the shrimp with a generous squeeze of citrus, and toss lightly to coat.
- Add the avocado, shallots and sliced almonds and then season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper and serve.
Notes
- Use some of the citrus sauce from the shrimp as a double duty dressing.
- Or, if you don't have enough sauce for the dressing, simply use a good extra virgin olive oil (I like the lemon flavored varieties) with an additional squeeze of citrus.
Nutrition
More Easy Salad Recipes to Make
- Ahi Tuna Poke and Mango Salad
- Superfood Salad with Lightened-Up Poppy Seed Dressing
- Caesar Salad with Garlic Croutons
- Classic Blue Cheese Wedge Salad
- Greek Salad with Chicken
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HI Heidi!
recipe looks great! I am having a dinner party and plan on making this along with steaks and chicken. do you think this recipe could be tossed with orzo to incorporate a starch into the dinner menu?
Thank you!
Hi Nina! Sorry for the delayed reply! Yes, orzo would be a yummy addition to this for sure!
This was delicious! Made as written! Will be making again!
I’m glad you enjoyed Jonna!
I made this salad woth a couple variations…Added fresh garlic and pepper while making the citrus shrimp. I didnt have any shallots on hand so I used thin sliced red onions in place of that. Skipped the nuts just as our preference. Perfectly ripe avacado was perfect in this dish as was arugula lettuce. Very refreshing and light meal that was full of flavor!
I’m glad you enjoyed it Christi!
This recipe was absolutely delicious! My husband said it was better than anything we could have gotten at a restaurant. Will definitely make this again.
I’m glad you both enjoyed it!
I get so frustrated when I cook. Sweat begins dripping from my brow and the panic sets in.
I literally just made this for my wife and it was the easiest cooking I’ve ever done; and it tastes great. Everyone loved it! And the shrimp recipe is not hard to find. It’s right there; one click away. Thank you for this easy, delicious recipe. Very refreshing
So glad it was a success!
Made this fir dinner and my husband, who is very discerning when it comes to cooking and eating, loved it!
Recipe was delicious and so easy to make! Thank you
I’m annoyed that you felt the need to be critical and went out of your way to leave a comment about how you won’t be “researching” the citrus shrimp recipe. Then had the nerve to misspell “research!”Girl, how are you going to be loud AND wrong?! If you can’t read, just say that… LOL
It’s in the ingredient list. Click on the link.
This was delicious and easy to make. I love the citrus shrimp and will be making this recipe more often. Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad you enjoyed!
Jeeez people the shrimp recipe is highlighted. Just click on it!
We love this salad. I am marinating the shrimp in the dressing for about an hour to see if it gives it even more yummy flavor. We live in Florida, and a cold salad like this for dinner is perfect! Thanks for a great recipe!
Absolutely delicious!! Just had it for dinner and plan to make it again soon! Thank you!
Tried it and loved it. Used boiled shrimp.
This is really great. !!!!!
Hey! Thanks so much for sharing such an amazing recipe! I have made it twice in less than a week. I just made it for my mother-in-law who loves it also. I love when healthy food also tastes good. I don’t know if anyone still does whole 30’s, but it’s totally whole 30 compliant. I always feel like I am being healthier when my meals are whole 30 compliant. Thanks again!
Can you just use this sauce as a dressing and add cooked shrimp to the salad without having to make all the ingredients hot first?
You could!
I’d love to know the macros on this one! It looks DELICIOUS!
Made this for Memorial Day! It was a big hit! So yummy!
This was absolutely delicious and soooo easy to make! I was hoping to get he same a tad more creamy, but didn’t want to overlook the shrimp. But regardless of that, my family loved it! And that includes a 5 year old! Will definitely be in my rotation now.
Thank you for a delicious recipe ! I made this specifically to make a green salad with it . So yummy !
Great! Thanks for tryign this one!
The recipe was amazing; served it at a brunch with girlfriends and it was a hit. However it’s unfortunate that it appears you’ve been hacked, and have so many unrelated or downright ridiculous comments here. Some people just don’t have half a brain.
Thanks for a real comment Joan, I’m so glad you and your friends enjoyed it too :)
Excellent! ♥️Que un
This was insanely good!!!! Eating it now and loving it!!!
This is so far the best salad I have ever had!!! The shrimp, avocado and the greens plus the juice of the limes (i forgot the oranges ) OMG I think I will eat it all summer. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! Forever grateful ❤️
Yesss, orange can replace lime juice! Totally perfect. Thank you for wonderful recipe!
This was so good! The only thing I changed was that I marinated the shrimp in the mixture overnight before cooking it. The flavor came out perfect!
This salad is SO delicious! My pregnant self LOVED IT. Now it will be something I crave! Thanks for sharing YUuuuMmmmm
I think eating more avocados will overwhelm the taste of shrimp.
I love how easy this recipe is! Pinning for later :-D