This Cajun Shrimp Salad recipe is a great way to enjoy spicy flavors in a light, refreshing meal, perfect for any day. The Cajun seasoning, veggies, and shrimp are all you need to make a satisfying meal.
⭐Cajun Shrimp Salad: A Quick Look
- What it is: Fresh Cajun shrimp salad with spicy shrimp, avocado, crisp greens, and creamy Sriracha dressing
- Time & Yield: 21 minutes total | Serves 2
- Taste & Texture: Juicy Cajun shrimp, creamy avocado, crisp greens, and tangy Sriracha mayo dressing come together for a bold, satisfying bite
- Heat Level🌶: Moderate heat from Cajun seasoning and Sriracha
- How To Make: Season and cook shrimp, whisk dressing, toss veggies, top with shrimp, and drizzle dressing before serving
- Recipe's Top Highlights: Quick 20-minute spicy meal, Fresh and creamy with crunch, Protein-packed light comfort dish
⭐️Why You'll Love This Recipe?
Savor the spicy, vibrant flavors of New Orleans right in your kitchen. If you love Cajun cuisine, this recipe is tailor-made for you, especially if you enjoy spicy shrimp recipes like this.
Gathering the ingredients is the only main task in this Cajun shrimp salad recipe. The rest is simple: I toss the shrimp in the seasoning and cook for 5-6 minutes. Then, toss it with the green salad, perfect for busy evenings.
I store the leftover fried Cajun shrimp and the green salad in the refrigerator, which makes my next-day lunches a breeze.
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Cajun Shrimp Salad Ingredients
- Shrimp: I have used frozen, medium-sized shrimp, but you may choose large or small varieties. Remember that the cooking time varies with the thickness of the shrimp.
- Cajun Seasoning: Both store-bought and homemade blends work well in this recipe.
- Parsley: You can substitute with cilantro.
- Olive Oil: Its mild flavor doesn't overpower the Cajun seasoning. Substitute with neutral-flavored cooking oils, such as canola or vegetable oil.
- Mixed Greens: Feel free to toss in your favorite combination of greens - romaine lettuce, spinach, or even arugula are great choices.
- Veggies: I used avocado slices, red onion, and chopped bell peppers. Cucumbers, zucchini, sweet corn kernels, and cherry tomatoes taste great and add texture.
- Sriracha Sauce: Provides heat to the sauce; adjust the quantity to your heat tolerance.
- Mayonnaise: Provides a luscious and creamy texture.
- Garlic and Onion Powder: Optional.
- Lemon juice: Gives this creamy dressing an instant facelift.
How To Make Cajun Shrimp Salad?
- Prep the Shrimp: Thaw the frozen shrimp to room temperature. And pat dry with a paper towel. If you use fresh shrimp straight from the store, ensure they are cleaned and deveined.
- Seasoning: In a mixing bowl, add the shrimp, minced parsley, salt, and Cajun seasoning. Toss until the shrimp is well coated with the spice mix. Allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes for the shrimp to absorb the flavors.
- Cook the Shrimp: Place a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil. Then, arrange the shrimp in a single layer without crowding. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until cooked through, and set aside.
- Whisk the Dressing: In the meantime, whisk together mayonnaise, sriracha sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, lime juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Whisk until all the ingredients are well blended. Set aside.
- Toss the greens and veggies: Add the chopped veggies(red onion, bell peppers, tomato) and the greens to a large bowl. Set aside.
- Assemble the Salad: Add the veggies to the serving salad bowls as a bed. Then, toss in the Cajun-seasoned shrimp and drizzle with the spicy sauce.
- Serve immediately.
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Leftovers
This Cajun shrimp salad is loaded with varied textures and ingredients. Veggies and greens get spoiled quickly.
For the best results, store cooked Cajun shrimp in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, then freeze them for up to 2 months. You can reheat them in a skillet over a stove top by tossing them with a bit of water(to retain their moisture).
Store the greens and veggies in containers for about 1-2 days.
♨️How To Adjust The Heat?
The Cajun Shrimp Salad is noticeably hot. Cajun seasoning adds complex spiciness, and Sriracha adds a kick.
To control the heat, reduce the amounts of Cajun seasoning and Sriracha sauce.
To enhance the heat, add diced jalapeños.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Adjust the salt: Some store-bought Cajun seasoning has salt. So, check it prior to and adjust the salt to marinate the shrimp.
- Don't Overcook the Shrimp: Cook until they're pink and opaque to keep them juicy and tender.
- Add Ingredients Just Before Serving: To keep your salad fresh and crisp, add the avocado, dressing, and cooked shrimp just before serving. This preserves the textures and flavors at their best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Serve with cheesy bread rolls or hearty soups(like this spicy butternut squash soup). You can also stir in cooked pasta or rice to make this Cajun shrimp salad a dinner meal.
You can cook the shrimp and prep the veggies, the greens, and the dressing two days before. Store them separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator and toss them together when ready to serve.
Try jalapeno cilantro sauce, honey Sriracha sauce, spicy yogurt sauce, or drizzle with lemon tahini dressing.
Add mango and pineapple chunks for a sweet, fruity contrast to the Cajun spice.
If you enjoyed this Recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know your thoughts in the 📝 comments section below the recipe.
📖 Recipe
Cajun Shrimp Salad
Ingredients
Cajun Shrimp:
- 1 lb shrimp peeled and deveined
- 2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon parsley minced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For Salad
- 4 cups mixed greens spinach/kale/arugula/spring mix/lettucew
- ¾ cup tomatoes roughly chopped/cherry tomatoes
- 1 avocado sliced
- ¼ cup red onion roughly chopped
- 1 cup bell pepper roughly chopped
For Dressing
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon Sriracha sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon black pepper ground
Instructions
For the Cajun Shrimp
- In a medium-sized bowl, add the cleaned shrimp, parsley, salt, and Cajun seasoning.
- Toss well and set aside for 10-15 minutes for best results.
- Now, place a pan over medium heat and cook the shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side or until cooked thoroughly.
- And set aside
Make the dressing
- Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl, sriracha sauce, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and lemon juice.
- Whisk until all the ingredients are combined.
- And set aside.
- Add chopped red onion, tomatoes, spinach, and bell pepper in a large mixing bowl.
Arrange the salad
- Arrange the serving bowls with a bed of greens and veggies.
- Then toss with cooked Cajun shrimp.
- And fianlly drizzle with the salad dressing.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Prep the shrimp, veggies, and dressing separately and combine just before serving to keep everything fresh.
- Refrigerate the leftover cooked shrimp in separate airtight containers for up to 3-4 days, and the dressing and veggies for up to 2 days.
- Pair with bread rolls or light soups, or serve over quinoa or rice for a heartier dish.
Nutrition
Additional Info
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