Summer Shrimp Salad
Summertime is all about fresh produce in my mind. Everything just tastes better when it’s freshly picked and you’re eating it on a warm sunny afternoon. Hubby and I have been eating this salad for weeks now. We make a big batch on Sunday night and it feeds us both for 3 days worth of lunches.
Neither of us have gotten sick of it yet, because we tend to tweak it based on what looks good at the store that week and what we have on hand. In general the flavors and textures are all the same but one week we had a half of a can of leftover black beans in the fridge. We threw those into the salad and it was still amazing. One week we subbed cilantro for the mint. It definitely gave the salad a different spin, but it was still amazing. One week I threw in some pumpkin seeds as well.
One of the best things about this salad is that it encouraged me to try a new food. Radishes. Growing up, my dad always had them in our garden, but I never liked them (not even sure if I had ever tried them). I took my first bite of a sliced radish a couple weeks ago and found out that I like them! Hooray for trying new things!
Now I have to tell you about this recipe. The original recipe is pretty complicated for a salad. Well, maybe not complicated, but definitely involved. Hubby and I have streamlined this process by taking a few short cuts. The major one being that we buy pre-cooked shrimp. Does the salad taste better when you cook the shrimp after marinating it? Yes. But is it a noticeable difference for the amount of time it takes? No.
The other major change that I made was the addition of quinoa. It’s just so hearty and good for you, that it really helps keep you full all afternoon after eating this salad. I’m printing the recipe how we make the salad below. Be sure to click through to get the original recipe if you’re interested. I also cut the oil out of the dressing to cut some calories. Feel free to throw some olive oil in with the other dressing ingredients if you’d like, but we really don’t miss it.
One Year Ago: Pita BreadÂ
Three Years Ago: Layered Cookie Cake and Monster Cookies
Summer Shrimp Salad
Yield: Serves 6
Ingredients:
1/2 cup lime juice
3 Tbsp honey
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 Tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated
Salt and pepper to taste
2 lb large cooked shrimp, peeled and cut in 1/2
12 oz snap peas, diced
2 cups bean sprouts
2 cups cooked quinoa
12 radishes, sliced
4 Tbsp fresh mint, chopped
Directions:
In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, honey, garlic, ginger, salt and pepper. Divide into 6 small tupperware containers.
Layer the remaining ingredients into 6 tupperware bowls. When ready to eat lunch, add the dressing to salad. Place lid on container and shake to coat everything with the dressing.
Recipe adapted from Cheeky Kitchen
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
I love making a bunch of different recipes and having them come together in one awesome meal! This looks so delicious, especially with the heat we’ve been having!
Next time I come over, I insist we either have these delicious looking Gyros or go to the Turkish restaurant you talked about.
Wow, I love that addiction to the stove! Your chicken gyros look super flavorful and like the perfect hot day lunch!
Sues
I love that every aspect of this meal is homemade… yum! What is the name of the Turkish restaurant? I need to check it out :).
I just made something similar and they were great! LOVE the sauce! Thanks!
Can’t wait for you to post the recipe – I am putting it on my menu for next week. 😀
I used to make tzatziki sauce too -until my grocery store started selling it for .99 cents for a 16 ounce container – so cheap!
Hope you have a great weekend!
I love me a traditional, good, lamb gyro- but these look delicious! I might have to break out of my comfort zone 🙂
I love me a traditional, good, lamb gyro- but these look delicious! I might have to break out of my comfort zone 🙂
We definitely have to try these…yum!
Those look delicious, I will have to try those!
Can the pita bread dough be made in advance and kept in the fridge overnight? I want to make these tomorrow for dinner but will not have time for the 90 minute and then 20 minute rise times. Any advice would be great. Thanks!
welcome to the bandwagon! love Elly’s recipe!
Manne – sounds like a plan
Lauren – It’s called Brookline Family Restaurant and it’s on Washington St in Brookline Village. Definitely check it out if you’re in the area.
Sheena – I’m not sure about freezing the pita bread dough. I’m sure it would be fine as other bread doughs can be frozen and used later. Let me know how it goes if you try it!