Fresh Shrimp, Avocado & Spinach Salad Recipe for Summer Joy

Summers call for fresh, light meals that pack serious flavor with minimal effort.

This bright and delicious shrimp, avocado, and spinach salad offers a perfect balance of protein and greens.

Crisp spinach leaves provide a tender base for succulent, perfectly seasoned shrimp.

Creamy avocado chunks add a luxurious texture that complements the zesty seafood.

Each bite delivers a harmonious blend of fresh ingredients that dance across your palate.

Drizzled with a tangy citrus vinaigrette, this salad transforms simple components into a restaurant-worthy dish.

Prepare to elevate your lunch or dinner with this quick and nutritious meal that will leave you feeling satisfied and energized.

Instructions for Tossing Shrimp, Avocado, and Spinach Together

• Fire Up the Shrimp

Heat olive oil in a skillet and quickly sizzle seasoned shrimp until they turn perfectly pink and slightly curled. The goal is a quick, tender cook that locks in delicious flavor.

• Whip Together Zesty Dressing

Blend olive oil, fresh lemon juice, tangy mustard, sweet honey, and minced garlic into a smooth, vibrant dressing that will dance across your salad greens.

• Create Your Colorful Masterpiece

Layer crisp spinach leaves with juicy cherry tomatoes, sharp red onion slivers, and creamy avocado chunks. Arrange cooked shrimp on top with a sprinkle of crumbly feta and crunchy toasted almonds.

• Mix and Devour

Drizzle the bright dressing over your salad and gently toss everything together. The goal is coating each ingredient without drowning the delicate components. Serve immediately and savor every refreshing bite.

Tips for Keeping Salad Crisp and Flavorful

• Perfectly Cooked Shrimp: Pat shrimp dry before seasoning to ensure a crispy, golden exterior and prevent steaming instead of searing.
• Dressing Depth: Prepare the dressing ahead of time and let it sit for 10-15 minutes to allow flavors to meld and intensify, creating a more robust taste profile.
• Low-Carb Friendly: Replace spinach with mixed greens or arugula for a different texture, and swap honey with a sugar-free sweetener to make the recipe keto-compatible.
• Protein Power Boost: For vegetarian options, substitute shrimp with grilled tofu, roasted chickpeas, or hard-boiled eggs to maintain the protein content and nutritional balance.
• Meal Prep Magic: Cook extra shrimp and store separately from the salad ingredients to keep everything fresh and crisp, allowing for easy lunch preparation the next day.

Plating Shrimp Salad with a Bright Finish

• Elegant Dinner Party Centerpiece: Arrange the salad on a large, white platter with shrimp artfully placed on top, creating a restaurant-style presentation that will impress guests.
• Fresh Lunch Companion: Pack this salad in a mason jar with dressing at the bottom, layering ingredients to keep everything crisp – perfect for a healthy workplace meal.
• Mediterranean-Inspired Meal: Serve alongside warm, crusty whole wheat bread or pita to soak up the delicious lemon-garlic dressing, transforming the salad into a complete and satisfying dining experience.
• Quick Protein Bowl Variation: Turn the salad into a hearty grain bowl by adding quinoa or couscous underneath the spinach, making it more filling and nutritionally balanced.

Keeping the Shrimp Salad Fresh Until Serving

• Fresh Fridge Storage: Keep salad components separate in airtight containers. Shrimp stays fresh for 1-2 days, leafy greens for 3-4 days. Store dressing in a sealed jar in the refrigerator.
• Quick Meal Prep: Chop vegetables, cook shrimp, and prepare dressing in advance. Assemble just before serving to maintain crisp textures and prevent soggy ingredients.
• Smart Leftover Strategy: If storing assembled salad, place dressing separately to prevent wilting. Consume within 24 hours for best taste and texture. Gently reheat shrimp or enjoy cold.
• Portion Control Tip: Divide ingredients into individual containers for grab-and-go lunches. Perfect for weekly meal planning, ensuring quick and nutritious meals throughout busy days.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Calories: 385 kcal

Servings: 4

Shrimp, Avocado & Spinach Salad Ingredient Guide

• Shrimp: Sweet ocean gems that bring succulent flavor and lean protein to the salad, choose fresh or frozen wild-caught shrimp for best taste and sustainability.
• Feta Cheese: Tangy Mediterranean cheese that adds creamy texture and sharp salty notes, select high-quality block feta for more authentic flavor.

• Spinach: Nutrient-packed leafy green with delicate texture that forms the salad base, opt for fresh baby spinach leaves for maximum tenderness.
• Avocado: Buttery green fruit that provides creamy richness and healthy fats, select ripe avocados with slight give when gently pressed.
• Cherry Tomatoes: Bright sweet jewels that add color and juicy burst, choose firm, vibrant red tomatoes for best flavor.
• Red Onion: Sharp aromatic vegetable that introduces crisp texture and zesty undertones, select firm onions with smooth, tight skin.

• Olive Oil: Smooth, heart-healthy base that carries flavors and adds silky texture, choose extra virgin for most robust taste.
• Lemon Juice: Bright citrus that provides tangy freshness and helps balance rich ingredients, use freshly squeezed for optimal flavor.
• Dijon Mustard: Zippy condiment that emulsifies dressing and adds complex depth, select smooth, high-quality French-style mustard.
• Honey: Natural sweetener that rounds out dressing's flavor profile, choose raw local honey for best quality.
• Garlic: Pungent aromatic that intensifies dressing's flavor, select fresh cloves for most vibrant taste.
• Toasted Almonds: Crunchy nutty garnish that introduces text.

Kitchen Tools for This Fresh Shrimp Salad

• Skillet: Essential for perfectly cooking shrimp with crispy edges.
• Small bowl: Perfect for whisking together the zesty dressing.
• Large bowl: Needed for combining salad ingredients and tossing gently.
• Whisk: Helps blend dressing ingredients smoothly.
• Measuring tablespoons: For accurate oil and dressing measurements.
• Cutting board: For chopping vegetables and preparing ingredients.
• Sharp knife: Used to slice avocado, tomatoes, and red onion.

Vibrant Shrimp, Avocado, And Spinach Salad Recipe

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4.8 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Mediterranean-inspired shrimp, avocado, and spinach salad offers fresh flavors that dance across palates with elegant simplicity. Crisp greens and succulent seafood blend seamlessly, enticing diners toward a light, nutritious meal we’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

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• 1 lb (454 g) shrimp, peeled & deveined
• 5 cups baby spinach, fresh
• 1 avocado, large, sliced
• ¼ cup feta cheese or goat cheese (optional)
• ¼ cup almonds or walnuts, toasted
• ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• ¼ small red onion, thinly sliced
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 tbsps fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp honey (optional)
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Seasoning: Coat shrimp thoroughly with garlic powder, salt, pepper, and paprika, ensuring uniform spice distribution.
2. Searing: Heat olive oil in skillet over medium-high heat, then cook shrimp 2-3 minutes per side until pink and opaque.
3. Dressing Preparation: Whisk lemon juice, olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper into a harmonious vinaigrette.
4. Salad Assembly: Create a vibrant base using spinach leaves, then artfully layer cherry tomatoes, red onion, and avocado chunks across the greens.
5. Final Composition: Arrange seared shrimp on vegetable medley, generously sprinkle feta cheese and toasted almonds, then delicately drizzle lemon-garlic dressing.
6. Serving: Present immediately to maintain crisp textures and maximize flavor intensity of this elegant seafood salad.

Notes

• Optimize Shrimp Seasoning: Use fresh garlic powder and high-quality paprika for deeper, more complex flavor profiles in the seafood coating.
• Control Cooking Temperature: Maintain medium-high heat to prevent shrimp from becoming rubbery, ensuring a tender and succulent texture.
• Balance Dressing Consistency: Whisk dressing ingredients thoroughly to create a smooth emulsion that evenly coats salad ingredients without becoming too heavy.
• Preserve Salad Freshness: Prepare ingredients separately and assemble just before serving to maintain crisp spinach leaves and prevent avocado from browning.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Mediterranean

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 370
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 500 mg
• Fat: 29 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 18 g
• Fiber: 6 g
• Protein: 22 g
• Cholesterol: 170 mg