Cucumber Shrimp Salad (Printable)

Crisp cucumbers, tender shrimp, and zesty lemon-herb dressing create this refreshing dish perfect for summer.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Seafood

01 - 14 oz cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 large cucumbers, thinly sliced
03 - 1 small red onion, finely sliced
04 - 1 ripe avocado, diced
05 - 3.5 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped

→ Dressing

07 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 1½ tbsp fresh lemon juice
09 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
10 - 1 garlic clove, minced
11 - ½ tsp sea salt
12 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

# Steps:

01 - Combine sliced cucumbers, red onion, diced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, and chopped dill in a large salad bowl.
02 - Gently fold the cooked shrimp into the vegetable mixture, being careful not to break the avocado pieces.
03 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until fully emulsified.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly without mashing the avocado.
05 - Sample the salad and adjust salt or pepper as needed to balance the flavors.
06 - Serve immediately with extra dill garnish, or refrigerate for up to 30 minutes for a colder presentation.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The way cold cucumber crunch meets tender shrimp feels like something you'd order at a seaside restaurant but takes twenty minutes
  • Nothing wilts or gets soggy, so you can make it ahead and it actually tastes better after the flavors mingle
02 -
  • The avocado will oxidize and turn brown if this sits too long. If you're meal prepping, add the avocado right before serving instead.
  • Chilling the salad for exactly 30 minutes before serving makes a remarkable difference in how refreshing it tastes.
03 -
  • A pinch of red pepper flakes in the dressing adds a subtle warmth that makes the whole salad more interesting without overpowering the delicate flavors.
  • Let the salad sit for just 5 minutes after tossing before serving. This gives the ingredients time to become friends with the dressing.

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