American · Lunch

Shrimp and Cucumber Salad

Poached shrimp chilled in ice water and tossed with cucumber, tomato, red onion, avocado and cilantro in a lime dressing. Four servings in 20 minutes.

Not yet ratedThis recipe has no ratings yet 20 min total Serves 4 servings Easy
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Shrimp and Cucumber Salad, an American lunch recipe — weight loss friendly shrimp salad

Photograph credit: Wednesday Lunch Cucumber with Shrimp by Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D. · CC0 1.0 · Flickr

Making Shrimp and Cucumber Salad Ahead

Best straight away. Keeps in the fridge for up to 1 day without the avocado.

Shrimp and Cucumber Salad: The Method

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  1. Bring a large pan of water to a boil. Add the shrimp and cook for 3 minutes, until pink and curled.

  2. Drain and plunge into a bowl of ice water for 2 minutes, then drain again and pat dry.

  3. Whisk the lime juice, olive oil, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the cucumber, tomatoes, onion, jalapeño and cilantro and toss.

  4. Add the shrimp and avocado, fold gently and serve.

A Few Pointers

  • Watch the shrimp rather than the clock; they are done when they curl into a loose C.
  • If the cucumber is watery, scoop out the seeds with a teaspoon before slicing.
  • Use frozen shrimp if fresh are hard to find; defrost them in the fridge before cooking.

Some Background

Plunge the shrimp into cold water the moment they turn pink. Stop the cooking at once. That is the difference between tender shrimp and rubbery ones, and it chills them for the salad in the same step. The shrimp need about 3 minutes in the pot. Frozen shrimp work well, once fully defrosted.

Cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion and avocado make the base, and a lime and olive oil dressing ties them together. Cut everything about the same size, so each forkful has a bit of each. Jalapeño adds a little heat. Cilantro adds freshness. The salad needs only a little salt, because the shrimp are naturally savoury.

Add the avocado at the last moment so it stays green. The salad is best straight away. It keeps for a day in the fridge without the avocado. Serve it over lettuce leaves or with a little crusty bread on the side.

Serving Ideas

Lettuce leaves · Lime wedges · A few crackers

Changing the Recipe

  • Lemon is the everyday swap for lime in this kind of dish — the acidity plays the same role even though the flavour is not identical.

Shrimp and Cucumber Salad FAQ

How long does Shrimp and Cucumber Salad take to make?

About 20 minutes in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 5 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.

What are the key tips for making Shrimp and Cucumber Salad?

Watch the shrimp rather than the clock; they are done when they curl into a loose C. If the cucumber is watery, scoop out the seeds with a teaspoon before slicing. Use frozen shrimp if fresh are hard to find; defrost them in the fridge before cooking.

What should I serve with Shrimp and Cucumber Salad?

Lettuce leaves; Lime wedges; A few crackers.

How should Shrimp and Cucumber Salad be stored?

Best straight away. Keeps in the fridge for up to 1 day without the avocado.

Is Shrimp and Cucumber Salad suitable for a special diet?

This recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, weight-loss friendly, low-carb, keto and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.

How many calories are in Shrimp and Cucumber Salad?

About 208 kcal per serving, with 24 g protein, 10 g carbohydrate and 8 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.

Shrimp and Cucumber Salad Nutrition Facts

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

208Calories
24gProtein
10gCarbs
8gFat
3gFibre
4gSugar
470mgSodium

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Written and tested by Turab

One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.