Spicy Crispy Shrimp Salad (Printer-friendly)

Golden crispy shrimp atop lettuce, avocado, and cherry tomatoes with a tangy sriracha-lime drizzle.

# What You Need:

→ Crispy Shrimp

01 - 1.1 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - ½ cup all-purpose flour
03 - 2 large eggs, beaten
04 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
05 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
08 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
09 - ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
10 - Vegetable oil, for frying

→ Salad

11 - 1 large head romaine lettuce, washed and chopped
12 - 1 ripe avocado, sliced
13 - 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
14 - ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
15 - ½ cucumber, sliced
16 - Fresh cilantro or parsley, for garnish

→ Sriracha-Lime Dressing

17 - 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
18 - 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
19 - 2 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 lime)
20 - 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce
21 - 1 teaspoon honey
22 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
23 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# Steps:

01 - Pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Arrange three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with panko combined with smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
02 - Dredge each shrimp in flour, then dip into beaten eggs, and finally coat evenly with the seasoned panko mixture.
03 - Heat vegetable oil to ¾ inch depth in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry shrimp in batches for 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
04 - Whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lime juice, sriracha sauce, honey, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
05 - Arrange lettuce, avocado slices, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and cucumber in a large bowl or on individual plates. Top with crispy shrimp.
06 - Drizzle salad with sriracha-lime dressing. Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley and serve immediately.

# Top Tips:

01 -
  • The shrimp stays impossibly crispy while the sriracha-lime dressing keeps everything fresh and exciting.
  • You can have it on the table in 30 minutes, yet it feels like you've spent way more time on it.
  • It works as a light dinner or a fancy lunch, and honestly tastes even better when you make extra shrimp just to snack on.
02 -
  • The moment the shrimp hits the dressing, it starts to soften—serve immediately rather than tossing everything together and letting it sit.
  • Cold avocado against warm shrimp is actually the magic; don't be tempted to warm anything, and add the avocado last to prevent browning.
  • Homemade dressing tastes infinitely better than bottled, and this one comes together in two minutes flat.
03 -
  • Make the dressing ahead and keep it in the fridge; it actually tastes better the next day as the flavors meld together.
  • If you're cooking for a crowd, fry all the shrimp, let them cool slightly, and then warm them in a 180°C oven for a few minutes before serving so they stay crispy without being piping hot, which allows you to assemble all the salads at once.
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