Description
This Easy Cucumber Shrimp Salad is a refreshing and flavor-packed weeknight dinner option. Featuring tender, lightly cooked shrimp combined with crisp cucumbers, sweet bell pepper, and a zesty lemon-olive oil dressing, this salad is quick to prepare, nutritious, and perfect served chilled for a light yet satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp
- 1 pound Medium-sized shrimp, peeled and deveined
Vegetables & Herbs
- 2 medium Cucumbers, sliced (Preferably English cucumbers)
- 1 small Red onion, finely chopped
- 1 small Bell pepper, diced (Red or yellow for sweetness)
- 1/4 cup Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium Lemon, juiced
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, freshly ground, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Shrimp: In a medium-sized pot, bring water to a gentle boil. Add a pinch of salt and carefully drop in the shrimp. Cook for 2-3 minutes until they turn pink and become opaque. Remove shrimp from boiling water and cool immediately in ice water to stop the cooking process.
- Prepare Cucumbers: Slice the cucumbers in half lengthwise, then cut into thin half-moon shapes. Place the sliced cucumbers into a large mixing bowl.
- Add Red Onion: Finely chop the red onion and add it to the bowl containing the cucumbers.
- Add Bell Pepper: Dice the bell pepper into small pieces and mix it into the bowl with the cucumbers and onions.
- Chop Herbs: Chop the fresh parsley or cilantro and add it to the vegetable mixture in the bowl.
- Make Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until well combined.
- Add Shrimp: Drain the cooled shrimp and add them to the large mixing bowl with the vegetables and herbs.
- Combine Salad: Drizzle the prepared dressing over the shrimp and vegetable mixture. Gently fold everything together to ensure the dressing coats all ingredients evenly.
- Let Flavors Meld: Let the salad sit for 10-15 minutes at room temperature or chilled to allow flavors to meld beautifully.
- Serve: Serve the salad chilled, optionally garnished with extra herbs or lemon wedges for an added pop of freshness.
Notes
- For extra crunch, consider adding chopped celery or radishes.
- Use fresh shrimp when possible for best texture and flavor.
- You can substitute lemon juice with lime juice for a different citrus note.
- To make it spicier, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or diced jalapeño.
- This salad is best served within a day for maximum freshness.
