Shrimp Salad
Updated July 21, 2025
- Total Time
- 15 minutes, plus 2 hours’ optional chilling
- Prep Time
- 10 minutes
- Cook Time
- 5 minutes, plus 2 hours’ optional chilling
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
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Ingredients
- 1large lemon
- 1tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon all-purpose seasoning, such as Old Bay or Cajun seasoning, divided
- 1pound large peeled and deveined shrimp
- ⅔cup mayonnaise
- ½cup finely chopped shallots
- ½cup finely chopped celery
- 1heaping teaspoon chopped dill
- ½teaspoon black pepper
- Salad greens, crackers or a combination, for serving
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)
262 calories; 20 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 5 grams monounsaturated fat; 12 grams polyunsaturated fat; 5 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 2 grams sugars; 16 grams protein; 248 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Preparation
- Step 1
Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil. In a separate large bowl, make an ice bath. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice into a small bowl, reserving the squeezed-out lemon halves. (You should have about 3 tablespoons juice.)
- Step 2
To the pot of boiling water, stir in the squeezed-out lemon halves, 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice and 1 tablespoon all-purpose seasoning, and stir to combine. Turn off the heat and add the shrimp to the pot. Let the shrimp cook for 4 to 6 minutes, until they turn opaque and curl slightly.
- Step 3
Using a slotted spoon or spider, transfer shrimp from the pot to the ice bath. Once the shrimp are cool enough to handle, pat dry with paper towels. Roughly chop and set aside.
- Step 4
In a medium bowl, stir together mayonnaise, shallots, celery, dill, remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice, remaining 1 teaspoon all-purpose seasoning and the black pepper. Add shrimp and mix until well coated; taste for seasonings. Enjoy right away or refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or up to 3 days). Serve with salad greens, crackers or both.
Private Notes
Comments
The CIA-trained chefs at Simply Good in Birmingham, Michigan taught us to cool poached shrimp in their poaching liquid — why wash away all the flavor in ice water? I transfer the shrimp and some of the liquid into a stainless steel bowl set in a larger bowl of ice and water. Cools quickly!
Unless you’re absolutely sure it’s fresh, you’re better off buying shrimp frozen. Most “fresh” shrimp has already been frozen and thawed, which increases the risk of spoilage or off flavors. Keep a bag in your freezer and thaw it in water when you’re ready to cook- it takes less than 10 minutes.
I made this almost as described - I 1.) kept shrimps whole, 2.) used dried dill instead of fresh 3.) subbed shallots w onions. i found i was left with a lot of sauce - so you can definitely add white beans, cucumbers, much more of your celery and shallots. that said - flavors are very pleasant and it has a nice zing that’s characteristic of a good shrimp sal
Delicious! Added an extra southern touch, 1 teaspoon Dukee's Famous Sauce. Will make often
Alterations: mix the following together before adding it to the shrimp & veggies - Mayo, Old Bay, black pepper, lemon, dill and Aleppo pepper. I added extra lemon, dill and 1/4 tsp Aleppo pepper (for a little kick). I subbed radishes for celery, red onion for shallots and added 1/2 of a cucumber. This is a good recipe to fool around with added various different and varied ingredients.
Marguerite, a true southern seafood chef shared the same process you suggested: add ice to some of cooking liquid for rapid cooling...quickly stopping the cooking process of the shrimp. Excellent suggestion, followed by #1 advice: do not overcook shrimp.