Shrimp Salad

Succulent shrimp combine with a creamy, herb-y, lemon-y dressing for an unforgettable Southern specialty: shrimp salad.

A classic shrimp salad is fresh and juicy with a creamy, light dressing that balances the shrimp's delicate sweetness, not overpowers it. Here, we brighten it up with a bit of lemon zest and lemon juice, and it's served on lettuce leaves, but we also offer some of our other favorite ways to eat Southern shrimp salad.

Why Do Southerners Love Shrimp Salad?

To Southerners, a great shrimp salad recipe is as important as cornbread or gravy. That's because there's very rarely a time when a perfectly-made shrimp salad can't be deployed. Last-minute lunch for you and a friend? Serve shrimp salad with a fresh salad or fruit salad. Hosting some neighbors for a game night? Bring out the shrimp salad and croissant or hot dog buns for a quick shrimp salad roll.

Of course, shrimp salad is also a quick way to instantly transport yourself back to the beach, where the fresh shrimp os plentiful and the sun's rays beat down on you while you scoop up succulent shrimp after succulent shrimp and rinse them down with a sudsy beer.

Ingredients for Shrimp Salad

Another great thing about Shrimp Salad is how easy it is to pull together with fairly basic ingredients. Beyond good-quality shrimp, most everything is either in your pantry or fridge:

• Shrimp: You want high-quality shrimp to start this recipe. If you live by the ocean, great! You know what to buy. If you're landlocked, make sure the shrimp is fresh and never frozen. If you aren't sure, buy frozen shrimp, and thaw it overnight in the fridge before you make the salad. Most frozen shrimp is flash-frozen right after coming out of the water.
• Mayonnaise: Because there's no salad in the South without mayo.
• Creole mustard: This condiment adds just a hint of tang and brightness without making the final dish sour or vinegary.
• Dill: Fresh dill adds a bit of citrusy, grass-like tang. You can use dried dill if that's all you have. Just scale it back as dried herbs are more potent.
• Lemon: You'll use the zest and juice of a lemon to brighten up the dressing. The zest is especially lovely because it provides a more round flavor versus the one-note juice.
• Celery: Add some crunch and contrast with bits of celery.
• Scallions: This rounds out the dish with freshness and a delicate onion bite.
• Bibb lettuce: We're wrapping this shrimp salad in lettuce wraps for a hand-held lunch or dinner, but we also offer ideas below for how to serve shrimp salad if the lettuce wrap isn't your thing.

How To Make Shrimp Salad

Making homemade shrimp salad is quite easy. Follow the detailed recipe at the bottom of the page. For now, here's a brief outline:

1. Cook the shrimp. You will boil shrimp just to done and then immediately drop it in an ice bath to stop the cooking and chill the shrimp. After the shrimp is fully cooled, remove it from the ice water, and pat dry each piece.
2. Make the dressing: Combine the mayonnaise, mustard, dill, lemon zest, lemon juice, pepper, and salt. Let it sit while the shrimp cooks and chills.
3. Dress shrimp: Combine shrimp, dressing, and celery, stirring to coat the shrimp.
4. Prepare to serve: Whether you're planning to eat it on lettuce cups or a croissant, scoop the shrimp salad, and top with a sprinkle of chives.

Ways To Serve Shrimp Salad

A light and refreshing way to serve shrimp salad is on lettuce leaves or atop a bed of lettuce for a classic salad. But if you you're looking for other ideas, consider these:

• in tortilla wraps
• between pieces of bread for a sandwich
• on a croissant
• on a slice of toast
• with crackers
• in a slider bun
• in a hot dog bun for a quick shrimp salad roll

How To Store Shrimp Salad

Shrimp salad is best immediately after it's made, but if you have leftovers, you can store it for another day. Keep these steps in mind:

• Be sure to put any leftover shrimp salad in the fridge within 2 hours of putting it out to serve so bad bacteria doesn't begin to grow.
• Store shrimp salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.

More Shrimp Recipes

Craving more ways to cook shrimp? Consider these ideas:

• Garlic Butter Shrimp
  
• Grilled Shrimp Tacos
• Bloody Mary Poached Shrimp
• Classic Shrimp And Grits

Additional reporting by Kimberly Holland.