This is a wonderfully refreshing salad that walks the line between a shrimp cocktail and a ceviche. It’s also incredibly forgiving—so feel free to use as much (or little) of the ingredients as you like. Tangy and fresh, it is a great start to any meal.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 6
Ingredients
Preparation
Blanch the Shrimp
Step 1
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, prepare an ice bath by filling a bowl with ice and cold water.
Step 2
Add the shrimp to the boiling water and allow to cook for 1 minute. Remove the shrimp from the pot with a slotted spoon and immediately plunge into the ice bath. Allow the shrimp to cool thoroughly, then drain and place on paper towels to absorb some of the water. Transfer the shrimp to a bowl.
Prepare the Vegetables
Step 3
Add the tomatoes, red pepper, onion, cilantro, jalapeño, and avocado to the shrimp. Season with salt and pepper and toss lightly.
Prepare the Dressing
Step 4
Finely grate the zest of 3 of the limes and juice 6 limes. Combine the zest and juice in a small bowl. Mix in the horseradish, ketchup, and olive oil. Pour this dressing over the shrimp salad and toss well. Check seasoning and adjust if necessary.
Garnish and Serve
Step 5
Slice the remaining lime into wedges. Transfer the salad to a serving platter and garnish with sprigs of cilantro and lime wedges. Sprinkle corn nuts over the salad for added crunch.
Cooking Notes
Step 6
TECHNIQUES
Step 7
Preparing Citrus Fruit Zest
Step 8
The zest of citrus fruit is the outermost layer of the fruit’s skin. It adds an incredible burst of flavor and color to recipes. Use a box grater, rasp, or citrus zester to remove the skin. Make sure to only remove the colored part of the peel; the white pith is a bit bitter.
Step 9
Butterflying Shrimp
Step 10
A butterflied shrimp is a shrimp that has been sliced lengthwise. In some cases, one side of the shrimp is kept attached, but other times it is sliced all the way through. For this recipe, the shrimp will be sliced in half all the way through.
Step 11
Peel and devein the shrimp. Place a shrimp on your cutting board and hold your knife blade along the indentation found along the back of the shrimp (the site of the deveining). Slice the shrimp in half lengthwise using the indentation as your guide.
Step 12
Preparing the shrimp in this manner before blanching will give the shrimp a nice shape after they have been cooked. It will also allow them to cook and cool quickly, thereby preventing them from becoming rubbery.
Step 13
ADVANCE PREPARATION
Step 14
This salad can be prepared several hours ahead of time, which will allow the flavors to blend well. If you are preparing the salad in advance, add the salt and cilantro right before serving. Marinating the salad with the salt will toughen the shrimp and cause the vegetables to go limp. Adding the cilantro at the end will ensure that it keeps its texture and will not become too soggy.
