How to make The. Best. Royal Red Shrimp Salad ever!

Royal Red Shrimp Salad

Idk about you but I like when my shrimp is chilled, sweet, and has the perfect snap. No soggy shrimp for this woman.

But especially when I’m making a Royal Red Shrimp Salad.

Or any shrimp salad for that matter.

And if you’re like me, then I suggest there are two ways to guarantee you will have snappy sweet shrimp for your salads too.

  1. Know how to cook shrimp.
  2. Know where to buy shrimp.

How to Steam Shrimp (part one)

Cook’s notes: Use the 8-step method below with any peeled and deveined shrimp. Cooking times will vary depending on the size and amount of shrimp you buy. But once you realize it’s only a matter of one, setting your kitchen timer (the timer on your phone works too, just sayin) and two, eyeballing those babies, you’ll be a shrimp cooking master before you know it.

For instance. You do not want your final cooked shrimp all curled up in a tiny ball. You do want the shrimp to maintain a nice sexy curved shape. Yes, I said sexy shrimp. *tosses head back and laughs* Oh, the shrimp should not be transparent either.

Okay, those are you visual clues.

How to Steam Shrimp (part two)

  1. Add ice to a large bowl. About halfway. Fill with cold water.
  2. Add an inch of water to a large pot.
  3. Add a splash of white vinegar.
  4. Place a small steamer basket inside the pot.
  5. Bring the water to a boil over high heat.
  6. Place peeled and deveined shrimp on the basket and cover with a vented lid.
  7. Steam for three minutes. Set your kitchen timer! As soon as the timer beeps, check the shrimp (remember those visual clues?) and then plunge the cooked shrimp into the ice water in the bowl. Stir the shrimp into the ice bath so the shrimp is submerged and mingling with the ice. Let the shrimp rest for about five minutes or until the shrimp is firm and cold to the touch. This will stop the cooking process.
  8. Now. Drain the shrimp, and if you aren’t going to use it right away, you awesome meal planner you, cover and place the shrimp in the refrigerator until you are ready to make the salad.

If you are ready to whip up your lunch or dinner, read on for a no-fuss easy-peasy recipe.

Royal Red Shrimp Salad

Add the cooked, chilled, drained shrimp in a large bowl. Add a little mayo (think three tablespoons to one pound of shrimp—more or less for your taste) and a quarter cup of chopped celery (think two celery hearts). Sprinkle dried tarragon over the top of the shrimp salad and stir. Add kosher salt and ground black pepper to season. Taste and adjust. Add a squirt of lemon juice to the salad just before serving. Or zest some lemon over the top. Careful no pith, please!

Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Buy Wild American Shrimp