Spicy Crispy Shrimp Salad (Printer-Friendly)

Golden crispy shrimp atop fresh greens, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and zesty sriracha-lime dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Crispy Shrimp

01 - 1.1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - ½ cup all-purpose flour
03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
05 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
06 - ½ tsp garlic powder
07 - ½ tsp salt
08 - ¼ tsp black pepper
09 - ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
10 - Vegetable oil, for frying

→ Salad

11 - 1 large head romaine lettuce, washed and chopped
12 - 1 ripe avocado, sliced
13 - 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
14 - ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
15 - ½ cucumber, sliced
16 - Fresh cilantro or parsley, for garnish

→ Sriracha-Lime Dressing

17 - 3 tbsp mayonnaise
18 - 2 tbsp Greek yogurt
19 - 2 tbsp lime juice (about 1 lime)
20 - 1 tbsp sriracha sauce
21 - 1 tsp honey
22 - ½ tsp garlic powder
23 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# Steps:

01 - Pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Arrange three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with panko combined with smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
02 - Dip each shrimp sequentially in flour, then egg, and finally coat evenly with the seasoned panko mixture.
03 - Heat vegetable oil to ¾ inch depth in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the shrimp in batches for 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
04 - Whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lime juice, sriracha, honey, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth and homogeneous.
05 - Arrange chopped lettuce, sliced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, red onion, and cucumber in a serving bowl or individual plates. Top with the crispy shrimp.
06 - Drizzle the sriracha-lime dressing over the salad, garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley, and serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The shrimp stays golden and crispy all the way through, not just on the outside.
  • It comes together in thirty minutes, making weeknight dinners feel effortless.
  • That sriracha-lime dressing is the kind of thing you'll want to drizzle on everything afterward.
02 -
  • Overcrowding your pan is the single biggest reason shrimp turns out soft instead of crispy—work in smaller batches even if it takes longer.
  • Room-temperature ingredients fry more evenly than cold ones straight from the fridge.
  • The dressing can sit in the fridge for a day, but assemble the salad only when you're about to eat it.
03 -
  • Keep a thermometer handy for the oil—365°F is your magic number for crispy shrimp that aren't greasy.
  • If you're making this for a crowd, bread all the shrimp ahead of time and fry them just before serving so everyone eats them warm and crispy.
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