Cilantro Lime Shrimp Salad

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Cilantro lime shrimp is a flavorful combination of shrimp, lime juice and garlic.
cilantro lime shrimp with a lime slice on a plate

Cilantro lime shrimp salad combines the flavors of succulent shrimp with fresh lime juice, garlic, olive oil and cilantro tossed with your favorite greens. It’s a delicious medley of flavors that captures the essence of summer.

cilantro lime shrimp on top of baby arugula on a plate

Whether served as a side dish, appetizer or main course, this tasty chilled shrimp salad will surely be a hit. Each bite offers a balance of textures and flavors.

This salad has its own simple dressing for the shrimp, and you can make additional cilantro lime dressing to serve on top of the salad greens.

🤍Why you will love this recipe

  • It’s a refreshing, healthy salad perfect for hot summer days.
  • Cilantro lime shrimp salad is versatile; customize the salad to your taste. See the recipe variations below
cilantro lime shrimp ingredients photo

Here is what you will need

This is an overview of the ingredients and steps to make this recipe; scroll down for a printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions.

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🛒Ingredients

  • Shrimp
  • Fresh Lime Juice
  • Fresh Lemon Juice
  • Garlic
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Fresh Packed Cilantro
  • Salad greens such as baby greens, arugula, field greens, romaine lettuce

🥄Equipment

  • Large Bowl
  • Small bowl or jar
  • Chef’s Knife
  • Medium Saucepan
cilantro lime shrimp on a plate with a fork

How to make cilantro lime shrimp salad

Prepare the ingredients: Peel and clean the shrimp. Squeeze the lemon and lime juice, chop the garlic and cilantro.

shrimp cooking in a pan

STEP 1: Fill a medium-sized saucepan with water until it’s one-quarter full. Cover the pan and heat it over medium-high heat until the water boils. Then, add the raw shrimp to the pan, cover it again, and turn off the heat. Let the shrimp cook in the hot water for 10-15 minutes.

STEP 2: Whisk together the chopped garlic, lemon juice, lime juice and olive oil in a small bowl.

cilantro lime shrimp salad dressing being mixed in a bowl
shrimp in a collander

STEP 3: After thoroughly cooking the shrimp, drain and rinse it with cold water.

STEP 4: lace the cooled shrimp in a big bowl. Add the dressing and chopped cilantro and mix it all together. Toss with greens or enjoy as it is!

shrimp salad mixed in a bowl

cilantro lime shrimp close up overhead view

Ingredient notes and substitutions

Shrimp – The best type of shrimp to use in this easy shrimp recipe is larger shrimp such as extra-large shrimp or jumbo shrimp. They tend to be more tender than smaller shrimp.

Olive oil – Since this is a fresh salad, I like to use extra-virgin olive oil for its delicate flavor. If it’s not available, regular olive oil or avocado oil can be substituted.

Cilantro – Not everyone enjoys the unique taste of cilantro. Fortunately, if you’re not a fan, you can substitute it with the same amount of parsley.

Garlic – Even though fresh garlic is best, you can substitute it with garlic powder. Use one quarter teaspoon per clove of garlic

How to store leftovers

Leftover cilantro lime shrimp salad can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to three days.

How to make cilantro lime shrimp ahead of time

This is an easy recipe to make ahead of time. Simply prepare the recipe in the recipe card. Store it in the refrigerator for up to a day. Toss it with greens just before serving.

Recipe variations

  • Grilled cilantro lime shrimp salad – instead of steaming the shrimp, marinate them in lime juice, olive oil, and cilantro garlic then grill the shrimp until they are cooked through. Toss them in the dressing and salad greens.
  • Use all lemon juice and chopped parsley or a combination of chopped parsley and cilantro with lemon juice.
  • Spicy – chop a jalapeno pepper, chili powder or add red pepper flakes to the dressing
  • Add any combination of more veggies to the salad such as red onion, black beans, sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers. Sprinkle crushed tortilla chips or tortilla strips on top of the salad.

Serving suggestions

Serve this tender shrimp salad with a side of pasta salad or potato salad. These tasty shrimp also make a great addition to a charcuterie board or your favorite salad recipes.

Are you too tired to cook dinner?

If you’re feeling uninspired when it’s time to cook dinner, this free guide will help you make a quick and healthy dinner with ingredients you have in your kitchen.

💡Tips for making the best cilantro lime shrimp salad

  • Be sure to use the freshest ingredients such as fresh shrimp instead of frozen.
  • Let the flavors meld: allow for the salad to sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving it.
  • Taste and adjust the dressing to achieve the right balance of flavors. The lime juice should be bright while the cilantro and garlic should not overpower the salad.
Should I use fresh cilantro or can I use dried cilantro?

Since this salad is made with fresh ingredients, I highly recommend using fresh cilantro. Dried cilantro will not have the same fresh flavor.

What is the best way to chop fresh cilantro?

Place the cilantro on a cutting board and pinch the stems together; use a sharp knife to chop the stems off. Then fold the bunch in half and use a rocking motion with the knife to chop the cilantro.

cilantro lime shrimp with a lime slice on a plate

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cilantro lime shrimp with a lime slice on a plate

Cilantro Lime Shrimp

Cilantro lime shrimp is a flavorful combination of shrimp, lime juice and garlic.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chilling time (optional): 30 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Click on serving size to scale this recipe

Course: Salads and Salad Dressing Recipes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cilantro Lime Shrimp Salad
Servings: 2
Calories: 454kcal
Author: Anne

Equipment

Scale this Recipe 2

Ingredients

  • 1 pound shrimp cleaned and deveined
  • 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice about 2 limes
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 to 4 cloves of crushed garlic to taste
  • 1/2 cup fresh packed cilantro chopped

Instructions

  • Prepare the ingredients:  Peel and clean the shrimp. Squeeze the lemon and lime juice, chop the garlic and cilantro.
  • Fill a medium sized saucepan with water until it's one quarter full. Cover the pan and heat it over medium-high heat until the water boils. Add the shrimp to the pan, cover it again and turn off the heat. Let the shrimp cook in the hot water for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • While the shrimp is cooking, whisk together the chopped garlic, lemon juice, lime juice and olive oil in a small bowl.
  • Once the shrimp are cooked, drain and rinse them with cold water and pat dry.
  • Place the cooked shrimp into a mixing bowl and pour the dressing and cilantro over the top and mix everything together. Serve over a bed of greens or as is at room temperature or chilled.

Notes

Serve chilled or at room temperature plain or tossed with salad greens.
Leftovers will last for up to 3 days in the refrigerator
 
Shrimp is s perfectly cooked once the outside turns pink and the flesh turns translucent.  Shrimp cooks quickly, you can avoid over-cooking the shrimp by turning off the heat once the shrimp are added to the boiling water.  Wait a few minutes until they turn pink and feel tender, then rinse in cold water to stop the cooking.
Change it up. Use all lemon juice and chopped parsley or a combination of chopped parsley and cilantro with lemon juice.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5 pound | Calories: 454kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 21g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 365mg | Sodium: 274mg | Potassium: 667mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 282IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 160mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used

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2 Comments

  1. Was looking for a quick shrimp recipe with lime and cilantro. I usually marinate and grill but I loved the simplicity of this and the fact that it was served cold. Great flavor combination. Thank you