Spicy Crispy Shrimp Salad (Print)

A vibrant mix of crispy shrimp, fresh greens, avocado, and a tangy sriracha-lime dressing.

# What You'll 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 (approximately 1 lime)
20 - 1 tbsp sriracha sauce
21 - 1 tsp honey
22 - ½ tsp garlic powder
23 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

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 - Dredge each shrimp in flour, dip into beaten eggs, then coat thoroughly with the seasoned panko mixture.
03 - Heat ¾ inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry 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.
05 - Layer chopped romaine lettuce, sliced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, and cucumber in a serving bowl or individual plates. Top with crispy shrimp.
06 - Drizzle the salad with the sriracha-lime dressing. Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The shrimp gets impossibly crispy on the outside while staying tender inside, thanks to the double-dredge trick that took me three tries to perfect.
  • That sriracha-lime dressing tastes like a restaurant secret but comes together in about two minutes with things already in your kitchen.
  • You can eat this warm or at room temperature, which means it's equally good as a packed lunch or a casual dinner.
02 -
  • Wet shrimp are the number one reason for soggy coating; I've learned this lesson multiple times and it never gets less important.
  • Panko breadcrumbs are not optional here—regular breadcrumbs will give you a dense, almost breaded chicken nugget texture instead of that delicate crispness you're chasing.
  • The dressing can be made up to a day ahead, which means you can fry the shrimp and assemble the salad in minutes when you're ready to eat.
03 -
  • Make the dressing the night before so the flavors have time to marry and get even better by the time you eat.
  • If your shrimp seem small or your appetite is bigger, the recipe doubles easily and still comes together in under forty minutes.
  • Toast your panko in a dry skillet for a minute before mixing it with the spices if you want even more crunch and a nutty flavor boost.
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