Make the most of your summer evenings by preparing a quick & easy recipe that’s loaded with classic summer flavors. With southern, pan-fried shrimp and the freshest vegetables, this four-step meal is a patio season favorite of ours.
Now that we are rolling smoothly in to the month of August, the end of summer seems to be just on the horizon. Elif Alverson from Elif’s Kitchen is determined to celebrate the season by enjoying fresh & flavorful meals that can be whipped up in a snap. Elif’s latest recipe is perfect for people like us who want to spend all our summer evenings out on the patio with family. Featuring fresh Pure Flavor® Juno Bites Red Grape Tomatoes and Mini Cucumbers, her Shrimp Salad Platter is filled with summer flavor and is super easy to prepare, leaving you more time to enjoy the sunshine!
This Cajun-inspired dish features seasoned, pan-fried shrimp, a citrus dressing and juicy, crunchy vegetables that combine to overload your taste buds with the unmistakable flavor of summer.
Juicy and sweet Juno Bites Red Grape Tomatoes complement the rich, warm flavors of Elif’s chosen spices like smoked paprika and garlic powder. These bite-sized tomatoes are bursting with so much flavor that you will want to make sure you have some extra handy for snacking in the kitchen or on your patio!
The herbs that garnish the platter, like parsley, mint and cilantro, pair perfectly with sliced Mini Cucumbers, which always add a crisp and refreshing flavor to any recipe. Mix it all together and you have a lush, savory salad you can share with your family on a warm summer evening.
Shrimp Salad Platter
There’s something about seafood and a fresh salad that make summer nights on the patio so enjoyable. The peppery spices, zesty lemon dressing, and fresh tomatoes & cucumbers are what make this light, southern seafood salad stand out among from the rest. It’s a recipe fit for the season that your family will beg you to make time and time again!
Elif has made this mouth-watering recipe so quick and easy to put together that you’ll be tempted to make it every single night of the week. There’s only four steps and it takes roughly twenty minutes to make. Plus, it’s served all in one platter, so there’s very little to clean up afterwards.
First, mix together all the spices for your Cajun inspired shrimp rub: black pepper, salt, garlic powder, and, of course, smoked paprika. By coating your shrimp and then letting them sit for 3 minutes to soak up all that amazing smoky flavor, you’re really going to take this dish to the next level. It doesn’t matter what shrimp you use – regular or jumbo, tails on or off, it’s totally up to you. The rub is really what matters the most here: this dish is simply not the same without it – trust us!
While the shrimp is absorbing all that savory spice, it’s time to prep the dressing that will tie it all together. Combine lemon juice, salt, pepper and olive oil in a bowl and set aside. Just like the dry rub, there are only a few simple ingredients that, when combined, elevate the flavor of the whole meal.
With the shrimp seasoning and salad dressing ready to go, you can start to see how all these ingredients will come together. Savory, smoky and a hint of citrus: sounds like the perfect summer night, right? It’s time to #flavorUP!
Heat up some olive oil in a skillet and then add your shrimp. While they’re sizzling, take a moment to enjoy the smoky aromas. This is what summer is all about and you don’t want to miss out. Once the shrimp have cooked through and are glowing red from that delicious rub that’s been caramelized, you can set them aside to cool for 5-6 more minutes. This will give you time to slice and dice your favourite veggies just in time for serving.
The tasty trio of fresh Pure Flavor®Juno Bites Grape Tomatoes, Pure Flavor® Mini Cucumbers and creamy avocado brighten up this dish’s color and flavor. Arrange these all onto a platter with pickled onions, sweet corn and shrimp, then garnish with fresh herbs and drizzle with the dressing you made earlier. This dish is now ready to be brought outside and served to your eager (and hungry!) family.
This salad is fantastic on its own, but it pairs perfectly with some of our other summer favorites. Begin your afternoon by the pool with Salsa with Cherry Tomatoes-on-the-Vine. While you’re out soaking up the sun, make a big batch of these Cucumber Melon Slushies for the whole family to sip on and stay hydrated. Then, after dinner, enjoy a healthy dessert the kids will love like Cucumber Mango Skewers or a Cucumber Mint Sorbet, an elegant ice cream alternative.
To view, download or print the full recipe for dinner tonight, click here.
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