Shrimp, Avocado and Pink Grapefruit Salad
I’ve decided that I definitely needed to incorporate way more salads into my regular diet… but the thing is, in general, I find salads to be terribly boring.
I mean, there’s only so much you can do with raw vegetables, right?
Well, yes, and no.
I think salads CAN be interesting, but one needs to unleash their creativity and incorporate all sorts of fruits and veggies, as well as protein such as eggs, lean meats, nuts and / or cheese to them, in order for a salad to become worthy of being called a GREAT meal.
So from now on, I’ll try and come up with at least one fun salad recipe per week. I should be able to do that, shouldn’t I?
I mean, all I need to do is grab a couple of ingredients and mix them together. Like say, cooked shrimp, avocado and pink grapefruit, served on a bed of greens with a hint of mint…
It might sound like a strange combination, but trust me, it works!
And it works beautifully, too!
I think my favorite part about this particular salad, though, is this amazing discovery that I just made: Balsamic Vinegar Pearls. We are lucky enough to have that product available in stores here, but from what little information I’ve been able to find online, it doesn’t seem to be that easy to find elsewhere…
However, it looks pretty easy to make at home. I’ll definitely have to give this a try. I mean, it looks easy AND fun, and the end result is just so yummy. I mean, I could literally eat that stuff by the spoonful.
It’s that good!
And it’s so beautiful to look at, it looks almost like caviar.
I can only imagine the possibilities. I think I’m hooked.
Addicted.
Infatuated? Maybe. 😉
It certainly is one of my favorite food discoveries of the year (I know, I know, the year is still SO very young…)
Still, I was very excited to share that one with you.
But hey, you can very well make that salad without the pearls, you know. Trust me, they are totally optional.
But if you ever come across them, by all means, grab ’em!
SHRIMP, AVOCADO AND PINK GRAPEFRUIT SALAD
INGREDIENTS
(Serves 2)
Salad
- 2 pink grapefruits, supremed (keep the juice)
- 26-30 tail on cooked shrimp
- 1 avocado, diced
- 15-20 snow peas, julienned
- Handful mint leaves, coarsley chopped
- 2 cups mesclun (spring mix)
- 2 cups baby spinach leaves
Dressing
- Juice from your grapefruit
- 1 tsp ginger, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 10 mint leaves, chopped
- 1 tsp unpasteurized honey
- ½ tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/8 tsp guar gum
- Working over a bowl so that you don’t let any of the juice go to waste, arrange your pink grapefruits into supremes. Once all the supremes are out, squeeze all the remaining juice out of what’s left of your grapefruits.
- Transfer that juice to your mini blender or food processor. Add the rest of the ingredients for the dressing and blend until smooth.
- Arrange mesclun / baby spinach and chopped mint leaves at the bottom of 2 serving plates. Arrange half the shrimp, avocado, snow peas and grapefruit supremes over each bed of greens.
- Garnish with Balsamic Vinegar Pearls, if you have.
- Pour dressing overtop the salad when you are ready to eat.
23 Comments on “Shrimp, Avocado and Pink Grapefruit Salad”
Sonia this salad looks so delicious and refreshing! I’m with you on finding salad boring so always looking for something new and exciting! I’m intrigued by those balsamic pearls and determined to find some! I hope you make them and post it–I’d love to know how!
I will definitely have to try and make those pearls at home. I only need get my hands on some agar agar. Looks way too cool to pass. Plus, they are super yummy and so expensive to buy, when I’m pretty sure that making them at home only costs a fraction of the price. I’ll definitely post a recipe, and perhaps even a video, who knows?, when I make them! 😉
Oooh a video! Goody!
Salads are not boring! I love salads but yes you’ve got to go a little beyond salad, tomatoes and cucumber to make it a good meal. Looking forward to your fun salads every week then. Those pearls sound quite interesting. I’ve never heard about them but I can see how they wld be delicious!
We’re on the same page, Simone. Salad, tomatoes and cucumber is good, when you have no inspiration or when you’re in the mood for that good ole classic. But salads can be loads of fun when you start experimenting and combining all sorts of flavors and textures. I’ll have to let my imagination go wild! 😉
You can’t go wrong with creamy avocado in a salad — this looks healthy, light and beautiful. I LOVE those colors, it looks like spring on a plate!
Those balsamic vinegar pearls sound fantastic and super fun! I’ll have to keep an eye out for them OR if you come up with a recipe, that would be even better : )
Whoa! Just checked out this out and it looks SO easy! I must give these a try 🙂 thanks so much for passing along Sonia, the creative wheels are turning!
They do look so cool and easy to make at home, don’t they? I’ll definitely have to give that a try. I mean, they are readily available at the store here, but they are quite pricey. And since I really DO tend to eat the stuff by the spoonful, guess it would be worth my while to make it at home…
Make sure to let me know how it went if you try it before I do! 🙂
I came across your blog from food gawker. Your salad looks amazing, I just posted a citrus avocado salad to day with citrus vinaigrette dressing. I never get tired of salads, just have to keep them creative.
I’m co-hosting a bloghop, for the month of January feel free to link up any citrus recipes from this month on my site 🙂
Thanks! Your salad looks pretty yummy too! And thanks for the invite, I have added my salad to your bloghop! 🙂
sounds great!
Oh my, what a delightfully healthy salad! Thanks for sharing this. Glad to do citrus-love with you!
Thank you very much Elizabeth. Glad you like! 🙂
Beautiful recipe.So simple yet so refreshing.Thanks for sharing :)Happy Citruslove !
Balsamic vinegar pearls? Oh my! Where have they been all my life! Great #citruslove addition!
Balsamic vinegar pearls…wow, I need to find those! Beautiful presentation, healthy and delicious!
Thank you much Linda! Definitely get the pearls if you can get your hands on them. They are AMAZING!
I love shrimp! Your salad looks delicious.
Wow, I have never heard of balsamic vinegar pearls, they are gorgeous on your salad! Love the flavor combination, unique and delicious:-) Take care, Terra
Thank you very much Terra. If you can find the pearls, definitely get them. They are quite the experience! 😉