Spicy Crispy Shrimp Salad (Printable)

A fresh salad topped with crispy shrimp, creamy avocado, and a tangy sriracha-lime drizzle.

# What You'll Need:

→ Crispy Shrimp

01 - 1.1 lb (500 g) medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - ½ cup (60 g) all-purpose flour
03 - 2 large eggs, beaten
04 - 1 cup (100 g) 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 (200 g) 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

# How to Make It:

01 - Pat shrimp dry using paper towels. Arrange three shallow bowls containing flour, beaten eggs, and panko mixed with smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper respectively.
02 - Dredge each shrimp sequentially in flour, dip into eggs, and coat thoroughly with the seasoned panko mixture.
03 - Heat vegetable oil to approximately 175°C (350°F) about ¾ inch deep in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry shrimp in batches for 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lime juice, sriracha sauce, honey, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth and homogenous.
05 - Combine chopped romaine lettuce, sliced avocado, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and cucumber in a serving bowl or individual plates. Arrange crispy shrimp on top.
06 - Drizzle sriracha-lime dressing evenly over the salad and garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley. Serve immediately while shrimp are warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The temperature contrast alone is worth it—hot, spiced, crunchy shrimp against cool creamy avocado changes everything about how salad tastes
  • That sriracha dressing hits all the notes at once: creamy, tangy, sweet, and just spicy enough to make you reach for your water glass
  • It comes together in thirty minutes but looks like something from a restaurant menu, making it perfect for impromptu dinner guests
02 -
  • Crowding the pan drops the oil temperature dramatically and makes the shrimp soggy instead of crispy, so work in batches and give each piece space
  • Letting fried shrimp rest on paper towels for at least two minutes helps excess oil absorb without losing crunch
03 -
  • Keep a small bowl of water nearby to dip your fingers in when breading shrimp—it prevents the coating from clumping on your hands and makes the process much faster
  • Test your oil temperature by dropping in a single breadcrumb: it should sizzle immediately and rise to the surface, which means the oil is ready for the shrimp
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