Spicy Crispy Shrimp Salad (Print)

Golden crispy shrimp with fresh greens and avocado, dressed in a tangy sriracha-lime blend.

# Ingredients:

→ 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, 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 (about 1 lime)
20 - 1 tbsp sriracha sauce
21 - 1 tsp honey
22 - ½ tsp garlic powder
23 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# Instructions:

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 if using.
02 - Dredge each shrimp first in flour, then dip in egg, and finally coat evenly with the seasoned panko mixture.
03 - Heat vegetable oil to approximately ¾ inch depth 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 - Whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lime juice, sriracha sauce, honey, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until smooth.
05 - Combine chopped romaine lettuce, sliced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, red onion, and cucumber in a large bowl or individual plates. Top with crispy shrimp.
06 - Drizzle salad with the sriracha-lime dressing and finish with fresh cilantro or parsley. Serve immediately.

# Pro Tips:

01 -
  • The shrimp stays impossibly crispy while the creamy avocado and cool salad underneath keep it from feeling heavy.
  • That sriracha-lime dressing works like a flavor amplifier, turning simple ingredients into something restaurant-worthy in your own kitchen.
  • It comes together in about 30 minutes, which means dinner on the table without the stress.
02 -
  • Don't skip drying the shrimp—this single step is what separates crispy from soggy, and it took me three tries to learn this properly.
  • The oil needs to be hot enough that the shrimp develops that golden color immediately; if it's lukewarm, you'll end up with breading that absorbs oil instead of crisping.
  • Assemble the salad just before serving because the warm shrimp will soften the lettuce if it sits too long.
03 -
  • Make the dressing first so the flavors have time to come together while you're handling the shrimp—it tastes noticeably better after 10 minutes of sitting.
  • If your avocado isn't quite ripe, slice it a few hours before serving and keep it covered with plastic wrap pressed right against the surface to prevent browning.
  • Leftover crispy shrimp is best eaten within a few hours; after that, even the best pantry ingredients can't resurrect that perfect crunch.
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