Citrus & Sesame Shrimp Salad

I am always trying to create new recipes that have minimal or no-cook time and come together in under 30 minutes. Which is why I love this cold shrimp salad!

The idea came from a sesame-ginger dressing I bought at the store. It tasted great but was loaded with sugar. I created my own version with orange juice and an extra kick of ginger.

If you want a thicker, spicier dressing, try this spicy cashew dressing or my favorite Japanese carrot ginger dressing.

🧾Ingredient Notes

• Shrimp- I typically use frozen deveined pre-cooked shrimp that just need to be thawed out. But if your shrimp is uncooked, simply salt and pepper the thawed shrimp and cook with some oil in a frying pan until opaque. You can substitute crab, chicken, or even fried tofu.
• Red Cabbage- You can use any type of cabbage, but we love the bright color red cabbage brings to the shrimp salad.
• Sugar Snap Peas- Using these uncooked may be new to some people, but they are crunchy and delicious. You can substitute frozen peas or snow peas if you live.
• Carrots & Bell Peppers- Any color will do. Not much to report here. Not sure which cut to use? This how to cut carrots tutorial will break it down.
• Cilantro- You either love it or think it takes like soap. If you are in the soap category, substitute Thai basil, regular basil or parsley. Maybe even a little mint if you are feeling crazy.
• Oranges- I prefer blood oranges, so that is what I use. But any variety will due, even canned mandarin oranges.
• Scallions- I prefer scallions on this dish. But red onion works as well. You can cut the scallions in a variety of ways to make them extra pretty.
• Orange Juice- Fresh squeezed or from a bottle, just make sure it has no added sugar. Out of OJ? Check out our list of the best substitutes for orange juice in cooking.
• Rice Wine Vinegar- This is an ingredient you either always have or never buy. Try red wine vinegar or cider vinegar if that is what you have on hand.
• Sesame Oil & Sesame Seeds- Good quality, and watch the expiration date. Sesame oil has a tendency to turn rancid if not stored properly. For the seeds, you can use white, black, or a mix.
• Tamari- AKA gluten-free soy sauce. Soy sauce is typically made of more wheat than soy! If you aren't concerned about gluten then use your preferred soy sauce.

👩🏻‍🍳 Tips for Making Asian Shrimp Salad

1. Different brands of soy sauce/ tamari vary widely in the amount of sodium. I typically don't need to salt this dressing.
2. Don't dress the salad greens with the dressing. The citrus breaks down the lettuce very quickly, making for a very soggy salad by the end.
3. Skip the EVOO, and don't substitute it for the sesame oil. It just isn't the same.
4. If you want to meal prep the salad, keep the dressing separate until you are ready to eat. I love these little sauce cups for transporting salad dressing to work.
5. The sesame dressing will keep for a week in the fridge.
6. Make it spicy by adding crushed red pepper to the sesame dressing.