Shrimp and Avocado Salad

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Team up these summer tastes for a refreshing lunch or light dinner.



Whether with local, fresh caught shrimp or store-bought, this salad is a must for summer.

Fine dining doesn't necessarily involve rocket science. Some recipes have more to do with quality ingredients than fancy techniques, and this cool, refreshing shrimp and avocado salad is a perfect example. All you really need to be able to do is boil shrimp and perform some basic cutting and stirring.

I'm often surprised by the number of questions I receive regarding problems with boiled foods like rice, grits, pasta and shrimp. Rice and grits involve the proper ratio of water to grain. And pasta involves the time-tested technique of pulling a strand from the boiling water and tossing it onto the fridge door to see if it sticks. Shrimp can be trickier, but my method seems to work well, especially if the shrimp are medium in size. First, bring a very big pot of water to a boil. Don't add salt and only add some Old Bay seasoning if you're doing a peel-and-eat affair—not for this recipe. Add your cold shrimp, and then let the water come back to a boil. Drain the shrimp into a colander or strainer and immediately cover with ice to chill. That's it. They're done and ready to eat.

In recent years, avocados have become easier to find throughout the year. Of course, in cooler months there's no short supply of those bright green and tasty “alligator pears” from the southern part of our state. The rest of the year the smaller, dark-skinned Haas avocados from California or Mexico will just have to do. The Haas variety is usually just as flavorful, but often requires ripening in a paper bag (along with a banana, if you've got one) for a day or so after purchase at your local supermarket. Look for the Florida “pears” at roadside stands, where they're more likely to be ripe, ready to eat and local.

There's a fairly long list of ingredients for this recipe, but don't be dismayed. You don't need much more than a whisk to pull this one off, and the individual flavors of mustard, chili sauce, garlic and Tabasco

all stand out with each bite, not overwhelming the avocado chunks and the shrimp themselves. And it's the shrimp that make the dish the highlight of many a summer lunch or dinner. But what about using Florida lobster? I've got lobster rolls on my mind! FS

Shrimp & Avocado Salad

A few of the recipe's simple ingredients.

6 tbsp. olive oil

4 tbsp. white wine vinegar

2 tsp. Dijon mustard

2 pounds medium shrimp (peeled, deveined and boiled)

1 cup mayonnaise

4 tbsp. chili sauce

2 large garlic cloves, crushed

1 tsp. Tabasco sauce

2 large Florida avocados (or 5 or 6 Haas avocados)

4 tbsp. fresh dill, minced

4 tbsp. chives, minced

Salt and freshly-ground pepper, to taste

Lemon juice

Whisk the oil, vinegar and mustard. Add mix to shrimp, toss thoroughly and allow to marinate in refrigerator for two hours. Meanwhile, whisk mayonnaise, chili sauce, garlic, Tabasco, dill, chives, salt and pepper until smooth. Set aside. Peel, seed and cube the avocados and sprinkle with lemon juice to prevent discoloration. When shrimp has marinated, drain, gently fold in avocado cubes and the mayonnaise mixture. Garnish with dill sprigs and lemon wedges; serve with a dry white wine and crusty bread. Feeds eight at a debutante ball or four hungry fishermen.