Spicy Crispy Shrimp Salad (Print-Friendly)

Golden crispy shrimp atop lettuce, avocado, and cherry tomatoes with a tangy sriracha-lime dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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, washed and 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

# How To Make It:

01 - Pat shrimp dry. Prepare three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with panko mixed with paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne.
02 - Dredge each shrimp in flour, dip in egg wash, then coat evenly with the seasoned panko mixture.
03 - Heat ¾ inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry shrimp in batches for 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
04 - Whisk mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lime juice, sriracha, honey, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
05 - Place chopped lettuce, avocado slices, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and cucumber in a large bowl or individual plates. Top with fried shrimp.
06 - Drizzle with the sriracha-lime dressing and garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen when it's honestly a 30-minute weeknight dinner.
  • The contrast between crispy shrimp and cool avocado is genuinely addictive.
  • The sriracha-lime dressing hits that sweet spot between creamy and spicy without being pretentious.
02 -
  • Wet shrimp will never crisp up no matter how hot your oil is—dryness is non-negotiable.
  • Don't let your oil cool between batches or you'll end up with breaded popcorn shrimp instead of salad toppers.
03 -
  • Slice your avocado right before you assemble so it stays bright green and doesn't oxidize into something sad looking.
  • If you're feeding a crowd, cook the shrimp ahead and reheat them gently in a low oven for two minutes—they'll stay crispy without drying out.
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