Homemade Creamy Shrimp Pasta Salad Recipe
You will love this simple summer pasta salad recipe, it is easy to put together without breaking a sweat. You only need to cook the pasta as the recipe calls for pre-cooked frozen shrimps. If you are not in a hurry, you can cook your own shrimp by boiling it in slightly salted water for few minutes until the shrimp is well cooked. Today’s recipe is a copycat of ASDA’s (in the UK, Walmart in the USA) prawn salad with my twist. My only reservation about the store-bought is that the ratio of lettuce to the rest of the ingredients is much. That took out the fun in enjoying the salad This gave me no choice but to be making mine at home, the family enjoys it too, it is affordable, more importantly, I can control the ingredients that goes into it and can make it my own. Homemade definitely needs to taste better than store-bought right? Especially if it something as simple as a salad. This pasta salad is fresh, light, and delicious, not forgetting it is low in calories too, what is not to love. Right, let’s cook!
Ingredients
Short pasta: I used elbow pasta for this salad but any other types of short pasta will work too. Fusilli is another favourite pasta for salad. Shrimps: I used pre-cooked frozen shrimp. Red bell pepper Cucumber Shallot Sweetcorn Lemon juice Ingredients Variations here are list of other veggies and herb you add to your salad. Celery Dill Chive or green onions Jalapeno for some heat Shrimp salad dressing (Prawn cocktail sauce ingredients) Mayonnaise: I am using low fat mayonnaise to keep this recipe as healthy as possible without compromising on taste Ketchup Worcestershire sauce Salt and black pepper Smoked paprika, substitute for sweet paprika
How to make creamy pasta salad
Make the salad creamy dressing: to a small mixing bowl, add mayonnaise, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper, pinch of paprika and mix to combine. Place the sauce in the fridge and continue to prep the rest of the ingredients. Alternatively, skip this step, and make the dressing when you have mixed the veggies with the pasta. Chop the other ingredients: chop lettuce, carrots, and cucumber into any sizes of choice then set aside covered or place in the fridge. Defrost the shrimp: best way is to thaw the shrimp overnight in the fridge but if time is of the essence, simply rinse the frozen shrimps in a colander under cold running water until completely thawed. Allow the shrimp drain before adding it to the salad. Cook the pasta 1 minute longer than the time specified on the packet instruction, drain and run under cold water to stop it from cooking any longer or sticking together. Leave to cool completely Combine: to a large mixing bowl, add cooled pasta, vegetables, a squeeze of lemon juice and mix to combine. Add shrimps, salad dressing and carefully mix to combine. Taste and adjust salt and black pepper. Sprinkle some smoked paprika on the salad, cover with a clingfilm and place in the fridge for at least 20 minutes for the flavours to develop. Serve and enjoy!
What to serve with shrimp pasta salad
I mostly eat this pasta salad on its own as it is since it is bulked up with shrimps. That said if you are serving this as side dish then it would be perfect with any grilled proteins. Here are few serving suggestions you may like Air fryer chicken wings Crispy oven baked chicken wings Air fryer boneless chicken thighs Simple oven baked chicken drumsticks Air fryer honey soy drumsticks Air fryer steak bites
How to store
Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours, shrimp salad can’t be frozen. For best result, if serving to guest or would not be needing it immediately, add the dressing and shrimp just before serving. The pasta and veggies can be made 24 hours ahead of time.
Watch how to make it
More summer salad recipe
Watermelon feta salad Chickpea salad Summer fruit salad Cucumber salad Creamy pasta salad If you made this creamy shrimp pasta salad recipe, don’t forget to leave me feedback and rate it 5 stars. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and save away to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox
