Description
This Classic San Francisco Shrimp Louie Salad is a vibrant, refreshing dish featuring tender sautéed shrimp, crisp butter lettuce, cherry tomatoes, radishes, hard-boiled eggs, capers, and creamy avocado, all brought together with a tangy Louie dressing made from mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and spices. Ready in just 20 minutes, it's a perfect light lunch or elegant starter.
Ingredients
Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
Shrimp
- 1 ½ tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning
Salad
- 1-2 heads butter lettuce, leaves separated
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 6 red radishes, sliced
- 4 hard boiled eggs, quartered
- 3 tablespoons capers
- 1 avocado, sliced
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Whisk until smooth and refrigerate until ready to serve to allow flavors to meld.
- Cook the shrimp: Heat butter in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Add peeled shrimp to the pan and season with sea salt, pepper, and Cajun seasoning. Stir and cook shrimp for 3-4 minutes until they turn opaque and are fully cooked. Remove from heat and keep warm.
- Assemble the salad: Lay separated butter lettuce leaves on a large serving platter. Arrange cooked shrimp evenly over the lettuce, then add halved cherry tomatoes, sliced radishes, quartered hard-boiled eggs, capers, and sliced avocado in a balanced manner.
- Serve: Serve the assembled salad with the chilled Louie dressing on the side, allowing diners to add dressing to their preference.
Notes
- For best flavor, chill the dressing for at least 15 minutes before serving.
- Ensure shrimp are properly cooked until opaque and pink to avoid undercooking.
- Use fresh butter lettuce for the best crisp texture and mild taste.
- Hard boil eggs in advance to save preparation time.
- Cajun seasoning adds a slight kick but can be adjusted or omitted for milder taste.
- Avocado can be substituted with sliced cucumbers for a lighter version.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American