Shrimp and Spinach Salad

Celebrate Mother's Day or any day with a delicious Shrimp and Spinach Salad. This bright salad is filled with seared shrimp, sugar snap pea, pineapple, carrots, and crunch chow mein noodles tossed in sesame ginger dressing.

If I were to ask my mom what she would like to eat on Mother's Day, she would respond, "oh, something light would be nice." In her honor, I thought I'd put together a salad topped with shrimp that is presented in a bright cheerful way for Mother's Day.

A few years ago I enjoyed a salad at a local restaurant that had spinach, pineapple, and shrimp all tossed together in a ginger dressing.

It was so good, that I have made it many times at home and found that carrots and sugar snap peas were a lovely addition to the mix.

I tried several homemade versions of their ginger dressing but found that Newman's Own Sesame Ginger Dressing is perfect and all I have to do is open a bottle.

My mom likes easy recipes and would appreciate the use of a bottled dressing.

I've topped this salad with pan-seared shrimp, grilled shrimp, and even boiled shrimp. I really prefer the flavor of the pan-seared shrimp over boiled but think grilled shrimp is just as good.

Sunny Seared Shrimp & Spinach Salad

Ingredients

baby spinach leaves
shredded carrots
sugar snap peas (break the larger ones in half)
Newman's Own Lighten Up Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing, divided
pineapple rings  (¼" slices of fresh are best, but canned will do)
canola oil
peeled uncooked large shrimp, deveined and tails removed
salt and pepper
sugar - This helps to encourage browning of the seared shrimp.
crunchy chow mein noodles, optional

Instructions

Cut pineapple triangles.

• Cut 8 triangle-shaped pieces out of each pineapple ring, reserving scrap pieces.
• Arrange 12-16 triangle-shaped pineapple pieces around the border of each plate.
• Place pointed ends at the edge of the plate, and the bottom of triangles facing the center of the plate forming sunbeams.

Toss the salad and dressing.

• Toss together spinach, carrots, sugar snap peas, and pineapple scraps.
• Toss with ¼ cup Sesame Ginger Dressing.
• Scoop ¼ of the salad onto the center of each dinner plate.

Sear the shrimp in a skillet.

• Heat oil in a 12" stainless steel skillet over high heat.
• Pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel.
• Toss shrimp with salt, pepper, and sugar until evenly coated.
• Once oil just begins to smoke, place shrimp in a skillet in one even layer.
• Cook until the edges turn pink, about 1 minute.
• Remove the pan from the heat.
• Turn shrimp over.
• Cover skillet for 1-2 minutes until shrimp are cooked through.
  • Be careful you don't overcook the shrimp or they will be tough and rubbery.

Pro Tips

• To ensure all shrimp are cooked evenly, I start at the handle of the skillet and begin placing shrimp in the pan one at a time, moving in a spiral to the center.
• Once I remove the pan from the heat, I start by turning over the shrimp closest to the handle.
• When I remove the shrimp, I do the same so each shrimp spends an equal amount of time in the hot pan.

• Evenly divide shrimp among salads.
• Sprinkle chow mein noodles evenly over salads, if using.
• Drizzle 1 tablespoon Sesame Ginger Dressing over each salad just before serving.

Recipe

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Sunny Seared Shrimp & Spinach Salad

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

5 mins

 

Spinach salad topped with pan-seared shrimp, sugar snap peas, pineapple, shredded carrots, and chow mein noodles tossed with ginger dressing.

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: salad, shrimp, spinach salad

Servings: 4

Calories: 424 kcal

Author: Beth Klosterboer

Ingredients

• 8 cups baby spinach leaves
• 2 cups shredded carrots
• 40 sugar snap peas break the larger ones in half
• ½ cup Newman's Own Lighten Up Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing, divided
• 8 pineapple rings, ¼" slices of fresh are best, but canned will do
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 pound peeled uncooked large shrimp, deveined and tails removed
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• pinch of freshly ground black pepper
• ⅛ teaspoon sugar
• ¾ cup crunchy chow mein noodles optional

Instructions

1. Cut 8 triangle-shaped pieces out of each pineapple ring, reserving scrap pieces.
2. Arrange 12-16 triangle-shaped pineapple pieces around the border of each plate.
3. Place pointed ends at the edge of the plate, and bottom of triangles facing the center of the plate forming sunbeams.
4. Toss together spinach, carrots, sugar snap peas, and pineapple scraps.
5. Toss with ¼ cup Sesame Ginger Dressing.
6. Scoop ¼ of the salad onto the center of each dinner plate.
7. Heat oil in a 12" stainless steel skillet over high heat.
8. Pat shrimp dry with a paper towel.
9. Toss shrimp with salt, pepper, and sugar until evenly coated.
10. Once oil just begins to smoke, place shrimp in a skillet in one even layer.
11. Cook until the edges turn pink, about 1 minute.
12. Remove the pan from the heat.
13. Turn shrimp over.
14. Cover skillet for 1-2 minutes until shrimp are cooked through.
15. Be careful you don't overcook the shrimp or they will be tough and rubbery.
16. Evenly divide shrimp among salads.
17. Sprinkle chow mein noodles evenly over salads, if using.
18. Drizzle 1 tablespoon Sesame Ginger Dressing over each salad just before serving.

Recipe Notes

This recipe makes enough for 4 salads.  I only made enough for one salad, so some of the pictures have smaller quantities than what is called for in the recipe.
To ensure all shrimp are cooked evenly, I start at the handle of the skillet and begin placing shrimp in the pan one at a time, moving in a spiral to the center. 
Once I remove the pan from the heat, I start by turning over the shrimp closest to the handle.
When I remove the shrimp, I do the same so each shrimp spends an equal amount of time in the hot pan.

• Author
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Beth Klosterboer

Hi, I'm Beth Klosterboer, a professional chocolatier & baker, cookbook author, and event planner. I love sharing recipes for happy occasions here on Hungry Happenings. I also create easy fudge recipes to share at HowToMakeEasyFudge.com, rice krispie treat recipes at HowToMakeCerealTreats.com, and easy cookie recipes at HowToMakeEasyCookies.com

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