• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hungry Happenings
  • RECIPES
    • All Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Decorated Cookies
    • Decorated Cakes
    • Cheesecake Recipes
    • Everyday Desserts
    • Homemade Candy
    • Everyday Meals
    • Readers’ Gallery
    • Hungry Happenings Blog Posts
  • HOW TO
    • Chocolate Making Tips
    • Chocolate Making Course (video lessons)
    • Make Modeling Chocolate
      • Modeling Chocolate Recipe and Tutorial
      • How to Color Modeling Chocolate
      • How to Store and Work with Modeling Chocolate
      • How to Fix Greasy Modeling Chocolate
      • How to Fix Dry Modeling Chocolate
      • Use Colored Candy Melts to Make Candy Clay
    • Candy Clay Creations
    • How To Color White Chocolate and Candy Melts and Paint Candy Molds
    • How to Use Food Coloring Markers
  • HOLIDAYS
    • ALL HOLIDAY RECIPES
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patrick's Day
    • Easter
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
      • Hungry Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve
    • MORE HOLIDAYS
      • Mother's Day
      • Father's Day
      • April Fools
      • Chinese New Year
      • Cinco de Mayo
      • Day of the Dead
      • Earth Day
      • Mardi Gras
  • PARTY FOOD
    • Super Bowl
    • Graduation
    • Birthday Party
    • March Madness
    • Summer Fun
    • Baby Shower
    • Wedding Shower
    • School/Teacher
    • Movie and T.V. Characters
    • Kid's Treats
    • Fun Party Recipes
  • MY COOKBOOKS
  • ABOUT
  • MY BLOGS
    • HowToMakeCerealTreats.com
    • HowToMakeEasyCookies.com
    • HowToMakeEasyFudge.com
    • TheSugarAcademy.com
menu icon
go to homepage
  • recipes
  • chocolate
  • about
  • cookbooks
  • subscribe
  • major holiday recipes
  • other holiday recipes
  • party food
  • dessert recipes
  • homemade candy
  • chocolates
  • fudge
  • cheesecake recipes
  • decorated cakes
  • cookie recipes
  • popcorn
  • rice krispie treats
  • cute food for kids
  • everyday meals
  • recipe roundups
  • see all the recipes
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • recipes
    • chocolate
    • about
    • cookbooks
    • subscribe
    • major holiday recipes
    • other holiday recipes
    • party food
    • dessert recipes
    • homemade candy
    • chocolates
    • fudge
    • cheesecake recipes
    • decorated cakes
    • cookie recipes
    • popcorn
    • rice krispie treats
    • cute food for kids
    • everyday meals
    • recipe roundups
    • see all the recipes
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Mother's Day

    Sunny Seared Shrimp and Spinach Salad

    Published: Apr 28, '11 · Modified: Apr 20, '21 · By: Beth · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    A good salad is always a delicious dinner addition, so why not make this delicious Sunny Seared Shrimp and Spinach Salad for Mother's Day? The savory shrimp and sweet pineapple go amazingly together; you won't be able to stop eating this delicious meal!

    A good salad is always a delicious dinner addition, so why not make this delicious Sunny Seared Shrimp and Spinach Salad for Mother's Day? The savory shrimp and sweet pineapple go amazingly together; you wont be able to stop eating this delicious meal!

    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."

    As long as I have known her, ya' know all my life, she has watched what she eats and at the ripe ole' age of, oh I guess I shouldn't tell you that, she still looks beautiful. Salads were a staple of her diet and she loves fish especially shrimp.

    So in her honor, I thought I'd put together a salad topped with shrimp that is presented in a bright cheerful way.

    Shrimp salad topped with pan-seared shrimp, pineapple, sugar snap peas, and carrots topped with ginger dressing.

    I remember, as a kid, watching my mom and her friends eat spinach salads topped with fruit and thinking, "UUUUHHHGGG, gross, why in the world would you eat raw spinach and waste good fruit in a salad?" Well, I've grown up.

    I really enjoy spinach salads and actually prefer to eat them with some sort of fruit tossed in.

    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 simple, easy to put together 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.

    pan-seared shrimp and spinach salad tossed with carrots, sugar snap peas, pineapple, and ginger dressing

    As for the presentation of the salad, I was inspired by my mom's sunny optimism. Her positive outlook on life has truly affected those around her and she deserves a bright and cheerful salad for her Mother's Day meal.

    This would be a fun meal to get the kids involved.  They can help toss the salad and add the sunny border to the plate.

    Oh, and let them personalize the meal for mom. Get a 12" x 12" piece of colorful scrapbook paper to use as a placemat for her salad.  Write "You are the sunshine of my life." on the paper along with any other personal messages. A few drawings would be great too.

    Sunny Seared Shrimp & Spinach Salad

    Ingredients: 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.

    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:

    A good salad is always a delicious dinner addition, so why not make this delicious Sunny Seared Shrimp and Spinach Salad for Mother's Day? The savory shrimp and sweet pineapple go amazingly together; you wont be able to stop eating this delicious meal!

    • 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 bottom of triangles facing the center of the plate forming sunbeams.

    A good salad is always a delicious dinner addition, so why not make this delicious Sunny Seared Shrimp and Spinach Salad for Mother's Day? The savory shrimp and sweet pineapple go amazingly together; you wont be able to stop eating this delicious meal!

    • 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.

    A good salad is always a delicious dinner addition, so why not make this delicious Sunny Seared Shrimp and Spinach Salad for Mother's Day? The savory shrimp and sweet pineapple go amazingly together; you wont be able to stop eating this delicious meal!

    • Heat oil in a 12" stainless steel skillet over high heat.
    • Pat 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.

    A good salad is always a delicious dinner addition, so why not make this delicious Sunny Seared Shrimp and Spinach Salad for Mother's Day? The savory shrimp and sweet pineapple go amazingly together; you wont be able to stop eating this delicious meal!

    Cooks note:

    • 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.

    A good salad is always a delicious dinner addition, so why not make this delicious Sunny Seared Shrimp and Spinach Salad for Mother's Day? The savory shrimp and sweet pineapple go amazingly together; you wont be able to stop eating this delicious meal!

    • 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.
    Pan Seared Shrimp spinach salad topped with sugar snap peas, carrots, pineapple, and chow mein noodles tossed with ginger dressing.
    Print
    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
    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.
      cut pineapple into triangles and around a salad plate to create a sunshine
    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.
      toss together shredded carrots, sugar snap peas, pineapple, and baby spinach with ginger dressing
    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.
      pan search shrimp until golden brown on each side
    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.
      sauteed shrimp served on a bed of baby spinach with carrots, pineapple, sugar snap peas, and chow mein noodles
    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
    • Recent Posts
    Beth
    Beth
    Hi, I'm Beth Jackson 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
    Beth
    Latest posts by Beth (see all)
    • Homemade Chocolate Easter Bunnies - April 3, 2023
    • Mini Basketball Cheeseburgers - February 15, 2023
    • Snowman Popcorn Bucket - December 24, 2022

    More Everyday Meals

    • Chicken, Artichoke, and Three Cheese Bread Pudding
    • heart-shaped chicken enchiladas topped with cheese and chili sauce served with jalapenos and sour cream
      Valentine's Day Dinner - Chicken Enchilada Hearts
    • Chicken & Cheese Enchilada Bowls with Poblano Peppers and Corn
      Chicken and Cheese Enchilada Bowls
    • Pizza dip baked in a skillet surrounded by cheese-filled pizza crust topped with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese bread dip seasoning.
      Pizza Dip

    About Beth

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Please leave a comment. Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Beth Jackson Klosterboer

      May 05, 2011 at 1:36 pm

      Thanks Jill and Tiffany.

      Katie, I would be honored to have my recipe featured on your blog. Thanks.

      Reply
    2. Katie @ This Chick Cooks

      May 05, 2011 at 12:42 pm

      That is so funny talking about watching your mom waste spinach and fruit on a salad 🙂 That salad looks so yummy. I would love it feature it on my recipes spotlight next Wednesday, if that is ok. Have a great week.
      Katie

      Reply
    3. Tiffany Yang

      April 29, 2011 at 5:09 am

      wow....that looks soooooo good! I don't think I can wait until mother's day.

      Reply
    4. Jill

      April 28, 2011 at 7:47 pm

      This is great...beautiful!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Beth Jackson Klosterboer

    Welcome to Hungry Happenings!

    I'm Beth. I've been a professional chocolatier & baker for over 30 years, have written 5 cookbooks, and love creating fun food for holidays and special occasions.

    Read more about me →

    Popular

    • Mini cheesecakes served plain, topped with sauces, and decorated with edible flowers on a marble board
      Mini Cheesecakes
    • Cakesicles with red and green drizzle, rainbow sprinkles, and chocolate drizzle
      How to make Cakesicles (cake pop popsicles)
    • shamrock cracker crisps topped with chopped parsley set on a white plate on a St. Patrick's Day kitchen towel
      Shamrock Shaped Snack Crisps
    • Leprchaun hat cupcake cake decorated with green frosting stars, a black and gold hat band
      Leprechaun Hat Cupcake Cake
    • Fill Crescent Roll Carrots with your favorite egg salad or ham salad and serve for Easter brunch or lunch.
      Crescent Roll Carrots Filled with Egg or Ham Salad
    • Bunny Butt Cupcakes in Silicone Flower Pots
      Bunny Butt Cupcakes in Silicone Flower Pots
    • Chocolate peanut butter fudge buckeyes candy recipe image.
      Buckeyes Recipe - Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Candies
    • homemade candy bars including dark chocolate bars, milk chocolate cashew bars, white chocolate cookies and cream candy bars, and more
      The Best Step-by-Step Chocolate Bar Recipes

    Buy my cookbooks

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    use policies

    • privacy policy
    • photo-use policy
    • terms of service

    join us

    • Subscribe (newsletter)
    • our online courses

    contact

    • contact
    • about Beth
    • FAQ

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Hungry Happenings