Crisp & Tangy Nordic Shrimp Salad Recipe for Fresh Dinners

Nordic waters have a magical way of infusing incredible flavor into this shrimp salad that captures coastal simplicity.

Crisp ingredients dance together with refreshing elegance, creating a light Mediterranean-inspired dish.

Delicate pink shrimp nestle among vibrant greens, promising a tantalizing experience.

Fresh dill and lemon whisper Nordic culinary traditions into every bite.

Coastal ingredients blend seamlessly, telling stories of ocean landscapes and traditional fishing communities.

Each forkful connects you to Scandinavian coastal cuisine with its clean, bright profile.

You’ll find this recipe transports your senses to windswept Nordic shores.

Nordic Shrimp Salad That’s Bright And Refreshing

• Savor Quick Seafood Delight: Simple Nordic-Inspired Shrimp Salad
• Breeze Through Preparation: This recipe takes just 20 minutes from start to finish, making it perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute lunch cravings.
• Customize with Ease: Versatile serving options let you enjoy the salad over lettuce, in lettuce cups, on toast, or inside an avocado, adapting to your mood and preferences.
• Protein-Packed Nutrition Boost: Fresh shrimp combined with crisp vegetables and tangy Skyr dressing delivers a light, healthy meal loaded with lean protein and fresh flavors.
• Minimal Ingredient Magic: Using straightforward, clean ingredients ensures anyone can create this restaurant-quality dish without complicated techniques or hard-to-find components.

Shrimp and Dressing in Nordic Salad

• Shrimp: Fresh Nordic or cold-water shrimp with sweet, delicate flavor, perfect for light salads.
• Salt: Enhances seafood flavor and helps season cooking liquid.
• Lemon Juice: Brightens seafood taste and adds citrusy freshness.

• Dill, Herbs: Provides classic Nordic aromatic touch with fresh, delicate herbal notes.
• Seafood Seasoning: Adds depth and complexity to shrimp's natural flavor.

• Cucumber, Celery, Radish, Red Onion: Crisp vegetables that add texture, crunch, and fresh garden flavor.

• Mayonnaise, Skyr (Greek Yogurt): Creamy base for binding salad with rich, tangy undertones.
• Dijon Mustard: Provides subtle heat and sharp flavor to dressing.
• Black Pepper, Salt: Essential seasonings for balancing and enhancing overall taste.

• Fresh Dill: Additional herb garnish for visual appeal and extra aromatic touch.
• Lettuce, Avocado, Toast: Optional serving suggestions for versatile presentation.

Nordic Shrimp Salad Instructions

Step 1: Prepare Poaching Liquid

Fill a large pot with water.

Add salt, lemon juice, and drop in the lemon halves.

Toss in herbs and seafood seasoning.

Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and let simmer for 5 minutes to infuse flavors deeply.

Step 2: Cook Shrimp

Reduce heat to medium-low and add shrimp.

Simmer uncovered for 4-5 minutes until shrimp turn bright pink and curl slightly.

Step 3: Chill Shrimp

Transfer shrimp with a slotted spoon to a bowl of ice water.

Allow them to cool completely before peeling.

Step 4: Chop Vegetables

• Cucumber
• Celery
• Radish
• Red onion
• Fresh dill

Combine cooled and peeled shrimp with chopped vegetables in a large mixing bowl.

Step 5: Create Creamy Dressing

• Mayonnaise
• Skyr or Greek yogurt
• Lemon juice
• Dijon mustard
• Salt
• Pepper

Adjust seasoning and consistency as needed.

Step 6: Combine and Dress Salad

Pour dressing over shrimp and vegetable mixture.

Gently toss to ensure even coating.

Step 7: Garnish and Serve

Sprinkle extra fresh dill on top.

• Chopped lettuce
• Lettuce cups
• Toast
• Halved avocado

Shrimp Salad Tips With Nordic Simplicity

• Simmer gently in seasoned water to ensure tender, flavorful shrimp without becoming rubbery or tough.
• Plunge cooked shrimp into ice water to stop the cooking process and maintain a crisp, succulent texture.
• Adjust mayo and Skyr ratio to create a lighter or creamier dressing based on personal preference.
• Chop vegetables and cook shrimp in advance, then combine just before serving to save time and maintain freshness.
• Swap toast or lettuce with avocado boats or cucumber slices for a lighter, carb-conscious meal alternative.

Chilling Nordic Shrimp Salad for a Flavorful Encore

• Store leftover Nordic shrimp salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Cold storage helps maintain the freshness of seafood and crisp vegetables.
• Before storing, gently pat the salad with paper towels to remove extra moisture, preventing soggy texture and extending shelf life.
• Do not freeze this salad, as the mayonnaise and fresh vegetables will separate and lose their original texture and quality when thawed.
• When ready to serve leftovers, give the salad a quick stir and add a small splash of fresh lemon juice to brighten the flavors and restore its original zesty taste.

Fresh Picks For Shrimp Salad

• Elevate Nordic Shrimp Salad Pairing
• Crisp Wine Match: Select a bright, mineral-driven Sauvignon Blanc or Grüner Veltliner to complement the salad's delicate seafood and herbal notes, cutting through the creamy dressing with refreshing acidity.
• Artisan Bread Companion: Serve with lightly toasted rye sourdough or crusty Nordic-style bread, providing a robust texture contrast and enhancing the salad's Scandinavian character with a hearty base.
• Nordic Beer Harmony: Pour a light, crisp Pilsner or wheat beer from Denmark or Norway, which cleanses the palate and matches the dish's cool, fresh ingredients with its clean, effervescent profile.
• Herbal Aperitif Accent: Consider a small glass of aquavit or herbal schnapps as a traditional Nordic digestif, echoing the dill and lemon undertones while offering a subtle alcohol warmth alongside the chilled salad.

Nordic Shrimp Salad Twists

• Gluten-Free Nordic Shrimp Salad: Replace traditional mayonnaise with avocado-based mayo or cashew cream for a gluten-free and dairy-free alternative that maintains creamy texture.
• Keto-Friendly Version: Swap yogurt with full-fat sour cream, eliminate cucumber and onion. Use cauliflower instead of traditional serving bases like toast or lettuce for lower carbohydrate content.
• Vegan Seafood Alternative: Substitute shrimp with hearts of palm or king oyster mushrooms cut into small pieces. Use vegan mayo and plant-based yogurt to recreate similar protein-rich salad with oceanic flavor profile.
• Low-Sodium Adaptation: Reduce salt in poaching liquid, use salt-free seafood seasoning. Replace traditional mayo with homemade version using olive oil and egg, controlling sodium levels while maintaining delicious taste.

FAQs

• How do I know when the shrimp are perfectly cooked?

Look for bright pink color and a curled shape. When shrimp turn from gray to pink and form a loose “C” shape, they’re done. Overcooking makes them tough and rubbery.

• Can I use frozen shrimp for this recipe?

Yes, absolutely! Thaw frozen shrimp completely before cooking. Pat them dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture for better texture and flavor absorption.

• What if I can't find Skyr?

Greek yogurt is an excellent substitute. It provides the same creamy tangy base for the dressing. Use full-fat Greek yogurt for the best consistency and richness.

• Is this salad considered healthy?

Definitely! It’s protein-packed from shrimp, low in calories, and includes fresh vegetables. The yogurt-based dressing is lighter than traditional mayo-heavy salads, making it a nutritious option.

Nordic Shrimp Salad Recipe

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4.5 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Scandinavian kitchens inspire this Nordic shrimp salad, blending crisp vegetables with delicate marine flavors. Fresh dill, tangy mayo, and succulent shrimp create a light, refreshing dish you’ll crave on warm summer days.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 1 1/2 pounds large or jumbo shrimp (with shells, heads, and tails on)
• 1 1/2 pounds shrimp, poached and cooled, coarsely chopped if desired

Fresh Vegetables and Herbs:

• 1/2 cup finely diced cucumber
• 1/2 cup finely diced celery
• 1/3 cup finely diced radish
• 1/4 cup minced red onion
• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill, plus more for garnish
• 1 handful fresh thyme leaves
• 1 handful fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 handfuls fresh lettuces, chopped (for serving)

Seasonings and Dressing:

• 2 teaspoons sea salt
• 3 tablespoons seafood seasoning (Old Bay or Zatarains shrimp boil)
• 2 lemons, halved
• 3 bay leaves
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup Skyr or Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 23 teaspoons lemon juice
• Salt and pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Prepare a spacious pot with water, incorporating salt, lemon juice, herbs, and seafood seasoning. Allow the liquid to reach a rolling boil and simmer for 5 minutes to develop robust flavor profiles.
2. Gently lower shrimp into the aromatic liquid, maintaining a steady medium-low temperature. Cook uncovered until shellfish transform to a vibrant pink and elegantly curl, approximately 4-5 minutes.
3. Extract shrimp using a perforated utensil and plunge immediately into an ice bath. Ensure complete cooling before meticulously peeling each morsel.
4. Dice cucumber, celery, radish, and red onion into uniform, petite cubes. Finely chop fresh dill, reserving some sprigs for garnishing.
5. Blend mayonnaise, Skyr, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a separate vessel. Whisk until ingredients harmonize, adjusting consistency and flavor with additional citrus if necessary.
6. Combine chilled shrimp with prepared vegetables in a generous mixing bowl. Drizzle creamy dressing over the mixture, gently folding to ensure comprehensive coating.
7. Artfully present the salad atop crisp lettuce leaves, nestled in lettuce cups, spread across toast, or cradled within a halved avocado. Garnish with reserved dill sprigs for an elegant finish.

Notes

• Perfectly poach shrimp by ensuring water barely simmers to prevent rubbery texture and maintain tender, delicate meat.
• Chill shrimp immediately in ice water after cooking to stop the cooking process and preserve their sweet, delicate flavor and crisp texture.
• Layer flavors by infusing poaching liquid with herbs, lemon, and seafood seasoning for a more complex and aromatic seafood base.
• Customize serving options for various dietary preferences like low-carb (avocado), gluten-free (lettuce cups), or classic toast presentation.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 5 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Appetizer
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Nordic

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 270
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 670 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 13 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 24 g
• Cholesterol: 150 mg