Fresh Cucumber Shrimp Salad
The Ultimate Recipe for Fresh Cucumber Shrimp Salad
Are you on the lookout for the ideal dish to complement a beautiful, sun-drenched day? Something light yet filling, brimming with vibrant flavours, and wonderfully easy to put together? We certainly understand that desire for a meal that revitalises without being heavy. That’s precisely why we are so thrilled to present our most cherished recipe for a Fresh Cucumber Shrimp Salad. It’s the perfect solution for all your summer lunches and light evening meals.
This salad is a delightful fusion of textures and tastes. We bring together succulent, plump prawns with cool, crisp cucumber, a subtle sharpness from red onion, and a wonderfully creamy dressing infused with fresh dill and a spritz of bright lemon. It is a dish that feels special enough for entertaining guests, yet it’s so straightforward that you can prepare it any day of the week. Let’s get started and create this fantastic salad together.
Why You’ll Adore This Recipe
- Truly Refreshing: The marriage of cool cucumber and a light, zesty dressing makes this the quintessential refreshing salad to enjoy on a warm day.
- Simple and Swift: With very little cooking needed, you can have this beautiful salad ready to serve in less than 20 minutes. It’s ideal for hectic weeknights or an impromptu lunch.
- High in Protein: Prawns are a superb source of lean protein, which makes this a satisfying dish that keeps you feeling full and energised without any heaviness.
- Extremely Versatile: You can serve this salad in a multitude of ways. Enjoy it as is, heap it into a crusty roll, scoop it into lettuce boats, or present it as a sophisticated starter for friends.
- Suits Any Occasion: Whether you’re hosting a garden gathering, heading out for a picnic, or just need a tasty and wholesome meal prep option, this recipe is a perfect match.
Ingredients
- 500g cooked king prawns, peeled and deveined
- 1 large English cucumber, partially peeled and diced
- 1/2 small red onion, very finely diced
- 100g Greek yoghurt (full-fat for creaminess)
- 50g good-quality mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional, for a little kick)
- Sea salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- A few extra sprigs of dill for garnish
How to Make the Perfect Fresh Cucumber Shrimp Salad
Putting this delight together is a simple affair that we’ve outlined in four easy-to-follow steps. By adhering to our instructions, you will ensure each element is perfectly balanced, resulting in a harmonious and delicious final creation.
Step 1: Prepare the Prawns
The highlight of our salad is, naturally, the prawns. We suggest using pre-cooked king prawns to make this recipe as quick and simple as possible. If you find your prawns are quite large, we advise chopping them into manageable, bite-sized morsels—perhaps in half or into thirds. This guarantees you get a lovely mix of prawn, cucumber, and dressing in every mouthful. If you’re using raw prawns, you can poach them in simmering water for 2-3 minutes until they become pink and firm, then immediately transfer them to an ice bath to halt the cooking and cool them rapidly.
Step 2: Prepare the Fresh Vegetables
Next up, we focus on the salad’s crisp, fresh elements. Take your English cucumber; we favour this variety for its minimal seeds and delicate skin. To create a pretty visual contrast, we like to peel it in stripes, leaving some of the green skin intact. Dice the cucumber into small, uniform cubes. A crucial tip for a great salad is to minimise wateriness. If your cucumber seems especially juicy, you might want to gently remove the seeds before dicing. Lastly, dice the red onion as finely as you can. A very fine dice ensures its flavour is distributed evenly without dominating the more subtle tastes of the prawns and dill.
Step 3: Whisk Together the Creamy Dill Dressing
It’s now time for the component that unites everything: the dressing. In a medium bowl, we will craft a simple but flavour-packed sauce. Combine the Greek yoghurt, mayonnaise, finely chopped fresh dill, and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Whisk everything together until the mixture is smooth. The Greek yoghurt brings a lovely tang and lightness, while the mayonnaise contributes a rich creaminess. The lemon juice brightens all the flavours, and the fresh dill imparts that signature aromatic quality that makes this a truly special dill shrimp salad. Season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper to suit your taste.
Step 4: Combine, Chill, and Serve
In a large mixing bowl, gently mix your prepared prawns, diced cucumber, and finely diced red onion. Pour the creamy dill dressing over the ingredients and use a spatula to fold everything together until it is all evenly coated. While it’s delicious straight away, we strongly suggest covering the bowl and chilling the salad in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This rest period allows the flavours to meld and mature, elevating the salad from merely good to absolutely exceptional.
Tips for the Best Healthy Seafood Salad
Having made this recipe on numerous occasions, we’ve gathered a few handy tricks to ensure it turns out perfectly every time. Here are our essential tips for creating the finest healthy seafood salad you’ve ever had.
- Use High-Quality Prawns: The quality of the prawns you choose will have a significant impact. For the best taste and texture, seek out firm, succulent prawns from a sustainable source.
- Don’t Skip the Chilling Time: We really can’t overstate this! Letting the salad rest in the refrigerator is vital for the flavours to develop fully. If you have the time, an hour is even better.
- Taste and Adjust: Always give your salad one final taste before you serve it. You might find it needs an extra dash of lemon juice for brightness, another pinch of salt to make the flavours pop, or a bit more black pepper.
- Fresh Herbs are a Must: Although you could substitute with dried dill if necessary, fresh dill delivers a far more vibrant and superior flavour that truly enhances the dish.
- Pat Prawns Dry: To avoid a thin, watery dressing, ensure your cooked and cooled prawns are patted dry with a paper towel before you mix them into the salad.
Variations and Serving Suggestions
One of the wonderful aspects of this recipe is its adaptability. You can easily tweak it based on your preferences or what’s available in your kitchen. It serves as an excellent foundation for creativity and is a true star in the light summer salad category.
Fun Variations to Try:
- Add Avocado: For an extra layer of creaminess and a boost of healthy fats, gently fold in a diced avocado just prior to serving.
- Introduce a Crunch: Incorporate some finely chopped celery or bell pepper to add a pleasing textural contrast.
- Make it Spicy: If you enjoy a little kick of heat, mix a pinch of cayenne pepper or a few drops of your favourite hot sauce into the dressing.
- Experiment with Herbs: While dill is the classic choice, other fresh herbs like parsley, chives, or even a hint of tarragon would also complement the flavours beautifully.
How to Serve Your Salad:
This salad is splendid on its own, but it also pairs well with other foods. Consider serving it in hollowed-out tomatoes or bell peppers for a sophisticated starter. For a more substantial meal, spoon it into wholemeal pitta pockets or pile it onto a thick slice of toasted sourdough. It is also divine served in crisp lettuce leaves, such as Little Gem or butter lettuce, for a lower-carb option. If you’re looking for other salad inspiration, you might also like a Classic House Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette as a simple accompaniment.
The Health Benefits of Our Healthy Cucumber Shrimp Salad
We take great pleasure in developing recipes that are both nourishing and delicious, and this Healthy Cucumber Shrimp Salad is a prime example. Prawns are a fantastic source of lean protein, vital for muscle maintenance and for keeping you feeling satisfied. They also supply important nutrients like selenium and vitamin B12. As noted by the British Heart Foundation, including fish and shellfish in your diet is beneficial for heart health. Cucumbers contribute hydration along with vitamins K and C, while the Greek yoghurt provides gut-friendly probiotics. This salad is a true nutritional powerhouse, demonstrating that healthy eating can be a truly joyful and flavour-packed experience. For another vibrant and healthy salad idea, do take a look at our Crunchy Asian Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing.
FAQ
A Refreshing Meal You’ll Make Again and Again
We are certain that this Fresh Cucumber Shrimp Salad will quickly become a go-to recipe in your kitchen. It strikes the perfect balance between simplicity, elegance, and pure, unadulterated freshness. It’s a wonderful example of how simple ingredients can come together to create something truly remarkable—a dish that nourishes the body and delights the senses all at once.
So, why not give it a go? The next time you’re in need of a quick, wholesome, and deeply satisfying meal, we encourage you to try this recipe. Gather your ingredients, and within minutes, you could be savouring a bowl of this wonderfully vibrant and tasty salad. We would be delighted to know what you think, so please feel free to leave a comment and a rating below to share your thoughts with our community!
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 500g cooked king prawns, peeled and deveined
- 1 large English cucumber, diced
- 1/2 small red onion, very finely diced
- 100g full-fat Greek yoghurt
- 50g good-quality mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard (optional)
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Extra sprigs of dill, for garnish
Instructions
- If your cooked prawns are large, chop them into bite-sized pieces. Place them in a large bowl with the diced cucumber and finely diced red onion.
- In a separate, smaller bowl, whisk together the Greek yoghurt, mayonnaise, chopped dill, lemon juice, and optional Dijon mustard. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour the dressing over the prawn mixture and gently fold with a spatula until everything is evenly coated.
- For the best flavour, cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This allows the flavours to meld together beautifully. Garnish with extra sprigs of dill before serving.
Calories: 235,
Carbs: 3 g,
Protein: 27 g,
Fat: 13 g
