Salad Cups with Quinoa, Shrimp, Avocado & Lemon Dressing Recipe

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These salad cups rank with some of my favorite lunch recipes. Shrimp, avocado, quinoa and a simple lemon dressing come together for a light, delicious meal.
These salad cups rank with some of my favorite lunch recipes. Shrimp, avocado, quinoa and a simple lemon dressing come together for a light, delicious meal. #shrimprecipes #quinoa #healthyrecipes

When most people think of diet food, the word “salad” tends to spring to mind. Then come the references to rabbit food, and thoughts of deprivation and large padlocks across the refrigerator lead most people to dive into the leftover helping of pepperoni pizza. Yeah, been there. But healthy eating doesn’t need to be boring. Let’s get something straight. Yes, I may have lost a good chunk of weight over the past six months, but I love to eat. If a meal doesn’t have good flavor, I don’t feel satisfied and that’s where the trouble starts. For me, maintaining a healthy eating lifestyle means using a large variety of whole grains (such as quinoa), fresh and dried herbs, flavorful protein (like shrimp) and healthy fats (think avocado).

I like salads with lots of “goodies” – nuts, veggies, chicken, seafood, pasta, quinoa, dried fruit. If it’s in the fridge or pantry, it’s fair game. In the past, the one thing that stopped me from making salad every day was washing the greens. Am I the only one who can’t stand washing lettuce? I have no idea why. It’s just the way it is.

Now I limit the pain to one to two times per week. I throw the lettuce, cut into bite-sized pieces into my OXO salad spinner (love that thing – more about it in the giveaway section at the end), wash it and spin it dry within a couple of minutes. Wrapped in paper towel and stored in a resealable plastic bag in the fridge, the lettuce stays perky and fresh for 4 to 5 days. All I have to do is reach in and grab a handful or two whenever I want to throw together a salad. Throw in some veggies that are quickly sliced on the OXO hand-held mandoline slicer and voila – a beautiful, healthy salad. Painful to painless.

The dressing is light and fragrant, with a lemony touch of spring and an herbaceous flavor from dried oregano. You may not need all of the dressing. Add about two-thirds of it, then taste to determine if you would like to add more.

The recipe:
Wash and spin four large Boston lettuce leaves.

Lettuce Cups Shrimp Avocado Collage 1

In a fine-mesh strainer, rinse quinoa well and drain.

In a medium pot, combine quinoa and water. Bring to a boil, then cover and turn heat to low. Cook until all the water is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat, fluff the quinoa and transfer to a cookie sheet, spreading the quinoa in a thin layer, to cool.

LettuceCupsShrimpAvocado4

Set a large saucepan of lightly salted water over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil. Add shrimp and cook until shrimp turn pink, 45 seconds to 1 minute.

Drain and immediately plunge the shrimp into ice water to stop the shrimp from cooking further.

TKShrimpMartini5

In a medium bowl, mix together quinoa, shrimp, tomatoes and avocado.

LettuceCupsShrimpAvocado6

For the dressing, whisk together lemon juice honey, oregano, salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in olive oil.

LettuceCupsShrimpAvocado3

Toss the dressing (you may not need all of it) with the quinoa mixture. Gently stir in Myzithra (or feta) cheese. Divide the quinoa salad between 4 Boston lettuce leaves, using the lettuce as a bowl. Serve.

LettuceCupsShrimpAvocado7

Other quinoa salads:
Cookin’ Canuck’s Quinoa with Orange & Cumin Dressing
Cookin’ Canuck’s Quinoa with Blacks Beans, Corn & Chipotle, Lime & Honey Dressing
The Church Cook’s Red Quinoa, Black Bean & Bell Pepper Salad
Two Peas and Their Pod’s Spinach Quinoa Salad with Roasted Grapes, Pears & Almonds

Salad Cups with Quinoa, Shrimp, Avocado & Lemon Dressing Recipe

These salad cups rank with some of my favorite lunch recipes. Shrimp, avocado, quinoa and a simple lemon dressing come together for a light, delicious meal.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Entrees, Salads
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Seafood Recipes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4 Salad Cups
Calories: 397kcal
Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

The Salad:

  • 1/2 cup quinoa
  • 1 cup water
  • 3/4 pound large raw shrimp peeled
  • 1 medium tomato cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 small avocado cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 ounce Myzithra or feta cheese, crumbled

The Dressing:

Instructions

The Salad:

  • In a fine-mesh strainer, rinse quinoa well and drain.
  • In a medium pot, combine quinoa and water. Bring to a boil, then cover and turn heat to low. Cook until all the water is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat, fluff the quinoa and transfer to a cookie sheet, spreading the quinoa in a thin layer, to cool.
  • Set a large saucepan of lightly salted water over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil. Add shrimp and cook until shrimp turn pink, 45 seconds to 1 minute.
  • Drain and immediately plunge the shrimp into ice water to stop the shrimp from cooking further.
  • In a medium bowl, mix together quinoa, shrimp, tomatoes and avocado.

The Dressing:

  • Whisk together lemon juice, honey, oregano, salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in olive oil.
  • Toss the dressing with the quinoa mixture. Gently stir in Myzithra (or feta) cheese. Divide the quinoa salad between 4 Boston lettuce leaves, using the lettuce as a bowl. Serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Salad Cup | Calories: 397kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 221mg | Sodium: 1041mg | Potassium: 552mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 17.1% | Vitamin C: 21.4% | Calcium: 18.7% | Iron: 19.7%
Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by OXO and they supplied me with some OXO products for my personal use and the giveaway. All opinions are my own. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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Comments

  12. Julia {The Roasted Root} says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 6:48 am

    Hey lady, your salad looks delicious. It’s starting to warm up really quickly here, so I’ve naturally been putting away the soup recipes and am looking forward to salads. As a side note, I have forwarded your website on to my mom who I think could use a little help with motivation in the fitness/weight-loss realm. I think she will find your site a huge inspiration. 🙂

    Reply

  13. Maureen says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 6:53 am

    I stopped labeling my food good or bad or healthy or diet about 5 years ago. Most food is is wonderful – what matters is how you prepare it and how much of it you consume. This salad looks really good.

    Reply

  34. KalynsKitchen says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 8:47 am

    What a great idea to use quinoa and shrimp in lettuce cups! Sounds delish. (I have a salad spinner and a mandoline so you don’t have to enter me in the giveaway. Love my OXO salad spinner!)

    Reply

  35. Lori @ RecipeGirl says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 8:49 am

    Mmmmm- you come up with the most healthy and beautiful meals! I like to eat too- we’ve turned a corner “as a family” today and will be making more things like this!

    Reply

  36. leighmarker says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 8:50 am

    thanks for the recipe! Just started my new diet today, will be us eating this a couple times a week!
    I follow you on twitter.

    Reply

  44. Cassie says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 9:07 am

    This is my kind of salad, I love everything about it! I have an OXO stainless steel mandolin and I love it! I would love to have a salad spinner too.

    Reply

  47. Rae says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 9:10 am

    This dressing sounds amazing, will have to try it. I make a similar salad but I also add strawberries or pomegranate seeds. I also switch up the feta with a honey goat cheese. I think your dressing will go great with it.

    Reply

  52. Shannon says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 9:50 am

    Love this salad. I’m all about healthy, fresh and flavorful! I liked OXO on twitter, crossing my fingers because I hate washing lettuce too.

    Reply

  73. Dianne Slama says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 12:26 pm

    I happened to find this blog on OXO on Facebook. The salad looks great–especially with instructions on the quinoa. I have seen but did not know if I could actually use. I am now going to try. Thanks.

    Reply

  75. Natalie J Vandenberghe says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 12:27 pm

    I love shrimp, tomatoes, and avocados–the recipe sounds delicious! Thanks for the giveaway.

    Reply

  89. CarolynH says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 12:52 pm

    I am a FB fan of OXO, & follow on Twitter. I tweeted this giveaway @CookinCanuck & like you on FB. I also need the OXO Hand-held mandoline slicer. My twitter handle is @poohro. Facebook= jojoecarol

    Reply

  91. CarolynH says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 1:02 pm

    I am a FB fan of OXO, & follow on Twitter. I tweeted this giveaway; @CookinCanuck & like you on FB. I also need the OXO Hand-held mandoline slicer. My twitter handle is @poohro. Facebook= jojoecarol

    Reply

  100. Emily H. says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 1:18 pm

    I needed to go to the store tonight anyway, so now I’ll just add shrimp/avocado/feta to my list and I’ll be good to go! Sounds delicious!

    Reply

  110. Barbara | Creative Culinary says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 1:41 pm

    I love salads but then the lettuce really is just a placeholder for the good stuff. I’ve found I enjoying fruit with my salads more than tomatoes lately with a more savory (or at least balsamic) twist.

    THIS looks divine Dara. I too often don’t think of putting the salads I make on my blog since I usually just put together a hodge podge of ingredients. My friends insist I should and maybe this will be an impetus for me that they really can look enticing!

    Reply

  111. Adriana says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 1:55 pm

    I am going to try this. We have been doing a family lifestyle makeover since January. We have lost over 55 lbs as a group. Always looking for filling and not not boring meals. Harder to eat healthy if you dont like what you are putting in your mouth.

    Reply

  121. kelley says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 2:25 pm

    I couldn’t agree more that food, even healthy food, can and must be tasty. There are so many healthful ways to add flavor! I don’t cook shrimp often as I’m no so keen on it but Pete would totally dig these wraps!

    Reply

  125. Shelley says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 2:35 pm

    Love your blog & recipes … also Oxo products. This recipe with quinoa is full of some of my favorite stuff! Thanks for posting it.

    Reply

  129. Claudia Ellis says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 2:50 pm

    this recipe sounds delicious! printed and will make sometime soon (after the next trip to the store). Love love love quinoa!

    Reply

  133. Kat Jett says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 3:09 pm

    We eat a lot of quinoa, and I’m always interested in new recipes. Tonight is quinoa with curry and wild rice in a vegetable stock, and baked cod. I’m so excited to see this webpage-thanks

    Reply

  146. Kimby says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 4:14 pm

    I already like you on Facebook, Dara (and here!) That salad spinner looks like a winner, even if I’m not. 🙂 Great recipe!

    Reply

  148. Noble Pig ~ Cathy says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 4:37 pm

    I was really excited to see this recipe. Back in September I went to a blogger trip in Sonoma and one day for lunch they served us a quinoa salad with a lemon based dressing that was out of this world. I have never stopped thinking about and how to recreate it. I think your dressing might be it. I can’t wait to try it and relive the memory. Thanks!

    Reply

  149. Laura says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 4:43 pm

    That does look good! All of the ingredients are my favorites – quinoa, shrimp, avocado, feta – yum. Can’t wait to try it!

    Reply

  157. marla says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 6:45 pm

    Salad spinners rule as does this salad!! Love lots of goodies in my salads too & never, ever deprivation over here either!

    Reply

  159. Cindy Munkelt says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 6:50 pm

    The receipe looks good but I could really use the salad spinner. Thanks for the opportunity.

    Reply

  160. Bonnie K says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 7:13 pm

    I know what you mean about washing lettuce by hand. I’m really needing a salad spinner. I don’t know why I haven’t bought one. I should add it to my wish list.

    Reply

  168. Emily Strong says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 7:29 pm

    I’m a diligent follower of your blog! I have so many of your recipes in my recipe binder. Keep up the beautiful work!

    Reply

  170. Nina says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 7:37 pm

    I love OXO products and really need a new salad spinner! This salad sounds exactly like the kind of thing I would love to eat every day!! Thanks.

    Reply

  171. Patricia C says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 7:45 pm

    I love salads but eat less of them because I dislike washing my greens. Shaking lettuce leaves and drying with paper towels is a pain. This recipe sounds and looks delish

    Reply

  180. Flavia says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 8:14 pm

    Great post Dara! Shrimp and avocado are two of my most favorite food combinations and I love how you paired it with quinoa in an edible lettuce cup. I have the same green OXO salad spinner and love it {but like you, don’t love washing greens!}. Thank you for sharing such a great recipe!

    Reply

  183. Michelle says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 8:59 pm

    Changing eating habits in 2012 – down 14 lbs and eating alot of salads – would love a spinner just as I love following the Cookin’ Canuck

    Reply

  184. gracem says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 9:09 pm

    Just discovered quinoa last summer and it has quickly become a staple food in my house. Constantly looking for new, exciting recipes and this one sounds just perfect. Thank you.

    Reply

  192. Christy says

    Mar 5, 2012 at 11:13 pm

    Oh my gosh, I could totally use these. We eat a ton of salad and I need a spinner and who can’t use a mandoline? Lovely stuff. Thanks.

    Reply

  202. Charlie says

    Mar 6, 2012 at 5:46 am

    Morning Dara!

    Great recipe. I love quinoa and am always looking for new recipes.

    It would be so nice to have a salad spinner.

    This one looks a winner.

    Charlie

    Reply

  205. Sam H says

    Mar 6, 2012 at 9:15 am

    I actually have some Boston lettuce sitting in the fridge… great idea for tonights dinner! Thanks!

    Reply

  208. Yo says

    Mar 6, 2012 at 9:28 am

    looks yummy…couscous would probably work instead of quinoa as well…or instead of lettuce wrap it in thin rice paper…

    Reply

  213. Brenda Lautenschlaeger says

    Mar 6, 2012 at 9:30 am

    I have only tried some of the ingredients in this salad and finding out that I have food allergies have been trying really hard to try new foods……I love quinoa had it in another salad last summer and thought it was great……

    Reply

  223. Amanda Beam says

    Mar 6, 2012 at 9:34 am

    “Love” (Like) OXO on Facebook and Twitter! Just discovered you through OXO, following you on Twitter and Facebook as well now!! My husband is a newly diagnosed diabetic, and I’m constantly looking for new recipes for him. Thanks for this one!!

    Reply

  226. PJ says

    Mar 6, 2012 at 9:35 am

    I really wanted a mandolin last night when I was slicing potatoes and onions for coddle. This would be awesome!

    Reply

  229. Jenni W says

    Mar 6, 2012 at 9:35 am

    I love this recipe! I also LOVE OXO… my ENTIRE wedding registry was OXO utensils (OK, maybe not ENTIRE, but definitely all the utensils!)

    Reply

  232. emily willingham says

    Mar 6, 2012 at 9:36 am

    this salad looks so good!!! I would love to win these OXO goodies – please enter me in the give-away, thanks!

    Reply

  233. GILDA MOREJON says

    Mar 6, 2012 at 9:36 am

    LOVE THIS RECIPE. I’M GOING TO TRY IT OUT ON THE FAMILY THIS FRIDAY. WOULD LOVE TO WIN THE SPINNER AND SLICER.

    Reply

  254. Rachel B says

    Mar 6, 2012 at 9:43 am

    I would love more cooking supplies! I’m moving into my first apartment next year. Those lettuce cups look yummy.

    Reply

  271. Jill says

    Mar 6, 2012 at 9:48 am

    I <3 quinoa and this recipe looks lovely!
    ALREADY DO! 1. Follow OXO on Twitter.
    DONE! 2. Follow Cookin’ Canuck on Twitter.
    DONE! 3. Tweet about this giveaway, including my Twitter handle.
    ALREADY DO! 4. “Like” OXO on Facebook.
    DONE! 5. “Like”Cookin’ Canuck on Facebook.
    DONE! 6. Share on your Facebook page and leave me the link.
    http://www.facebook.com/barrelofmonkeys
    DONE! 7. Follow Cookin’ Canuck on Pinterest.

    Reply

  279. Betty Moderno says

    Mar 6, 2012 at 9:53 am

    I love Oxo products. I have a potato peeler that just glides over the potatos and is so easy to use. Love it so much that it is what I give at all bridal showers as a wishing well gift.

    Reply

  282. SL Hansen says

    Mar 6, 2012 at 9:56 am

    Wow, this salad looks great! It’ll be perfect for a Lenten Friday meal. I’m a big Oxo fan, too.

    Reply

  286. wendy rose says

    Mar 6, 2012 at 10:07 am

    this sure does not look like rabbit food; i will be trying this recipe. Love OXO products and follow them on facebook. great tips. would love the slicer i aways struggle slicing tomatoes as i make them so uneven.

    Reply

  287. Linda McClellan says

    Mar 6, 2012 at 10:08 am

    Found this site at a great time. I am trying to find light low-calorie recipes as my husband needs to lose weight for health reasons. And I always need good vegetable recipes to use when our garden is producing this summer. Glad this website is here and also that I found it! The kitchen tools are great, my weakness!

    Reply

  306. Janice Wilson says

    Mar 6, 2012 at 11:28 am

    I have just developed a new love for salad and I enjoy one every day for lunch. These tools would be great. I also follow you on facebook and follow oxo on facebook too.

    Reply

  320. Kristin says

    Mar 6, 2012 at 1:26 pm

    I’ve been wanting to try quinoa for some time now…I even have it sitting in my pantry! I’m not a shrimp lover but some of the other recipes you shared sound fantastic!

    Reply

  326. felicity says

    Mar 6, 2012 at 2:22 pm

    yum! it’s refreshing to find new recipes that won’t make me gain 10 pounds just looking at them 🙂

    Reply

  327. martha calie says

    Mar 6, 2012 at 3:12 pm

    I think this recipe looks great. I have some health issues and have returned to eating. I think I would eat this……

    Reply

  340. Shannon says

    Mar 6, 2012 at 10:18 pm

    I have yet to try quinoa but I keep hearing how wonderful it is. Your recipes have inspired me to give it a try!

    Reply

  343. Margot Perry says

    Mar 7, 2012 at 11:31 am

    I saw OXO’s Green salad spinner on “The Chew” today listed as one of the essential kitchen tools to have! Awesome!

    Reply

  352. kathi prochko says

    Mar 8, 2012 at 2:25 pm

    made this for lunch in anticipation of easter brunch — tired of the same old salad. OMG too easy & soooo tasty! this will be a big hit! many thanks!

    Reply

  353. Sue says

    Mar 8, 2012 at 3:04 pm

    I’ve been meaning to try quinoa. Now I have a good recipe and an excuse to go get some and try it!

    Reply

  385. Lynda Prendergast says

    Mar 12, 2012 at 9:07 pm

    I love this recipe. I really could use the Oxo products. I love to cook and love your recipes. thankx…….

    Reply

  387. Kathleen Conner says

    Mar 12, 2012 at 9:35 pm

    My mandatory entry didn’t seem to post!

    I have a mandoline, but it’s pretty big, so I don’t use it very often. I bet I’d use this handy little mandoline an awful lot more.

    Reply

  389. Katia says

    Mar 13, 2012 at 6:46 am

    Such a simple, delicious recipe! Your comment that if the taste isn’t there, you eat more really hit home for me – if something tastes extraordinary, you don’t feel the need to eat as much. Perhaps because it makes us eat slower, to savour it? In any case, a beautifully simple recipe – thankyou for sharing!

    Reply

  391. John Billiris says

    Mar 13, 2012 at 8:05 am

    How timely. We had bought quinoa a while ago, but my wife was just telling me that she couldn’t figure out what to do with it. We know it’s healthy, but, contrary to our original impression, is NOT a “rice substitute” in recipes. I’m printing up 3 of the recipes, and we’ll try those. Thanks.

    Reply

  399. Gloria Clark says

    Mar 13, 2012 at 12:10 pm

    What a great recipe Dara! I enjoy all of the items in the recipe — going to run out now and get some avocado and shrimp!
    And, my salad spinner is my favourite kitchen tool — I could use a new one! 🙂

    Reply

  400. Mary says

    Mar 13, 2012 at 12:28 pm

    Love your blog, Like you on FB, have tried a number of your recipes and love quinoa and cold rice-type salads so this one looks great AND could REALLY use a salad spinner, would also love the mandolin, but the salad spinner would be used constantly. Thanks for the opportunity.

    Reply

  401. Terri says

    Mar 13, 2012 at 12:30 pm

    Great recipe. The only modification I would make is that I usually cook quinoa with chicken broth and garlic. It takes away the grain flavour that I don’t prefer with quinoa.

    Reply

  436. kita says

    Mar 22, 2012 at 8:46 pm

    I have been saving this recipe since you posted it in my foodbuzz inbox. I finally bought some quinoa and am ready to try it! I’ve never had it before but I am really looking forward to this salad.

    Reply

  444. Mariam says

    Aug 30, 2012 at 11:17 am

    I had to laugh at your comment about washing lettuce, it is definitely not one of my favorite past times. Makes me feel validated to know that I am not alone in my dislike of lettuce scrubbing. Thank you for sharing some great tips and such a lovely recipe. Shrimp has become a new food inspiration for me so I’m always on the look out for recipes, and then you add avacado and it just becomes heavenly! Thanks!

    Reply

  445. Ashley says

    Dec 30, 2012 at 9:28 pm

    Hi there,

    I am a full time college student and would love to take this for lunch.

    Would you recommend keeping the dressing on the side until I am going to eat or does it last well if I take it pre-added?

    I probably won’t eat lunch 5-7 hours after I pack it.

    Thanks so much!

    Reply

    • Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says

      Dec 30, 2012 at 9:44 pm

      Hi Ashley, typically I would recommend dressing salads right before eating. However, quinoa dishes do just fine when dressed ahead of time, even hours ahead. The benefit to doing so in this recipe is that the acid in the dressing (lemon juice) will help to keep the avocado from turning brown. I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply

  446. Teresina Ortega says

    Jan 9, 2013 at 12:43 pm

    I follow oxo on Facebook and cooking Canuck on Facebook and Pinterest. This is an awesome giveaway.

    Reply

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