A simple, but flavour packed salad that is ready in under 10 minutes. Add some extra flavour to prawns (shrimp) with a little lime and chilli and pair with creamy avocado for a light summer salad. This Chilli and Lime Prawn and Avocado Salad is a tasty lunch or light dinner that proved that salads don't have to be boring.
In the warmer months, we practically live on salads. But, having the same one all the time can get a little boring, so we are always creating new and exciting salads, and this is one of our favourites.
Slightly crispy prawns cooked in a chilli and lime marinade on a bed of greens with creamy avocado. This is a simple salad, with just a few ingredients, that has a lot of flavour.
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Why You Will Love It
- A light and fresh salad
- Ready in under 10 minutes
- Just a few simple ingredients
- A new way to enjoy prawns
- Easy to adapt
Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Salad greens - The base of any good salad, we like to have a good mixture. We have used romaine for crunch, and then spinach for a nutrient boost. Feel free to use your favourite, or whatever you have that needs using. Something like rocket lettuce (arugula) adds a nice peppery flavour too.
- Prawns - We used cooked king prawns. If you are using raw prawns, then cooking times will vary.
- Lime and chilli - This is where all the flavour comes from. You might need to use a whole lime if your lime isn't very juicy. If you don't like spicy food, then take the seeds out of the chilli and it won't be as spicy.
- Avocado - This adds lots of creaminess to the salad and healthy fats too. See below for our tips on choosing the perfect avocado.
- Herbs - We used coriander, as it goes really well with the lime and chilli. Fresh parsley would work well too.
- Red onion and cucumber - An easy way to add some crunch and colour to the salad.
- Salad dressing - We used our Lemon Vinaigrette as a dressing for the salad leaves.
Variations
The great thing about salads is that they are so easy to adapt. Switch and swap ingredients to suit your own tastes, or just use whatever you have in the fridge to help reduce food waste. Here are some of our favourite ingredients to add:
- Grains - Anything like giant couscous, bulgar wheat, wild rice, pasta or orzo works to bulk this salad out and make it a more filling meal.
- Beans - Give this prawn and avocado salad a protein boost with some cooked beans. Butter beans, chickpeas or black beans all work well, and they add some creaminess too.
- Vegetables - We love anything that we can add some extra vegetables to, and this salad it just that. Grated carrot is an easy way to do that, and it adds lots of colour too. We also like roasted peppers and artichokes.
- Fruit - We love fruit in salad (have you tried our Grilled Peach Salad?). Add some sweetness to this salad with some grilled mango or pineapple.
- Nuts or seeds - To add some crunch to this salad, finish it off with a sprinkle of pine nuts or toasted flaked almonds. Peanuts work well too.
Step by Step
- Step 1: Mix the prawns with the oil, coriander (cilantro), garlic, lime juice and chilli flakes.
- Step 2: Add to a hot pan and fry for 2 minutes.
- Step 3: Make the lemon vinaigrette.
- Step 4: Dress the salad leaves. Transfer to a serving bowl.
- Step 5: Top the lettuce with the cucumber, avocado and cooked prawns.
How to Pick the Perfect Avocado
The key is to pick a ripe but not over-ripe avocados. We like Hass avocados. Try to look for avocados that give a bit to a gentle squeeze. But you don't want one that it too soft, as it will be over ripe.
Don't worry if when you cut into it there are some bruised or brown bits, as you can scoop those out and discard before chopping up the rest up.
Take a look at our post on different ways to eat avocados.
Marinated Prawns
The majority of the flavour in this prawn and avocado salad comes from the sesame oil, chilli, lime and herbs that the prawns are cooked in. They are flash fried for just a minute, to take on the flavours and give them a little crispiness. A splash of soy sauce adds some nice flavour too.
You don't have to add these though, and you could swap them for your favourite seasoning blend like Mexican or Cajun.
Salad Dressing
This prawn and avocado salad doesn't have a dressing in the traditional sense. We have used our Lemon Vinaigrette for the salad leaves.
However, you could add a dressing if you prefer. A balsamic based dressing would work well with the creaminess of the avocado.
Serving Suggestions
If you want a really light and low calorie salad, then serving this by itself works well. However, we like to turn this into more of a filling meal with a few sides. Here are some of our favourites:
- Easy Homemade Flatbreads
- Air Fryer Roast Potatoes
- Easy Spanish Rice
- Baked Tortilla Chips
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Roasted Lemon Asparagus
- Spanish Olives
- Greek Potatoes
- Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
Extra Tips
- To store unused halves of avocado, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and place in fridge - it will be good until the next day. Don't worry if it goes a little brown, as you can just scrape that bit off and you will be left with bright green avocado.
- If you are using raw prawns, then cooking times will vary. Make sure prawns are fulling defrosted if you are using frozen prawns.
- Sprinkle some chopped spring onions (scallions) on top for some extra crunch.
Frequently Asked Questions
This salad stores for 2 days in the fridge in an air tight container as long as it hasn't been dressed. Adding the dressing will make it go soggy. So, if you think you are going to have leftovers, transfer the extras into an air tight container before dressing and store it in the fridge.
More Prawn Recipes
If you’ve tried this prawn and avocado salad, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Chilli and Lime Prawn and Avocado Salad
Ingredients
- 240 g (9 oz) Mixed lettuce leaves
- 180 g (6.5 oz) King prawns
- 0.5 teaspoon Olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Red chilli flakes
- 1 Lime - juice only
- 10 g (0.66 cups) Fresh coriander (cilantro) - finely chopped
- 2 Garlic clove - crushed
- 1 Avocado - sliced
- 0.25 Cucumber - sliced
- 1 Red onion - thinly sliced
- 100 ml (0.5 cups) Lemon vinaigrette
Instructions
- Mix 180 g King prawns with 0.5 teaspoon Olive oil, 10 g Fresh coriander (cilantro), 2 Garlic clove, juice of 1 Lime and 1 teaspoon Red chilli flakes. Add to a hot pan and fry for 2 minutes.
- Make 100 ml Lemon vinaigrette and dress 240 g Mixed lettuce leaves. Transfer to a serving bowl.
- Top the lettuce with 0.25 Cucumber, 1 Avocado, 1 Red onion and the cooked prawns.
Recipe Tips
- To store unused halves of avocado, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and place in fridge - it will be good until the next day. Don't worry if it goes a little brown, as you can just scrape that bit off and you will be left with bright green avocado.
- If you are using raw prawns, then cooking times will vary. Make sure prawns are fulling defrosted if you are using frozen prawns.
- Sprinkle some chopped spring onions (scallions) on top for some extra crunch.
Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
It's wonderful being able to pick veggies from your garden, isn't it? Since we downsized, we don't have the huge garden we used to, but the few tomatoes we pick are certainly appreciated. Your salad sounds wonderful. We eat salads year round, and I love your combination. Thank you for sharing.
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Omg, congrats on the big reveal! A girl!!!! I'm so thrilled for you, Dannii! Sending virtual hugs! Now food- I am looving this salad! Zesty, a bit spicy, and totally perfect for summer! The shrimp look deeeelish! Love how light and healthy this is, yet big on flavors! Cheers, girlfriend!
Laura ~ RYG says
I'm loving all these wonderful recipes with lime and avocados these days. And those tomatoes. Oh yay for fresh tomatoes. Mine are doing so good this year ~ my best crop. Too bad the other things bombed. But I tried! They died!
Lubka Henry says
This salad looks so good that is making me hungry again! Home grown veg are the best!
Ali @ Home & Plate says
I think I could eat this all by myself. I love fresh tomatoes from the garden and I have been on an avocado kick lately. The addition of fresh prawns puts this over the top. Delicious!
Susie @ Suzlyfe says
Chili, Lime, Prawn, Avocado, Salad. SO MANY OF MY FAVORITE THINGS!
Tammy says
Prawn and avocado is one of my favourite combinations (usually in a prawn cocktails), but I haven't tried it with chilli and line before. Great idea!
Isabelle says
That is such a beautiful looking salad. I am so jealous that you have tomatoes already. I am not sure we are going to get any this year.
Emma @ Supper in the Suburbs says
Fab combo of flavours. Ideal for a hot day like today! I know what I'll be having for lunch :)
Fashion and Style Police says
I enjoyed the heatwave last week as I was down south. Going to make the most of the rest of summer with these summer salad recipe.
Kirsty says
It sounds really nice I'm just not a fan of avocado!
Rebecca | AAUBlog says
i love everything in this, i am an avocado queen! looks and sounds so good x
LaaLaa says
I've not had prawns in so long, when I first cut out meat and was still eating fish, I lived on prawns until I was tired of them but that was 8 years ago need to give this recipe a try xo
Beth Sachs says
I'm envious - my homegrown tomatoes are still very green! I love the prawn avocado combo - looks like the perfect summer salad to me!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
Awesome! I just picked up some yellow tomatoes from my balcony too.