Alpha Gal Friendly Shrimp Salad with Avocado and Cilantro
This bright, zesty salad is the kind of dish that feels like summer in a bowl — tender poached shrimp tossed with creamy avocado, crisp cucumber, and a punchy lime-cumin dressing that ties everything together beautifully. For anyone navigating alpha-gal syndrome, seafood is a fantastic protein option, and shrimp sits squarely in the safe zone since the condition involves a reaction to mammalian meat, not fish or shellfish. Every single ingredient here is naturally free from mammalian products, so there's no need to scrutinize labels or swap anything out. The dressing is built from scratch with olive oil, fresh lime juice, and warm spices, which means no hidden dairy or meat-derived additives sneaking in from a bottled sauce. A handful of fresh cilantro and optional jalapeño give it a lively, restaurant-quality finish that makes this feel like way more than a simple salad. Toss it together and serve right away so the avocado stays vibrant and the shrimp stays perfectly tender.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 1 ½ lb large shrimp (21–25 count), peeled and deveined
- 1 tsp kosher salt, plus more for the poaching water
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 clove garlic, finely minced
- 2 ripe avocados, pitted, peeled, and cut into ¾-inch cubes
- 1 english cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced into half-moons
- ⅓ cup red onion, finely diced
- ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely diced (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Fill a medium saucepan with water, season generously with salt, and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 2–3 minutes, until opaque throughout and curled into a loose C-shape. Drain through a colander and spread on a plate to cool for 10 minutes.
- 2
In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, cumin, 1 tsp kosher salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and garlic until combined.
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