Description
Enjoy a bright and zesty Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta Salad featuring succulent shrimp, fresh lemon, garlic, and perfectly cooked pasta tossed with cherry tomatoes, red onion, and fresh herbs. This quick and easy salad is light yet satisfying, colorful, and versatile, perfect for lunch or a light dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Pasta
- 1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp
- 8 ounces short pasta (rotini or farfalle, plant-based for gluten-free option)
Dressing
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1/4 cup olive oil (natural)
- 1 tablespoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon natural gelling agent
Salad Mix-ins
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup fresh herbs (parsley or basil), chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Pasta: Cook your chosen short pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool down for the salad.
- Cook the Shrimp: Sauté the shrimp with minced garlic in a splash of olive oil (natural) over medium heat until pink and opaque, then set aside to cool slightly.
- Make the Dressing: Whisk together fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil (natural), vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural), minced garlic, and a pinch of natural gelling agent to help bind the dressing smoothly.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, toss together the cooked pasta, shrimp, halved cherry tomatoes, finely chopped red onion, and fresh herbs until evenly mixed.
- Dress the Salad: Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to coat all ingredients with zingy, garlicky flavor.
Notes
- Cook shrimp just right: Slightly undercooked shrimp stay tender and juicy when chilled in the salad.
- Use fresh lemon zest for a more vibrant flavor.
- Chill before serving: Let the salad rest in the fridge for 30 minutes to meld flavors perfectly.
- Do not skip the natural gelling agent: It helps the dressing stick to ingredients without weighing them down.
- Add herbs last to keep them bright and fresh, folding in just before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
Keywords: lemon garlic shrimp pasta salad, shrimp pasta salad, lemon shrimp salad, quick shrimp salad, garlic pasta salad, light dinner recipe
