I like using linguini for this particular recipe shrimp salad recipe; as I love shrimp pasta salad. But that is entirely up to you.  Any pasta will do the job; some people prefer pasta shells, others use macaroni. Al gusto. If you are not keen on pasta then just follow the steps without adding it.

For this Shrimp Salad Recipe you will need the following ingredients:

450g pasta – preferably linguini

750g nice ripe tomatoes – peeled and minced

120g cod

120g squid and cut in the shape of rings

A handful of cooked or raw mussels

A handful of shrimps

A glass of cooking white wine

1 medium size onion

2tbsp extra virgin olive oil

A knob of butter

A bunch of fresh basil leaves – chopped

Salt and pepper

Grated cheese – preferably parmesan

Always, always wash your hands before cooking and always be on your own in the kitchen when making your new recipes as you are going to be concentrating on the cooking and don’t want children around as it can be dangerous.

Let’s start.

First, place the olive oil in a pan and at low-medium heat. We want to lightly fry the onions. The way I do that and to make sure the onions DO NOT BURN is to keep removing them and sometimes I place a lid on the pan so the moisture stays in. Now add the wine, basil and chopped tomatoes to the pan. If the heat is to high you want to lower it. Let the ingredients boil nicely – still low to medium heat – for about ten minutes or so. Even though this is a shrimp salad recipe we also want to add diverse seafood as it gives extra texture and flavor to our salad. So add the fish, mussels and shrimp.

I personally like to buy mussels in the shell; some people are a bit squeamish about this. When you buy then in the shell the mussels are still ALIVE, it took me a long time to get used to the idea of murder! As a little girl I used to cry when I saw other people cooking them, in all honesty, but I have become a lot more selfish when cooking and usually tend to turn a “blind eye” and just get going.

So, whatever your choice, buy your mussels cooked or raw. But they are an important addition to this shrimp salad recipe.

When done, add the squid rings and cook until the squid turns white or it’s cooked all the way through.

Cook your choice of pasta and don’t forget the salt. Add a lug of olive oil so the pasta doesn’t stick once cooked and drain.

Place in a bowl and add what you have just cooked to it. Sprinkle the basil and grated cheese (parmesan is preferred). Serve and ask your guests if they would like black pepper on it. Grind as desired. Guests will love it!

This salad is very healthy and perfect if you are trying to loose some weight, but if you prefer something a little more strict, you could have a look at the Maple Syrup Diet.

I hope you enjoyed my shrimp salad recipe. Check the site for even more shrimp recipes!

It seems nowadays that seafood is a must at people’s dinner tables every once in a while for many different reasons.  Shrimps are definitely one of the most exquisite and versatile crustaceans shellfish and also very popular in many countries across the globe. Shrimp recipes can be simply delicious if done in a precise manner and making sure every detail is taken care of. We cannot forget the health benefits that these wonderful little creatures possess, and also when buying shrimp at supermarkets we have to make sure we know the different things to look for to get the best quality for a fair price. There are many types of shrimp that can be purchased; depending on the shrimp recipes we have planned to make and or personal taste. Also, we have to know how to cook it properly as it tends to turn chewy if not done correctly! This article will look at shrimp as seafood, its health benefits, the basic two types available and also a quick look at how to cook it to perfection.

It is quite interesting to denote that the term seafood is “applied” to any sea animal (or plant) that is eaten by humans served as food, which includes sea water fish and also shellfish. Shrimp are crustaceans that can be usually found in both salt and fresh water. They also serve as food for other sea animals and humans farm them as a source for consumption.

Not many people are aware of its enormous health benefits. Let’s have a look at some of them:

-    Very low in fat and also low in calories (so great if you are on a diet!)
-    Full of vitamin D, B12 and a wonderful source of omega-3 fatty acids.
-    Shrimp is also a very good source of the mineral selenium (vital to good health).

When buying shrimp there are certain things we have to look at, freshness being one of them. Shrimp contains an enzyme that can make the muscle (what we usually consider to be the shrimp “body”) collapse in just a couple of days. That is why shrimp is usually frozen the moment it arrives to the dock, or sold already cooked. Make sure you eat it the same day you buy it, at most two days after buying it; and ALWAYS keep it in the fridge. If you notice any “off” smell just throw it away; don’t take any risks!

When deciding which type of shrimp to purchase, you have to remember that you can choose between seawater shrimp and freshwater shrimp. The latter, is considerably bigger than seawater shrimp and it is very much treated like lobster. Seawater shrimp is the most common one, also the one I will be referring to in all my shrimp recipes displayed in the website.

I always buy my shrimp uncooked. After years of preparing shrimp recipes, I have learnt that already cooked shrimp is simply not as tasty and rather bland. Don’t be put off by the idea of cooking it yourself! It is easier than what it looks. All you need is a pan with boiling water, salt and a bay leaf. Cook your shrimp until pink. Leave for another 1 or 2 minutes and then remove from the pan. That is all.

Pretty easy, uh? Now, have a look around the site for my delicious up and coming recipes which include: shrimp scampi, grilled shrimp, coconut shrimp, shrimp salad, shrimp and grits, shrimp with pasta and lots of other easy shrimp recipes!