Bring on the Bay love. Earthy and ever-so-lightly spicy, Old Bay seasoning delivers a delicious punch to the traditional. Old Bay shrimp salad is a go-to if you love that earthy Chesapeake flavor (like we do). It adds a much more memorable touch to a light lunch.
Old Bay packs a mild paprika-level heat, and even that is subdued as it’s part of a larger seasoning blend. Think more a warmth than actually spiciness here. It’s perfectly fine to serve to nearly anyone, no matter their spicy food preference. But if you want a little more, add in a pinch of cayenne pepper powder to the Old Bay. Cayenne provides a strong medium-level heat (30,000 to 50,000 Scoville heat units), so start with a pinch and move up from there. You can add more in as needed.
We love this salad’s versatility as a meal. Serve it as a light lunch over a bed of lettuce, as a sandwich or wrap, or simply with some crackers as a tasty appetizer. Any way you serve it, it won’t stay on the plate long.
See it being made:
Like this recipe? You’ll love these too:
- Old Bay Boiled Shrimp: The recipe takes just four ingredients and fifteen minutes to make. So good.
- Cajun Crab Mushrooms: Cajun seasoning brings to life this crab mixture and it’s contained in a delicious mushroom cap.
- Cajun Pickled Eggs: This is a “love ’em or hate ’em” recipe. But if you love ’em, you really love ’em.
Old Bay Shrimp Salad
Ingredients
- 2 pounds medium shrimp unpeeled
- 1/2 cup celery minced
- 1/3 cup onion minced
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup Old Bay seasoning + 1 teaspoon
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water and add in 1/4 cup Old Bay seasoning. Bring the water to a boil.
- Add the shrimp to the boiling water and cook until the shrimp turn pink (approximately 2 minutes).
- Remove shrimp from the water and allow them to cool for 2 to 3 minutes. Peel and devein the shrimp, then chop the shrimp into small pieces.
- Place the chopped shrimp in a mixing bowl and add in the celery, onion, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and the remaining teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Cover the bowl and chill for 1 to 2 hours prior to serving.
- Serve as a wrap, as a sandwich, atop lettuce, or with crackers.