Bring on the Bay love…
Earthy and ever-so-lightly spicy, Old Bay seasoning delivers a delicious punch to your traditional shrimp salad. 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. Now, if you want that Chesapeake flavor without the mayo, check out this spicy Old Bay boiled shrimp recipe. The recipe takes just four ingredients and fifteen minutes to make.
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.