While winter wasn’t too bad this year, it still felt as if it lasted forever and I am so happy that the weather has finally started to warm up. Now it actually feels like the start of summer! As the seasons change, so does my appetite–winter calls for heavier comfort foods while summer calls for light salads and fresh fruit smoothies.
I’m celebrating the start of summer with this lovely and light, yet health-packed, shrimp salad with a creamy strawberry mint dressing … and a very special ingredient 🙂
Here’s this salad’s secret ingredient
I love how I can already see the question marks on your faces despite not seeing them. Yep, there’s an algae oil out there and it’s available to buy online as well as in Draeger’s Market, for all my lovely San Francisco readers (miss that city!).
Thrive® Algae Oil is the first-ever culinary algae oil on the market! Thrive® Algae Oil has a light, delicate flavor that really lets the natural flavors of food shine through when you’re cooking with it–sort of like a mix between olive oil and coconut oil.
For all of my environmentally-conscious readers, you will be happy to hear that algae can also provide a sustainable source of oil. In the next year, Thrive® Algae Oil is poised to become one of the most sustainably produced cooking oils, with more Thrive® Algae Oil per acre of land, and a lower carbon and water footprint, than nearly all other cooking oils.
It also has the highest level of monounsaturated fat, the ‘good’ fat, compared to other oils on the market and has a high smoking point. This really excited me because of how multi-purpose it made the oil–I can use it to make salads, bake it with and use it in stir-fries. As such, I teamed up with Thrive® to make a delicious and healthy summer meal.
Summer SHrimp Salad with Creamy Strawberry Mint Dressing
So, let me just start off by saying that this salad is easy-peasy. And also child friendly because according to my husband, the dressing “tastes like a smoothie!” In this salad, I incorporated the algae oil into the dressing itself, to give the dressing a creamier texture with a healthy kick, as well as into the cooking of the shrimp. Since the oil has such a high smoking point, you can crank up on the heat on your stove, and throw (okay, don’t throw it) the shrimp and algae oil onto a pan and cook it quickly, leaving it tender and delicious.
Apart from Thrive® Algae Oil, what makes it so healthy? Ahh yes, good question, smart reader. All the things!
Shrimp is fairly low-calorie but packed with protein–I used 4 ounces of shrimp, which gives you 23 grams of protein at only 120 calories.
The toasted pumpkin seeds also contain some protein, as well as healthy fats, which combine to give you a light and refreshing salad that will keep you full for hours. And remember, protein is so important if you’re working out regularly to help you rebuild and repair your muscles.
The salad is a mixture of baby spinach and assorted salad leaves which contain a variety of vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin A, C and iron (iron is especially important for us ladies).
And the dressing–it has strawberries, and apart from being delightful to eat (come on, don’t tell me that you don’t feel like a little kid again eating them) are valuable sources of antioxidants as well as being a lower-carbohydrate fruit. Helpful for those of us who may be controlling our carbohydrate intake.
Have I got you drooling yet?
Summer Shrimp Salad with Creamy Strawberry Mint Dressing Recipe
Summer Shrimp Salad with Strawberry Mint Algae Oil Dressing
Ingredients
- Shrimp and salad
- 0.5-1 tbsp Thrive™ Algae Oil per 4 ounces of shrimp
- 4-8 ounces of shrimp I like to eat 4 ounces all to myself, but maybe you would prefer less
- 4 cups of spinach
- 1-2 cups salad leaves
- 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
- 1-2 tsp garlic I use garlic paste
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Dressing
- 2 tbsp Thrive™ Algae Oil
- 1 cup chopped strawberries
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh mint
- 1-2 tbsp maple syrup
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Firstly, prepare the dressing. Simply whizz all of the ingredients up in a food processor or blender. Should take anywhere from 1-2 minutes--stop when it looks creamy and smooth. Set aside for now.
- Heat up a pan on medium-high heat. Toast your pumpkin seeds for 1-2 minutes and then set aside.
- Now, you make the shrimp! Heat the algae oil on a pan at medium-high heat for a minute or so. Then add your garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Now, add your shrimp and cook each side for 2-4 minutes. Add a pinch of salt and pepper for taste. Once the shrimp is done, set aside.
- This is the last and most fun step! Get some bowls and put your spinach and salad leaves in them. Toss with the delicious strawberry mint dressing. Then add your toasted pumpkin seeds and shrimp.
- Eat and enjoy!
Notes
You can use more or less spinach and salad, according to your needs.
I like to think that it is a requirement to enjoy this salad outside on a sunny day with a glass of red wine, or perhaps a non-alcoholic spritzer. What do you think? You can definitely meal prep this salad as well for lunches at work. Just keep the dressing separate from the salad leaves so they don’t go all soggy!
You can honestly enjoy it in a variety of different settings; and you know what the best thing is? It takes a grand total of 15 or so minutes to take and it is so freaking good. And healthy. Always a welcome bonus!
I hope you let me know if you try it by tagging me on Instagram or leaving a comment below 🙂
Honestly yours,
Alice
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Disclosure: Special thanks to Thrive® for sponsoring this post! I only partner with brands that I love and use personally, and I thank you for supporting the brands that keep Honestly Fitness active.
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