Thursday, September 29, 2005

Shrimp Avocado Salad

ShrimpAvocadoSalad
Dieting or mostly thinking that I should really go on a diet, has been a constant since I was a teenager. I cannot say that I've tried all the diets I know of (I do not count those I tried and could not go past the second or third day), but I've tried Weight Watchers and Atkins with some success. I managed to follow Somersize for a couple of months, the Schwarzbein Principle and the South Beach sound like too much work. On the positive side, all diets have some dishes that are so good that you keep making them even after you ditched the diet.

For Weight Watchers it was the applesauce and fat-free cottage cheese sprinkled with cinnamon. I still love it and make it often. Basically you add 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce (if you make your own using sweet apples, you can still call it unsweetened even if it tastes sweet), 1/3 cup fat-free cottage cheese, mix the whole think, sprinkle with cinnamon et voilá! A tasty low-cal desert.

Today's salad is one that I concotted when I did my stint into Atkins. True you loose weight fast on that diet, but I'm a carb girl and living without bread, and muffins, and bagels, was not fun. I tried the low-carb flours which are basically a mixture of soy flour and some gluten but it was not the same thing. So another diet went by the wayside and, as expected, when I went back to my old stapples I put back all the weight I had lost, plus some. Well, that's life I guess!

But this salad is delicious, great to take to work and I make it time and again. It is very satisfying. With a piece of fruit you have a good and healthy lunch.


For this salad I usually purchase one of those packaged 250 gr. rings of shrimp. They are very flavourful, you only need to shell the tails, and they are usually cheap. I get several boxes when they are on sale, for about $2.99 or $3.99 per package. Considering that our cafeteria charges $5.75 for a platter with about the same portion of food, this is a good price indeed.

Shrimp Avocado Salad

1 shrimp ring (about 250 gr. / 10 oz.)
1 avocado
6 brazil nuts, cut up
1 tablespoon vinaigrette (recipe follows)

Peel and dice the avocado, put the shrimp on top and the cut up brazil nuts. The nuts give this salad a crunch that I do very much love. Add the vinaigrette, mix lightly and cover. I add the vinaigrette right in the morning when I make the salad. There is no green to wilt and the flavours have time to meld.

Vinaigrette

1/3 cup roasted garlic olive oil
1/2 cup cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons mixed dried herbs or 2 tablespoons finelly chopped fresh herbs

Mix all the ingredients in a jar. Give it a shake before using.

I usually use dry oregano and thyme or fresh lemon thyme and basil. These are my favourite herb combinations.

14 comments:

Kalyn Denny said...

Well as you know, I am still into the lower carb way of eating. Not Atkins though. I agree that it does seem too restrictive. This salad sounds just delicious. I wish I had some right now.

Dawna said...

Shrimp and avocado are a glorious combination! I could eat a salad like that almost every day...

Ana said...

Kalyn and Dawna: it really is a wonderful salad. I also tried it with almonds but did not like as much. Brazil nuts, maybe because they are somewhat bland on their own blend in well and do not conflict with the avocado and the shrimp.

Cat said...

it feels like the whole world is on a diet, myself included LOL well its more a concious decision to eat healthier foods than anything else and that salad looks divine and super healthy, im going to give it a go if the avocados havent gone up too high in price. have a great day :)

FoodNinja said...

Sexy salad... I am a reluctant avocado user... It comes in my produce box and I always make salsa with it.. now I have something new to try.. thanks a bunch.

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Hi,
Nice blog you have here!
Please come and visit mine which is dedicated to Swiss and international cuisine, thanks.
Regards,
Rosa

http://rosas-yummy-yums.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Oh, I can ALWAYS use another avocado recipe. And shrimp, too? Heavenly. Thanks for this one, Ana!

Amy

Elvira said...

É uma entrada que costumo fazer frequentemente. Cá em casa, adoramos!

Kalyn Denny said...

I wrote about this salad and your blog on my blog today if you want to check it out.

Ana said...

Catesa: You are so right! Diet seems to be a constant in our lives. Hope you like the salad.

Templar: I very seldom make guacamole. I like nachos and guacamole but I avoid them because I cannot be dainty about nachos. I cannot eat little and if I eat lots the consequences are very visible. Sigh!

Rosa: Thanks for coming by. I certainly will pay you a visit too.

Amy: You're welcome! Hope you like it.

Elvira: Que tipo de camarão usam?

Kaly: Thanks Kalyn. I'll take a look.

Anonymous said...

Ana,
I'm always looking for different ways to use avocado, thanks! This looks fantastic.

Elvira said...

Olá, Ana! Está um pequeno meme na minha tasca para si! Um abraço.

Lady Amalthea said...

Hi! You've been tagged for the 23/5 Meme.

Joycelyn said...

hi ana, that looks delicious...shrimp and avocado are a match made in heaven - nobody need feel like they're missing out!