Southern Shrimp Pasta Salad
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Southern Shrimp Pasta Salad – combines Southern-style pickled shrimp with all the best elements of a pasta salad.
For the best Southern shrimp pasta salad, keep these tips in mind:
Choose the right pasta: Orecchiette is a great fit for this recipe, but fusilli, penne, or farfalle can also be used in its place if preferred.
Season the cooking liquid: It might seem like a waste, but generously salting your water does wonders for the flavor of the pasta and shrimp.
Cook the pasta until al dente: Overcooked pasta will fall apart and become mushy in the salad.
Stop the cooking process: Transferring the hot pasta to a baking sheet and the cooked shrimp to an ice water bath helps stop the cooking process for the ideal texture of both.
Revive before serving: If making this salad up to 24 hours ahead, revive with an additional splash of olive oil to loosen up the texture, if needed.
![Southern-Shrimp-Pasta-Salad-Recipe](https://pbonlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot-2025-01-19-at-10.54.44-AM.png)
Southern Shrimp Pasta Salad Recipe
Rounded out with pasta, crunchy sugar snap peas and celery, and lots of fresh herbs, she created a pasta salad that feels light, flavorful, and super satisfying.
Dressed with a simple lemon dressing featuring a touch of Old Bay, it’s also anything but bland.
The shrimp are really the stars of this recipe, though.
The genius part of this recipe is that they’re cooked in the same pot as the pasta, making for less cleanup.
After cooking your pasta, you’ll use a slotted spoon to transfer it from the boiling water to a paper towel-lined baking sheet; then you’ll add a little Old Bay to the water and cook the shrimp in the same pot.
Cook and cool the pasta, cook and cool the shrimp, and you’re pretty much there.
Tossed with a quick vinaigrette, herbs, and chopped vegetables, this pasta salad comes together in no time.
Cook and cool pasta: Fill a large bowl with ice water; set aside. Cook orecchiette pasta in boiling water with salt until al dente.
Transfer pasta to a paper towel-lined backing sheet and let cool completely.
Reserve boiling water in pot.
Cook and cool shrimp: Add some Old Bay seasoning to boiling water, and boil a few minutes.
Add shrimp and cook through.
Transfer shrimp to the ice water bath to cool completely.
Make dressing: Whisk together lemon juice, mustard, and honey.
Whisk in oil until smooth.
Whisk in garlic, red pepper, black pepper, and remaining salt and Old Bay seasoning.
Combine pasta salad ingredients: In a large bowl, toss pasta, shrimp, sugar snap peas, shallots, celery, dill, and parsley with vinaigrette.
Serve or refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
![Southern-Shrimp-Pasta-Salad-Recipe-Ingredients](https://pbonlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot-2025-01-19-at-10.56.32-AM-1024x683.png)
Southern Shrimp Pasta Salad Recipe Ingredients
Ingredients for Southern Shrimp Pasta Salad
A fresh, bright combination of snap peas, lemon, shrimp, pasta, fresh herbs, and more combine for this spring- and summer-ready pasta salad.
To make Southern shrimp pasta salad, you’ll need:
Fresh dill and parsley: A fresh, aromatic touch that adds brightness to the dish.
Ice: To prepare an ice bath for quickly cooling the shrimp after cooking.
Kosher salt: Seasons the cooking liquid for flavorful pasta and shrimp.
Orecchiette pasta: Small ear-shaped pasta that holds the vinaigrette nicely.
Lower-sodium Old Bay seasoning: Adds a classic, savory seafood flavor to the shrimp.
Medium-size raw shrimp: The star protein of the dish, perfectly bite-size with a firm but tender texture.
Fresh lemon juice: Brightens the salad for a light and citrusy flavor.
Coarse-grained Dijon mustard: Adds a mild tanginess to the dressing.
Honey: Sweetens the dressing to balance the mustard and lemon.
Extra-virgin olive oil: The base of the dressing that emulsifies with the lemon juice, mustard, and honey to coat each bite of pasta, veggies, and shrimp.
Minced garlic: Adds a savory depth to the dressing.
Crushed red pepper: Adds a hint of heat.
Black pepper: For a peppery spice.
Fresh sugar snap peas: A sweet, crunchy texture that contrasts and adds a fresh touch to the pasta and shrimp.
Shallots: For a mild onion flavor.
Celery: A crisp, refreshing texture and slightly bitter note.
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