Description
This Hot Honey Blackened Shrimp Caesar Salad combines succulent, spicy shrimp coated in a flavorful blackening spice blend, drizzled with sweet and spicy hot honey, served atop crisp romaine lettuce with tangy Caesar dressing, crunchy croutons, and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for a quick, vibrant, and satisfying meal in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Seasoning
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Hot Honey Sauce
- 1/4 cup hot honey (or regular honey with a pinch of red pepper flakes)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (optional, for tang)
- 1 tablespoon lime juice (optional)
Salad and Garnish
- 4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup croutons (store-bought or homemade)
- 1/4 cup Caesar dressing (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
- Prepare the shrimp seasoning: In a small bowl, combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix well to create the blackening seasoning.
- Season the shrimp: Pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Toss them in olive oil, then coat evenly with the blackening seasoning mixture.
- Cook the shrimp: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the shrimp in a single layer. Cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side until the shrimp are opaque and have a nice charred crust. Remove from heat.
- Make the hot honey sauce: In a small bowl, combine hot honey with apple cider vinegar and lime juice if using. Stir well to blend flavors. Adjust seasoning if needed.
- Assemble the salad: Place the chopped romaine lettuce in a large bowl. Drizzle the Caesar dressing and toss until the leaves are evenly coated.
- Plate the salad: Divide the dressed lettuce among four plates. Top each salad with the cooked blackened shrimp, grated Parmesan cheese, and croutons.
- Finish with hot honey: Drizzle the prepared hot honey sauce over the shrimp and salad for a delightful sweet and spicy kick. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Adjust cayenne pepper according to your heat preference.
- For an extra tangy flavor, don’t skip the apple cider vinegar and lime juice in the hot honey sauce.
- Use fresh shrimp for the best texture and flavor, but frozen shrimp thawed properly works well too.
- You can make homemade croutons by tossing cubed bread with olive oil and baking until crisp.
- Store leftover dressing separately to avoid soggy salad.
