15-Minute Shrimp and Avocado Salad

This quick and easy shrimp salad is great tasting and makes it easy for you to receive the healthy benefits of shrimp along with vegetables. It makes a perfect light meal or substantial side salad. Prep and Cook Time: 15 minutes Serves 4 Ingredients: • 1 lb cooked medium sized shrimp (buy still frozen if possible for freshness), remove tails • 1 medium-sized tomato, seeded and chopped • 3 scallions, chopped • 1 large clove garlic, pressed • 2 TBS fresh lemon juice • 1 TBS balsamic vinegar • 1 large firm avocado, cut into 1/2-inch cubes • 1 TBS chopped cilantro • 1 TBS chopped fresh mint • 2 TBS chopped pumpkin seeds • Salt and pepper to taste • Pinch red pepper flakes • Extra virgin olive oil to taste • 1 head small romaine lettuce, outer leaves removed Directions: 1. Make sure shrimp is completely unfrozen if you buy it already cooked. Pat it dry with paper towels. 2. Mix all ingredients, except lettuce, in a bowl. For optimum flavor, marinate in refrigerator for 15 minutes or more. It is still very good served right away if you don't have the time. Serve on bed of chopped romaine lettuce. Serving Suggestion: Serve with Zesty Mexican Soup Healthy Cooking Tips: Buying shrimp that is still frozen will ensure that it will be as fresh as possible. That's because even "fresh shrimp" in stores is likely to have been frozen and so this type often loses their freshness very quickly. This recipe was created to be very quick and easy, so we added already cooked shrimp to the ingredient list. If you have the time, obviously it would have better flavor if the shrimp was raw and you cooked it yourself. It is very important either way to make sure the shrimp is patted dry. Otherwise it will dilute the flavor of your salad. Also, it is important that your avocado is ripe, yet still somewhat firm. If it is mushy, your salad will have an unattractive appearance.