Sometimes, it’s the simple things in life. There is nothing better than a crisp bed of Caesar-coated romaine finished off with all the goods: protein, croutons, cheese, and of course, pasta! It’s a must-try, I’m telling you! Fast-cooking shrimp makes for a fast, fun, lean protein in this favorite “recipe” of mine.
WHAT’S NEW?
I’ve BINGED November 9 by Colleen Hoover. Colleen, you did it again. Her books are the unputdownable kind. I’ve lost sleep because I’m just plowing through the book. Loved it.
Tonight I’m playing in a little tennis mixer. I’m trying to up my tennis game because 1. Fun and 2. I pay for the blessed membership, I best get to using it! I’ve been doing my part with tennis playing and Mark has turned into a stair master pro slash Olympic swimmer (kidding).
Aside from soccer games x2 and a hair appointment (I actually don’t look forward to getting my hair done at all, whatsoever), Mark and I have a date night planned. We haven’t had a date night in awhile, just him and I, and it should be good! Weekend, I’m ready for ya!
ROLL CALL FOR THIS RECIPE
- Salad lovers: If you love salad, there’s a near guarantee you’re a fan of Caesar salad. It’s like the gateway into the kingdom of salad. And most are pretty basic, some are better than other, but the twist on this one makes it arguably…the best!
- Shrimp: I adore shrimp. Quick to thaw, quick to cook. They cater to my always two steps behind trek through life.
KEY INGREDIENTS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
- Kens dressing lovers: JACKPOT. Ken’s, if you want to sponsor this post, hit me up. I’ll fan girl out like no fan girl has ever fanned before. I’m, like, SUPER loyal to Ken’s and more specifically 2 different products: the honey mustard and the creamy Caesar. There’s just no comparison, sorry Kraft and Wishbone and Briannas and whatever other folks are on the market. That said, if you disagree or are coming up short on Ken’s Creamy Caesar, swap in a Caesar dressing of your choosing!
- Protein: Shrimp not your jam? Chicken, tofu, salmon, whatever is your pleasure here. Or, go vegetarian and skip the meat/seafood entirely.
- Romaine lettuce: So crisp and readily available, romaine steals my heart and especially so in a Caesar salad. That said, use whatever lettuce variety or spinach you have on hand!
- Pasta: This recipe used a fun little rotini shape that was not available in a whole wheat variety. That said, using a whole wheat version would up the fiber big time in this recipe! Don’t feel limited to rotini, either, your pasta shape of preference is just great.
NUTRITIONAL MERITS
- Balance: Offering ample vegetable, protein, starch, and fat, this recipe offers great balance.
- Full-fat dressing: I am a strong proponent for the real deal with ingredients such as Caesar dressing. Lower fat or fat-free versions tend to be higher in both sodium and sugar, while requiring more product to provide a full-flavored result. I find that I use less of the “real deal” and it leaves me much more satisfied!
TIPS & VARIATIONS
- Make this meal vegetarian by omitting the shrimp!
- Go gluten-free by using a gluten-free crouton and pasta or omitting them!
- Use a large bowl to toss the salad well – this makes it much easier to evenly coat the lettuce in the thick dressing and make each bite equally delicious!
- Best served day of and at that, shortly after dressing.
STORAGE
- If you have leftovers, store the components separately in air-tight plastic bags or storage containers in the fridge and reassemble before serving as leftovers.
Shrimp Caesar Salad with a Twist
Sometimes, it’s the simple things in life. There is nothing better than a crisp bed of Caesar-coated romaine finished off with all the goods: protein, croutons, cheese, and of course, pasta! It’s a must-try, I’m telling you!
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 1 lb raw medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 5 oz uncooked rotini pasta, cooked according to package directions
- 2 heads Romaine lettuce, washed and torn/chopped into pieces
- 1/2 cup creamy Caesar dressing
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- 2 oz Parmesan, shaved
- 1 cup croutons
- freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add the shrimp and sprinkle with the Italian seasoning.
- Cook shrimp for 4-6 minutes or until pink and cooked through; remove from heat.
- Meanwhile, prepare rotini pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold running water.
- Place prepared romaine in a large bowl and drizzle with Caesar dressing; toss well to coat. Add grated and shaved Parmesan and distribute onto each of 4 plates.
- Finish salads with 1/4 of the shrimp, croutons, and cracked black pepper before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1/4 recipeAmount Per Serving: Calories: 496Total Fat: 24.3gCholesterol: 147mgSodium: 865mgCarbohydrates: 43.0gFiber: 4.0gSugar: 3.5gProtein: 26.8g
Killer salads are always in-season!
- Blackened Shrimp and Avocado Salad with Citrus-Herb Dressing
- Grilled BBQ Chicken Skewer Salad
- Chicken Caesar with a Twist
- Shrimp and Avocado Salad with Miso Dressing
- Crispy Italian Chicken and Bacon Salads with Tahini Pesto Dressing and Sourdough Croutons
- Tex-Mex Chicken Chopped Salad
- Chimichurri Steak and Vegetable Salad
Be well,
