Big ole’ platter salads are still going really strong in my household and today’s recipe for our Coconut Shrimp Summer Salad with a Creamy Buttermilk-Chive Dressing is definitely a new favorite! I love that there is a lot of freshness as well as contrasting flavors happening here. We’re still taking full advantage of all the super sweet, summer stone fruit that’s currently everywhere, but this time paired it with equally as sweet heirloom tomatoes and then threw a little curve ball in there with light, crisp and bitter treviso! (or radicchio if that’s more your jam or all you can find).
I used desiccated and unsweetened coconut for the shrimp, instead of the more familiar sweetened and shredded coconut, because I think it adds a better crunch to the shrimp, which is really why we fry things anyway, isn’t it? :) I forgot to add corn to the salad, which I initially wanted to do, and while I bet it would make a killer addition, I don’t think it’s necessary. Enjoy! xx, Jenny
Ingredients: 2 heads treviso (or radicchio), thinly sliced Directions:
Coconut Shrimp Summer Salad
Serves 4
coconut shrimp:
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup unsweetened and desiccated coconut
1/2 cup ground almond meal
1 large egg, beaten
15 extra large shrimp, peeled, deveined with tails intact
salt and pepper to taste
*oil for frying
creamy buttermilk and chive dressing:
1 cup buttermilk
2 1/2 tablespoons thinly sliced chives, divided
1 ounce (2 tablespoons) grated Parmesan
1 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 garlic clove
salt and pepper to taste
2 heirloom tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 Parisian cucumber, cut into thin strips, thinly sliced (resembling ‘spaghetti’)
1 avocado, thinly sliced
1 white nectarine, pitted and cut into 12 wedges
1 large ball burrata, drained
thinly sliced chives, for garnish
1. For shrimp: Place flour, ginger and garlic powder into a shallow bowl and whisk together until evenly blended.
2. In another shallow bowl, combine coconut and almond meal and whisk together.
3. Lightly season shrimp with salt and pepper and toss together.
4. Holding each shrimp by the tail, dredge into the flour mixture and shake off any excess flour.
5. Next, dip each flour coated shrimp into the beaten eggs and finally into the coconut and almond mixture until fully and evenly coated.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until all shrimp have been coated. Place coated shrimp onto a parchment lined baking sheet, about 1/2 inch apart. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
7. Fill a large, heavy bottom skillet with 2 inches oil and preheat to 350˚F.
8. Once oil is hot, remove shrimp from the refrigerator and carefully add to skillet, in small batches, and fry for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until golden brown and shrimp has just cooked through.
9. Using a slotted spoon, drain onto a paper towel. Season with salt and pepper. Repeat until all shrimp has been fried.
10. For creamy buttermilk-chive dressing: Place all ingredients, except 1 tablespoon of thinly sliced chives, into the well of a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper and pulse 2 to 3 times. Adjust seasonings and pour dressing into a small carafe.
11. To assemble: Spread sliced Treviso or radicchio and cucumber evenly onto a large platter and top with sliced tomatoes, nectarines and avocados. Add burrata to the platter and top with shrimp/. Lightly season whole platter with salt and pepper, drizzle with dressing and finish with a sprinkle of sliced chives. Serve.
OMG, I can’t wait to make this!!! I’m having a group of girlfriends over Friday, THIS is what I’ll be serving!!!