Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Creole Fried Shrimp Salad w/ Jalapeno Ranch Dressing + Cajun Boogie

Here's one of my favorite salads to have for lunch or when I'm in the mood for a light dinner. I love fried or grilled shrimp more than any other food and I have several excellent recipes for them, but this one is my absolute fave!  These succulent, Louisiana Gulf, fried shrimp blend perfectly with your favorite salad fixins' and when I tell you they're out of this world, then you know that I mean it, cher! And the spicy dressing adds that special touch to make this salad sinfully good! Cest bon! Enjoy!

Creole Fried Shrimp Salad

1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined (24 count)
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 cup half and half or milk
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 tbs.'s Creole or Cajun seasoning, divided
Few shakes Tabasco



Shredded lettuce
1 tomato, chopped
1 cucumber, chopped
3 hard boiled eggs, quartered
1 small can sliced black olives, drained
Or any veggies that you like

Season shrimp with 1 tbs. Creole seasoning and set aside. Beat egg in shallow dish and add Tabasco and half and half, and beat again. Combine cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and other tbs. of Creole seasoning in large zip loc bag. Shake to mix well. Coat shrimp in egg mixture and place in bag, and shake until all are well coated. Fry in hot oil, (in deep fryer at 350 degrees) in batches for 3 to 4 minutes, or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

Arrange salad in salad bowls and top with fried shrimp and serve with dressing. (recipe below) Serves 3.

I am sharing this salad over at Tasty Tuesdays, Workshop Wednesdays, and Full Plate Thursdays.

Click here  for my Creole Seasoning Blend.


Jalapeno Ranch Dressing/Dip 

1 1/4 cups, no-fat buttermilk 
3/4 cup light mayo
1 tsp. Creole mustard
2 tsp.'s white wine vinegar
2 tbs.'s  lemon juice 
1 tsp. crushed garlic
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
1 tbs. fresh parsley, minced
1 tsp. Cajun seasoning
Salt to taste

Whisk ingredients together in the order given, in a mixing bowl. Store in a sealed glass jar in refrigerator, for up to one week. Shake well before each use.

Note: For dip, reduce buttermilk to 1/2 cup

******
Cajun Boogie

Here's a little clip that I took of the High Performance Band, playing at a recent Sunday afternoon dance at Angelle's Whiskey River Landing, in Henderson, Louisiana. This is one of my favorite places that is expected to flood, and I've had more fun here than any other place on the planet. They took a big hit during Hurricane Gustav,  just three years ago, but with the help of many volunteers, were up and running in just a few months. And even if the worse comes to pass, I'm sure they'll be back, bigger and better than ever. Our prayers are with the Angelle family and everyone in the flood path.


High Performance Band



Merci beaucoup for all of your kind comments on my last post and for stopping by!

32 comments:

Mike said...

I cannot wait to make this. Thank you for posting, and I sure hope you and all the people in the area there are safe.

Rosaria Williams said...

Now, that's some dressing! I'm making mine up right away. as well as your all purpose cajun seasoning. I bet having all these spices mixed ahead of time, one can whip up a mess of food right away. merci bien...

Jessica | Cajunlicious said...

This looks so good! I wish I could reach through the screen.

Kittie Howard said...

Ah, ha - perfect! My diet worked, time for a treat - and this is it, when hub returns from Phoenix Thurs. Thanks, thanks!

GYPSYWOMAN said...

oh, yeah!!!! oh, yeah!!!!!!!!!!! and i'm just talkin' 'bout the music!!! then, there's that fantabulous food you serve up, dear lady!!! girl, i just gotta have me some of that!!! ;)

many caring thoughts to all my friends and family down where the waters rise!!! hugs -

Karen Jones Gowen said...

This looks amazing! And you make frying shrimp sound so easy! I actually have never fried shrimp, even tho I love it. If I made this recipe, I'm not sure the shrimp would make it into the salad!

Linda Starr said...

Thanks for the seasoning recipe, now I know what to add in proportions to what I'm cooking.

Joanne said...

I watched that clip, and it's so sad to think that Angelle's will be flooded and empty, a place like that which brings so much joy and fun to so many. My thoughts are with them, I hope things aren't too bad.

Anonymous said...

I sure hope that the people you love so much at your favorite spot will be ok...MY son lives in Gulf Port... I remember Katrina.
Please take care of yourself..we will pray for everyone..
Take care!

Drick said...

first, my prayers have been with all in the path of this disaster, I know when it hits home, it tends to hurt a little deeper so I'm praying for you too Marguerite...
now, that is one, or many, fine ways to do justice to gulf shrimp... I don't know about you, but they just seem sweeter this year, maybe 'cause we missed them this time last year... maybe it's something else... love the sauce too

Irish Gumbo said...

And all I had for dinner was a sandwich, when I could have had that...sigh...

So good, so good, my dear!

Dee said...

You've got me hungry for a fried shrimp salad now lol! Hope y'all are safe cher'!

The Harried Cook said...

That looks like a delicious meal! I love shrimp! That Cajun blend sounds like a time-saver too... Thanks for sharing :) I hope the weather is kind to everyone this year... God bless!

Kat said...

I love a good salad and eat them regularly. I am going to get the ingredients for the dressing next shopping trip.
Ya know why I love your "country"? Because they aren't afraid to DANCE!! I go to events with great music and everyone is sitting around like a bump on a log! LOL.

kitchen flavours said...

A sinfully good salad! Looks sinfully good! I love shrimps and this is definitely a winner!

Marguerite said...

Mike- Hi and welcome to Cajun country! Thanks, I'm so glad you like the recipe and want to try it. You're welcome, and merci for stopping by! We are safe, here in Lafayette.

Rosaria- Thanks, cher, the dressing and seasoning blend are fab and I hope you enjoy them. It makes it easier, for sure!

cajunlicious- Merci for the nice compliment! You need to get you some shrimp and make this salad, cher! :)

Kittie- Thanks, so glad you like the salad! It is sinful and a real treat and I hope you can find some decent shrimp. Enjoy!

Gypsy- Merci beaucoup for your lovely comment and positive thoughts, cher! So glad you enjoyed everything! Cheers!

Karen- So nice to hear from you! It is very easy and I hope you try it! Just double the batch! lol Thanks for stopping by!

Eddie Bluelights said...

Hi Marguerite - I'm back from the dead LOL. I have had no telephone or internet for 10 days so missed your posts and your gorgeous food. I'm starving LOL. Not sure what I missed the most. Your posts or you! Yes I do, you, of course LOL. Hope to be back on line soon - Eddie x

J.C. said...

I was first introduced to Cajun food when a friend bought some Cajun seasoning fr New Orleans and cooked Cajun Shrimp for us. Since then, I have fallen for Cajun cuisine! Glad to find your blog. I hope to explore more Cajun cuisine with your recipes!!

Best regards,
J.C.
Malaysia

GYPSYWOMAN said...

hey lady - just coming by to see how ya'll are doin' down there! take care - now, off to have a bite of that fab music you offer us here! ;)

AsylumTanya said...

I am making this TONIGHT! This looks AMAZING! Thanks for sharing!

Dreamgoddess said...

Oh my goodness, this salad looks wonderful and the jalapeno ranch dressing sounds to die for! I'm putting this on my menu for this weekend. Can't wait to try it!

Miz Helen said...

Hi Marguerite,
It is sure time for a little Cajun Boogie, just loving that great music to get me going. Sitting down now to have you wonderful salad. I really love the combination of your dressing recipe and will be making it very soon. Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you next week!

Pooch Purple Reign said...

LOVE the tunes... im sure they will be back up and rockin again !
the shrimp look gorgeous too!!
~laura xx

Magic of Spice said...

What a wonderful salad, and wow with the dressing...spicy and delicious!
Hope you are doing OK and are safe, again everyone is in my thoughts.

Marguerite said...

Linda- You're welcome, cher! It's very easy to make and makes everything better! Enjoy!

Joanne- Many thanks for your kind comment. The water is rising slower than they thought it would, but I'm afraid it's inevitable. But, there will be a lot of fundraisers to help them rebuild.

ffd- Thanks so much for your sweet comment and prayers. The business will be lost, but my friends live on the other side of the levee, so at least their home won't flood.

Drick- Merci beaucoup for your kind comment and prayers, cher! Thanks, hope you try the salad and the dressing, both are fab! The shrimp are better than ever!

Irish- So good to hear from you, cher! Just have a Maryland crab cake and you'll be okay! lol Thanks for stopping by!

Dee- Merci, cher, that's quite a compliment coming form a non-seafood lover! lol We are high and dry in good ole Lafayette!

Eddie Bluelights said...

Congrats on your 300+ followers - quite an impressive achievement.

Martha said...

Looks wonderful! Please update us on how things are going with the flooding. I've been watching and thinking about you and praying for you and your whole area!

Marguerite said...

THC- Thanks so much, so glad you like it and hope you give it a try! And I hope that you will try the seasoning blend, too. You're welcome and thanks, it's been a beautiful Spring, here.

Kat- Merci, cher, this salad is divine and the dressing is, too! Hope you try them! I know what you mean, it was like that, when I lived up North, too. No place like Cajun country for dancin' and eatin'! :)

kf- You said it perfectly, cher! It IS sinful and I hope that you try it! Thanks for coming by and have a great weekend!

Eddie- So great to hear from you, cher, and glad that you're back in Blogland! I was about to send out a search party for you! lol Merci, I missed you, too!

J.C.- Hi and welcome! Great that you love Cajun cuisine and I'm so glad you did, too! Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy!

Gypsy- Thanks so much for coming by, cher! We're all fine and it looks like the flooding isn't going to be quite as bad as they predicted, due to the drought absorbing a lot of the water. Good news for the flood zone! Enjoy!

Marguerite said...

Tanya- Hi and welcome! Thanks so much for wanting to try the salad, and for stopping by! You're so welcome, and I hope you enjoy it!

Dreamgoddesss- Hi and welcome! Thanks so much for your lovely comment and for stopping by! So glad you like the recipes and hope that you enjoy them!

Miz Helen- Merci beaucoup for your sweet comment, cher! So glad you enjoyed the music. The dressing is one of the best that I've ever tried and I'm totally addicted to it. Enjoy!

Pooch- Thanks, it's a one-of-a kind place and always so much fun and great music! It looks like the water may not crest as high as they thought, so we are hoping for the best! Thanks for stopping by, cher!

Spice- Thanks, so glad you like the salad and dressing! Both are out of this world! Thanks so much for all of your lovely comments and for your concern! The water is rising very slowly and is now expected to crest 3 feet lower than originally predicted, so that is good news for a lot of people. We are not expected to flood, here in Lafayette.

Eddie- Merci beaucoup, cher! So sweet of you to notice! Cheers!

Cloudia said...

Filled with joy that your way of life continues to sustain!!!

Bless you-


Warm Aloha from Waikiki

Comfort Spiral

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test it comm said...

That is one tasty sounding dressing and it would be perfect with those crispy fried shrimp!

Quiltingranny said...

All I know is if there is such a thing as reincarnation...after living in New Orleans for 6 weeks, I want to come back as a Cajun!