Garlic Shrimp Salad with Crispy Rice & Sesame Dressing
A bright, crunchy salad featuring savory garlic shrimp, crisp baked rice, fresh vegetables, and a creamy sesame dressing.
Ingredients
Crispy Rice
- 2 cups cooked rice Use day-old rice for better crisping.
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp chili oil Optional
Garlic Shrimp
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined Can use frozen shrimp, thaw fully before cooking.
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp salt Adjust to taste
- ½ tsp black pepper Adjust to taste
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
Vegetables
- 5 pieces Persian or Japanese cucumbers, thinly sliced
- ½ pieces red onion, thinly sliced or chopped
- 1 pieces red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 2 pieces green onions, chopped
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
Creamy Sesame Dressing
- 4 tbsp white sesame seeds Grind fresh for best flavor.
- ½ cup mayonnaise Can swap with Greek yogurt for a lighter option.
- 4 tsp honey
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 4 tsp sesame oil
Instructions
Make the Crispy Rice
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Mix rice with soy sauce, sesame oil, and chili oil if using.
- Spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet and flatten into one layer.
- Bake for 30–40 minutes until golden and crispy. Set aside.
Cook the Garlic Shrimp
- Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
- Sauté garlic until fragrant, then add shrimp.
- Cook until shrimp turn pink on both sides.
- Season with salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and lemon juice. Toss and set aside.
Prepare the Sesame Dressing
- Grind sesame seeds until sandy in a mortar or food processor.
- Whisk ground seeds with mayonnaise, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil until smooth.
Assemble the Salad
- In a large bowl, combine cucumbers, red onion, bell pepper, green onions, and parsley.
- Top with garlic shrimp and crispy rice.
- Pour over the sesame dressing.
- Toss gently until evenly coated. Serve immediately.
Notes
Serve immediately after tossing for the best texture of crispy rice. Store components separately for best texture.