Grilled Shrimp Salad with Bourbon Vanilla Vinaigrette

Grilled Shrimp Salad with Bourbon Vanilla Vinaigrette is no ordinary summer salad; it's a healthy pop of color and flavor.What do you think of when you first look at this salad? For me, it screams one thing: summer. I was inspired to make this salad from a restaurant in our home state of Ohio when I was there on a work trip. I stopped for lunch at a family owned restaurant with a colleague, and I was immediately drawn to a salad on the menu that was served with beef tenderloin and blue cheese (some of my favorites). However, it was served with a delicious bourbon vanilla dressing, a taste that was so unique that it stayed in my mind for weeks.The day I ate this salad was a cold and rainy day. Although I couldn’t get it out of my mind, I felt that the original flavor combination was better suited for the fall and winter months. I did call Jackie immediately after lunch to share with her my how excited I was about discovering this dressing. She responded with: “Why don’t you recreate it?”. I swear she thinks I can magically create anything on command.
I did decide to take her advice. I was able to create a Bourbon Vanilla Vinaigrette that tasted great. It wasn’t exactly the same as I remembered, but I like it nonetheless. I did feel that should accompany a summer salad, chuck full of seasonally fresh ingredients. This is how our Grilled Shrimp Salad with Bourbon Vanilla Vinaigrette came togetherYou may have noticed that we don’t use a lot of shellfish on Superman Cooks. The reason is simple: I don’t like it. My partner in crime, however loves all kinds of shellfish and was thrilled that I chose to use shrimp for this creation. I added some quinoa for texture, and some beautiful watermelon radishes that we found at the farmer’s market. They added a beautiful pop of color, and a counter balance of zip that evened out the sweetness of the dressing. This is a salad that can be enjoyed all summer long; it can liven up an outdoor picnic or a family cookout.

Grilled Shrimp Salad with Bourbon Vanilla Vinaigrette recipe

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Print Recipe

A light and refreshing salad using fresh shrimp and summer flavors drizzled with a warm vanilla vinaigrette.

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Yield: 2 salads 1x

Ingredients

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• 10 cooked shrimp
• 4 oz spring mix
• 1 C cooked quinoa
• 1 watermelon radish
• ¼ cup macadamia nuts, chopped

For the dressing:

• 1 tbsp agave nectar
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ C canola oil
• ¼ C cider vinegar
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ white vinegar

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Instructions

1. In a medium mixing bowl, combine agave nectar, garlic powder, vanilla extract, black pepper, salt, and cider vinegar.
2. Slowly drizzle oil in while whisking.
3. Toss Spring mix lightly in dressing and remove from bowl allowing dressing to drip off.
4. Place in second bowl and add the quinoa and toss.
5. Slice watermelon radishes into thin triangular pieces and toss into salad mix.
6. Place on serving plate and top with 5 cooked shrimp and chopped macadamia nuts.
7. Drizzle some of dressing over top and garnish with watermelon radishes.

• Author: Superman Cooks
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins
• Category: Summer Salad
• Cuisine: American