This is one of those salads that can be very versatile!  If you increase the portions, you can make a wonderful lunch or dinner.  You can also substitute the shrimp with real crab meat and it becomes Crab Louis Salad, also delicious!  This recipe is for 4, you can increase the proportions for more servings.

DRESSING:

  • 1 cup mayonnaise (I prefer Hellmann’s Real Mayo, and you can also use low fat)
  • 1/4 Cup prepared French dressing
  • 1/4 Cup chili sauce
  • 1/4 Cup prepared Thousand Island dressing
  • 1 tsp. prepared horseradish
  • 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp. sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp. Tabasco sauce
  • 1/4 tsp. fresh ground pepper
  • squeeze of 1/2 lemon

Mix all of the above ingredients in a medium size bowl, blend well.  Cover and store in refrigerator until ready to use.  (Can be made the day ahead and stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator).

ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS:

  • 3 cups baby romaine, or hearts of romaine
  • 1 ripe hass Avocado, sliced, peeled and quartered
  • 3/4 lb. fresh asparagus, boiled in salted water for 3 minutes, until softened, drained
  • 1 – 6 oz. seedless cucumber, peeled and sliced lengthwise into quartered strips
  • 16 cherry tomatoes (4 for each plate)
  • 2 hard boiled eggs, sliced in quarters (2 quarters per plate)
  • Kalamata olives or your choice of olives (pitted)

Prepare all salad ingredients and group together for plating.

PREPARING SHRIMP:

Only use, for best taste, wild caught shrimp, no farm raised shrimp.

  • 1 pound shrimp (with shells), ask for the largest shrimp available
  • large pot of water (make sure there is at lease 1 to 2 inches of water covering shrimp)
  • 1/4 cup cider vinegar
  • 3 T Old Bay Seasoning
  • 1 T sea salt
  • 1 T whole peppercorns
  • 1 med. onion, peeled, sliced in quarters
  • 1 lemon, cut in half

Place all ingredients (except shrimp) in a large pot.  Bring water to a boil and let boil for 10 minutes.  After the 10 minutes, add the shrimp with the shells.  Cook for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes.  Do not overcook!  Remove from heat and immediately place the shrimp in a bath of ice water, this will stop the cooking process.  Let the shrimp set up for 10 minutes in the cooled water, then drain the water.  Use a deveining tool and remove the shell, veins, and tails of the shrimp.  Cut the shrimp into 3 pieces each.  Set aside.

(You can now refrigerate the shrimp in an airtight bag or container overnight if preparing this recipe in advance).

PREPARATION AND ASSEMBLING:

About an hour before you are going to serve the salad, mix the shrimp with about 3/4 cup of the Louie dressing, add more if it seems to dry.  Place back in the refrigerator to let the flavors mix.  Make sure to taste the shrimp and add salt if needed.

PLATING:

Use 4 salad plates and 4 small containers to hold the dressing.  Place the container on the plate and fill each container with the Louie dressing in order for each person to pour the amount they want on their salad.  Fill the plate with the lettuce.  Arrange the cherry tomatoes, olives, asparagus, cucumbers, and eggs around the edges of the plate, leave room the the center for the shrimp.  At this point, you can cover the dishes with plastic wrap and refrigerate for later use, if not serving immediately.  Do not peel the avocado and place it on the plate until the last minute and right before serving or it will turn brown.

Final preparation would be to spoon the shrimp evenly between the plates and peel and cut the avocado into quarters with each plate receiving one quarter.  Now serve immediately with the extra dressing on the plates for individual taste.