The BEST Prawn Salad Recipe (in just 10 minutes)
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I’ve turned basic prawn salad into a fun, modern twist on a classic. With crispy air-fried shrimp, fresh herbs, a yummy homemade dressing, and a burst of flavor from sweet mango, this tasty salad is an irresistible recipe. Did I mention it’s fast, easy, and healthy, too?! Inspired by prawn cocktail salad, this delicious prawn dish is fantastic for a weeknight meal or starter, especially since it comes together quickly.
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this recipe
Healthy – Made with lean protein, tons of veg, and a homemade dressing, this prawn salad is a great option for when you want a healthier meal.
Easy – This easy prawn salad recipe only requires four steps!
Fast – I love this simple prawn and mango salad, as it only takes about 10 minutes to create.
Delicious – A yummy, homemade prawn salad dressing with ingredients like soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and oil help produce a flavourful, tangy sauce that compliments the crispy, juicy prawns.
Prawn cocktail salad with a twist – I’ve taken cocktail prawn salad recipes and given them a twist. Usually, prawn cocktail salads are made with a cocktail sauce-like dressing. This version includes a sweet, savoury dressing instead.
Love prawns? You’ll love these recipes : The Best Garlic Prawns, Creamy Sweetcorn Orzo with Paprika Prawns and Prawn and Chorizo Pasta
Ingredients
King Prawns
I believe the best ever prawn salad recipes include king prawns, as they’re very meaty and have a yummy slightly sweet taste. However, other types of prawns/shrimps will also work. Be sure to use deveined/shelled shrimp for the quickest prep time. If you use fresh prawns, you’ll need to adjust the cooking time. See my; Quick and Easy Air Fryer Shrimp from Frozen
Baby Gem Lettuce
This type of lettuce is known for its sweet flavour and crispy texture. If you have other lettuce in your fridge that needs using up (or that you prefer), feel free to use that instead.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations/ Adaptations
Try these variations the next time you make prawn salad! You can easily turn prawn salad ideas Mediterranean with a few swaps. Use feta cheese, Greek salad dressing, garbanzo beans, and pitted black olives for a Mediterranean flair. Or, make this prawn mango salad Thai by adding a spicy Thai-style dressing and purple cabbage. Don’t be afraid to experiment with flavours when making this salad. Try making dressings with ingredients like fish sauce, miso paste, sesame oil, etc.
For a simpler variation, consider adding creamy avocado to this delicious salad. Or, turn this into a garlic prawn salad by adding garlic powder to the prawns while they’re cooking. One of the easiest adaptations of this recipe is using the veggies you prefer.
Serve the prawn salad with some easy side dishes : The Crispiest Halloumi Fries, Airfryer Frozen Fries or Airfryer Hash Browns
How to make the best prawn salad
- Start by preheating your airfryer to 392°F (200°C). Once heated remove the tray ready to use (Image 1).
- Place the frozen shrimp into the airfryer basket, evenly distributed so they aren’t touching. Cook for 2 minutes at 392°F (200°C) (Image 2).
3. After this time the prawns will be partly cooked (Image 3).
4. Next, add 1 tbsp rapeseed oil, Cajun seasoning and cornflour into the basket and shake to evenly coat the prawns (Image 4).
5. Space the prawns out again, then cook for a further 3-4 minutes at 392°F (200°C) (Image 5).
6. Serve with an optional squeeze of lime and a crack of black pepper (Image 6).
7. Meanwhile, wash and dry the lettuce (Image 7).
8. Slice the red onions and mini cucumbers (Image 8).
9. Then peel and chop the mango (Image 9).
10. To make the dressing, combine the extra virgin olive oil, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar and brown sugar to form the salad dressing. Taste to adjust the seasoning as necessary (Image 10).
11. Drizzle the dressing over the lettuce, cucumber and red onion. Toss the salad to combine and add the lettuce leaves and slices of radish to a bowl (Image 11).
12. Add the cooked prawns, mango, an optional wedge of lime and a sprinkle of fresh coriander. If you like spice then add some chilli flakes. Dig in! (Image 12).
If you love using the air fryer, try these quick and tasty recipes; The BEST Air Fryer Salmon Bites, Chicken Goujons and Frozen Fish Fingers in Air Fryer
Tips for the best result
- Don’t overcook the shrimp; they can become rubbery. When making this king prawn salad, avoid overcooking the shrimp. If they cook for too long in the air fryer, their texture will become rubbery and unappetizing. The prawns are ready when all the translucent spots are gone, and they are light pink in colour.
- Add ingredients you love. The best prawn salad is one that includes your favourite salad ingredients. Whether you prefer different veg, a squeeze of fresh lime juice, or grilled prawns, feel free to make this recipe your own.
- Cook using a high heat for a short amount of time to prevent overcooking. I recommend cooking the shrimp for short bursts at a high heat when making this yummy mango and prawn salad. This method will leave you with juicy shrimp that is crispy on the outside and not overcooked, as you can check it in between your timers.
If you need more recipes with prawns, look no further! Try these easy and quick recipes ; Shrimp Ramen and Easy Red Prawn Thai Curry
Need inspiration for some main dish recipes? Try my : Grinder Salad (Italian Sub Salad, Thai Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce and The BEST Halloumi Salad
FAQs
Prawn cocktail salad is best when it’s cold. However, you can still feel free to dig into this salad even if the prawn are still warm from the air fryer.
There are a few parts of the prawn you’ll want to skip when making recipes like this prawn salad. For one, the shells are not edible. There is also a digestive tract (green/black coloured vein) on the back of the shrimp, which you should avoid. The rest of the prawn meat is edible (and delicious!).
The type of salad you make will determine whether or not it has mayonnaise. For example, this salad with prawns does not have mayonnaise but instead features a tangy, sweet, savoury homemade dressing. Usually, if a salad recipe includes the word creamy, it has mayo or something similar mixed in with the ingredients.
If you tried this the Prawn Salad recipe, it would be mean so much to me if you could leave a review & a star rating to let me know how you found it! I love hearing about your experiences – it motivates me to keep creating more and more recipes for you guys 💛 Let’s get cooking! – Mimi x
The BEST Prawn Salad Recipe (in just 10 minutes)
Ingredients
- 400 g frozen king prawns, peeled and raw (£5.95)
- 4 heads of baby gem lettuce, (£0.89)
- 150 g radishes,thinly sliced (£0.39)
- 1 mango, peeled and cubed (£1.29)
- 200 g mini cucumbers, thinly sliced on bias (£1.00)
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced (£0.15)
- Fresh coriander, torn to serve (£0.60)
- Optional wedge of lime
Cupboard Essentials
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp rapeseed oil
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- ½ tbsp brown sugar
- Salt and Pepper
- ½ tbsp paprika
Method
Preheat your airfryer to 392°F (200°C). Place the frozen prawns into the airfryer basket, evenly distributed so they aren’t touching. Cook for 2 minutes at 392°F (200°C).
- Next, add 1 tbsp rapeseed oil, paprika, salt and pepper into the basket and shake to evenly coat the prawns. Space the prawns out again, then cook for a further 3-4 minutes at 392°F (200°C).
- Combine the extra virgin olive oil, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar and brown sugar to form the salad dressing. Taste to adjust the seasoning as necessary.
- Drizzle the dressing over the lettuce, cucumber and red onion. Toss to combine then serve into bowls and top with radishes, the cooked prawns, mango, an optional wedge of lime and a sprinkle of fresh coriander. If you like spice then add some chilli flakes. Dig in!
Notes
- Avoid rubbery shrimp by cooking until light pink and translucent spots disappear.
- Add your favorite ingredients to the prawn salad like veggies or lime juice.
- Prevent overcooking by using high heat in short bursts, ensuring juicy shrimp with crispy texture.
Nutrition
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