Name: Blackened Shrimp with Cilantro Lime Dressing
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 2 lbs peeled large raw shrimp, tail removed (approx. 21-25 per pound); 1 tbsp paprika; 1 tbsp chili powder; 1 tbsp dried oregano; 1 tsp ground black pepper (to taste); 1 tsp sea salt (to taste); 2 tbsp olive oil; 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt; 1 small bunch cilantro; 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil; juice of 2 limes; 1 medium ripe avocado; 2 cloves garlic; 2 stalks green onions; 1 tsp sea salt (to taste); 1/2 tsp ground black pepper (to taste); 1 medium ripe mango; 1 medium tomato; 1/4 cup red onion; 1 seeded jalapeño (optional); 1/2 lime; salt and pepper (to taste)

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These blackened shrimp bowls are outrageously flavorful and just as nutritious!! Our cilantro lime dressing and mango salsa make this recipe perfect for summer. Meal prep a large batch of this for yourself, or serve it for a group – either way you can’t go wrong!

Blackened shrimp bowl topped with mango salsa and cilantro lime dressing.

Why we love cooking with shrimp

Shrimp is one of our favorite proteins from a nutritional standpoint. It is low in fat, carbohydrates and calories, but is packed with protein, calcium and potassium! In addition to being healthy, shrimp tastes delicious!!

Another reason we love cooking shrimp (as if we needed more reasons), is how easy it is to cook. You really only need about 2-3 minutes per side to get the perfect sear. A key tip is to get your pan extremely hot before dropping the shrimp in the pan. This will help get the perfect caramelization!

It is important to note that shrimp does have higher levels of cholesterol. If you are being mindful about your sodium intake, we recommend balancing it out with other proteins throughout your week.

What kind of shrimp to use to make blackened shrimp

You know that we love a solid short cut when it comes to developing our recipes here at Food Dolls! Sure, you can get whole shrimp from your local grocery store seafood counter. BUT we are here to save you some time, effort, and money!

We love to go for a bag of cleaned, frozen shrimp. Not only do you save time on peeling the shrimp, but you also don’t have to spend the time removing the center vein! Removing the blue vein and digestive tract of shrimp is a must, but it is so tedious.

With cleaned, frozen shrimp that step is completed for you! And if you’re worried about freshness, we have some great news for you. Even the “fresh” shrimp that is sold at the seafood counter was most likely frozen at some point during transportation! So really, the bag of frozen shrimp is just as fresh after you thaw it at home.

How to make blackened shrimp with lime cilantro dressing

Place cleaned, dried shrimp in a bowl.
Pour paprika, chili powder, oregano, salt and pepper into the bowl with the shrimp. Mix everything together until the shrimp is thoroughly coated with the dry rub.
Pour olive oil in a pan and heat up the pan on the stove over medium-high heat.
Arrange the shrimp in a single layer and cook for 2 minutes. Flip and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
Separately, make the cilantro lime dressing. In a blender or nutribullet add greek yogurt, a bunch of cilantro, olive oil, lime juice, avocado, garlic cloves, green onion stalks and salt to taste.
Blend together until smooth
In another bowl make your mango salsa. Dice mango, tomatoes, onions, and jalapeño, if using. Squeeze fresh lime juice and season with salt and pepper.
Assemble your blackened shrimp bowl!

How to assemble blackened shrimp bowls

The beauty of this recipe is that it is super versatile! We personally love to serve blackened shrimp over rice and topped with mango salsa and cilantro lime dressing. But you can totally make this recipe your own!

Feel free to start with a base of greens or grains. That can be a cold mesclun base or wilted swiss chard, or it could be quinoa or lentils. Scoop your shrimp onto the base and add any fresh salsa or veggies. Pico de gallo is a great option!

a bowl of blackened shrimp with cilantro lime dressing over rice with mango salsa

If you love blackened shrimp, you will love these shrimp dishes!

We are big fans of shrimp, and so are our families. The following recipes are tried and true hits in our household. We think you’re going to love them!

Our One Pot Pesto Pasta with Oven Baked Shrimp is light, fresh and comforting all at the same time. It comes together easily (in one pot!) and is just scrumptious.
If you are in the mood for a rich, saucy dinner then our Shrimp Bake in Tomato Sauce is for you! Our recipe includes fresh made tomato sauce, but don’t worry – you will have this meal ready in under an hour!
For a quick, indulgent dinner, look no further than our Baked Garlic Shrimp Scampi. It comes together in under 20 minutes!! It’s no wonder this is our most popular shrimp recipe.
In the mood for shrimp scampi but on a keto diet? Well, we have great news for you! We made a Healthy Shrimp Scampi that is made with zucchini noodles that you have to try.
A light and flavorful Lemon Garlic Shrimp and Rice is easy and baked in the oven!