Lightened-Up Mango Salsa Shrimp (Print)

Fresh shrimp paired with mango salsa and crisp lettuce cups for a light, bright main dish.

# Ingredients:

→ Shrimp

01 - 1 pound large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
05 - 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
09 - Juice of 1 lime

→ Mango Salsa

10 - 1 large ripe mango, diced
11 - 1/2 medium red bell pepper, finely diced
12 - 1/4 small red onion, finely diced
13 - 1 small jalapeño, seeded and minced
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
15 - Juice of 1 lime
16 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Lettuce Cups and Garnishes

17 - 8 large butter lettuce leaves or romaine hearts
18 - 1 small avocado, diced
19 - Lime wedges for serving

# Directions:

01 - In a medium bowl, combine shrimp with olive oil, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and lime juice. Toss to coat evenly and let marinate for 10 minutes.
02 - While shrimp marinates, combine mango, red bell pepper, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and salt in a bowl. Mix gently and set aside.
03 - Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add marinated shrimp and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side until pink and opaque throughout. Remove from heat.
04 - Arrange lettuce leaves on a serving platter. Divide cooked shrimp evenly among the leaves, top with mango salsa, and sprinkle with diced avocado.
05 - Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • You get to eat something that tastes indulgent while actually being completely guilt-free and energizing.
  • The whole thing comes together in under 30 minutes, which means you can pull this off on a random weeknight without stress.
  • It's the kind of meal that impresses people without making you look like you spent hours in the kitchen.
02 -
  • Overcooking shrimp by even 30 seconds turns it from tender and sweet to rubbery and sad, so set a timer and stay right there at the skillet watching for that color change.
  • Don't assemble your tacos more than a few minutes before serving, or the lettuce will start absorbing moisture from the salsa and lose that satisfying crunch you're counting on.
03 -
  • Buy shrimp that still has a slight curve to it rather than completely straight ones, which is a sign they were fresher when frozen and will taste sweeter.
  • Make your salsa up to an hour ahead of time, which actually helps the flavors come together, but wait to add the avocado until just before serving so it stays bright and creamy instead of turning gray.
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