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This Low-Carb Shrimp Louie Salad takes an old-school favorite and gives it a keto update. The result is a deliciously light and refreshing salad that is perfect for lunch or dinner.
Looking for more low-carb and keto salad recipe ideas? Give this Keto Shrimp and Spinach Salad with Feta or Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon and Tomato Vinaigrette a try!
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MORE KETO & LOW CARB RECIPES
Big Mac Salad in a Jar (Keto Meal Prep) | Loaded Broccoli Salad (Low Carb)
I have had quite a few people asking about salads. Wondering what salad is or isn't keto. So I thought I would address that.
Can you eat salad on a low carb or keto diet?
For the most part yes, you can have salad on a low carb or keto diet. All sorts of green are low carb. The danger lies in what extras you add AND what salad dressing you choose. Salad dressings are notorious for being carb heavy, especially if they are low-fat or fat-free.
Fat is flavor and since they are removing the flavor (fat) from the dressing they have to find another way to add flavor. This is where the sugar will come into play. If you check full fat against low-fat or fat-free of the same product you will usually see higher calories and higher carb counts. Just a few tablespoons of these dressings can take you right over your carb limit for the day.
That is why, for the most part, I make my own salad dressings. Not only can I dictate how many carbs per serving, I can also adjust the taste to suit me personally. Plus homemade salad dressing is so easy! But, if you need to rely on store-bought dressing, make sure you check those ingredients and carb counts!
Let's build a keto salad OK?
GREENS
Start off with your greens. I love spinach, arugula, romaine, or mixed baby greens for mine.
LOW CARB VEGGIES
There are so many to choose from. I just started sharing produce guides so you can refer to them if you would like to know what veggies are low carb but, let's just go with a few that are always available like mushrooms, celery, bell peppers, and cucumbers.
FRUIT
We all know avocado is a keto staple but if you thought it was a veggie you were wrong, it is a fruit. So add some of this superfood to your salads!
Other fruit to add would be berries and coconut.
PROTEIN
Here is where I make my salad a meal. Chicken, beef, pork, seafood, eggs, and bacon, don't forget your bacon!
EXTRAS
This is one of my favorite parts of a salad. Cheese, nuts, and seeds.
DRESSING
Now we top it off with a delicious low carb salad dressing. If you don't want to make your own there are some great low carb versions of ranch, blue cheese, Italian, or Ceasar out there.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE LOW CARB SHRIMP LOUIE SALAD
Detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.
INGREDIENTS
- Cajun Seasoning Blend
- Shrimp
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Romaine lettuce
- Cherry or grape tomatoes
- Avocado
- Pink sea salt
- Fresh cracked black pepper
- Capers
- Creamy Lemon Vinaigrette, for serving
HOW TO MAKE LOW CARB SHRIMP LOUIE SALAD
STEP 1
Season shrimp with the Cajun seasoning blend.
STEP 2
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil. When hot add shrimp.
STEP 3
Cook the shrimp for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or just until they turn pink. Remove shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
STEP 4
To assemble the salad, arrange the lettuce on a large serving platter and scatter it with the tomatoes, avocado, and shrimp.
STEP 5
Peel the eggs and cut them in half. Nestle them into the salad.
STEP 6
Sprinkle the salad with sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper.
STEP 7
Serve with Creamy Lemon Vinaigrette.
FAQS ABOUT LOW CARB SHRIMP LOUIE SALAD
What is a Shrimp Louie?
Shrimp Louie salad is a classic shrimp salad that originated in San Francisco in the early 1900s. The salad begins by laying down a bed of greens and is usually topped with avocado, hard-boiled eggs, tomato, and shrimp, with a signature dressing (typically a Thousand Island) drizzled on top.
Can I use another ingredient in place of the shrimp?
Absolutely! I love this salad with lump crab meat too! When the Dungeness crabs are in season here I make this as a Crab Louie a LOT!
How do I store leftover Shrimp Louie Salad?
If you know you won't be eating the entire salad leave the salad dressing off and just add it to the salad people dish up. That way you can store the salad and dressing separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for 3 or 4 days.
Last thoughts about Low Carb Shrimp Louie Salad
This salad takes me right back to my childhood!
I have always been a seafood lover. Six-year-old me would chow down on some shrimp, crab, lobster, you name it!
But the salad I used to get when I was young, and the salad that a lot of places serve would have those little bitty tiny bay shrimp in it. You know, the ones that look like sea monkeys on steroids? Ya, those little things.
Now that I am a grown person I can put whatever shrimp I want on this salad. I usually just got for the large shrimp, but there are days I am feeling frisky and grab those colossal shrimp and chow down!!
So you do you and what makes you happy!
MORE KETO AND LOW CARB SALAD RECIPES
- Avocado Ranch Chicken Salad
- Cauliflower and Bacon Salad with Mustard Herb Vinaigrette
- Mixed Berry Salad (Low Carb)
- Grilled Chili Lime Chicken Fajita Salad
- Keto Cobb Salad
- Radish Potato Salad]
Low Carb Shrimp Louie Salad
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning blend
- 1 1/2 lb large (16 to 20 count) raw shrimp peeled and deveined
- 6 hard-boiled eggs (easy peel method) halved
- 8 cups of romaine lettuce torn or chopped (butter lettuce, mixed greens, or baby spinach also work well)
- 8 ounces cherry or grape tomatoes cut in half
- 1 large ripe avocado sliced or diced
- pink salt
- cracked black pepper
- 2 tbsp capers drained
- Creamy Lemon Vinaigrette for serving
Instructions
- Season shrimp with the Cajun seasoning blend.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil. When hot add shrimp.
- Cook the shrimp for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or just until they turn pink. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
- To assemble the salad, arrange the lettuce on a large serving platter (or large salad bowl) and scatter it with the tomatoes, avocado, and shrimp.
- Peel the eggs and cut them in half. Nestle them into the salad.
- Sprinkle the salad with salt and fresh cracked black pepper.
- Serve with Creamy Lemon Vinaigrette.
Notes
Disclaimer
Most of my recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs will not be included as it has a glycemic index of 0 (meaning it does not spike blood sugar) and it’s not metabolized. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Nutrition
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