Seafood

Maryland Shrimp Salad

October  4, 2022
4.3
3 Ratings
  • Prep time 24 hours 5 minutes
  • Cook time 4 minutes
  • Serves 2
Author Notes

While crab cakes may be the calling card of Maryland, shrimp salad is a close second. I can't name a single bridal shower I have attended in Maryland that did not serve shrimp salad. When served as a sandwich it is usually served on white bread with lettuce and tomato. Usually the shrimp are whole, I slice mine in half lengthwise as, I find, it makes a more manageable sandwich. —Summer of Eggplant

Test Kitchen Notes

The key tweak in Summer of Eggplant's terrific salad is in the methodology: steaming the shrimps -instead of boiling them - keeps them tender and flavorful, and the seemingly minute additions of minced green onion tops, celery seed and dried parsley to the dressing do make a difference. We bypassed the white bread/croissant directive and served it instead in top-split hot dog rolls with lettuce and tomato, lobster roll-style, along with some French-inspired Sangria and considered ourselves very well-fed, indeed! —wssmom

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 3/4 pound shrimp (30-40 count)
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 4 teaspoons diced celery
  • 1 tablespoon green onion, green parts only, diced
  • 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay, or preferred Chesapeake Bay seasoning
  • 1 pinch celery seed (tiny pinch)
  • 1/8 teaspoon dried parsley
  • salt + pepper
Directions
  1. Heat 1-2 cups of water to a boil over a steamer basket. Add the shrimp and steam until just cooked -- 4 minutes should do it. Cool the shrimp on ice.
  2. Peel and de-vein the shrimp and slice lengthwise (or leave them whole if you prefer).
  3. Combine the shrimp and the remaining ingredients in a bowl. Chill for an hour or up to 24 hours. Serve in a bowl, on white bread with lettuce and tomato, or bridal shower-style with mini croissants.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Kevin French
    Kevin French
  • paizley
    paizley
  • JanetFL
    JanetFL
  • em-i-lis
    em-i-lis
  • Summer of Eggplant
    Summer of Eggplant

10 Reviews

sarah October 16, 2014
Add more Old Bay. For real.
 
Kevin F. May 18, 2014
Made last night - spot on. Just like the shrimp salad I remember from my youth. Thanks for a great recipe!
 
Summer O. July 13, 2014
Glad to hear it!
 
paizley July 24, 2013
I'm from MD and that's pretty much how I've always made shrimp salad. Lately I've been adding fresh chopped cilantro. I've been chopping the shrimp too. It makes it easier to stuff a nice bakery roll that way!
 
JanetFL August 3, 2012
Can't wait to try this tasty-sounding recipe!
 
em-i-lis August 2, 2012
congrats, summer of eggplant. this looks wonderful!!!
 
Summer O. August 3, 2012
Thanks!
 
Summer O. August 2, 2012
Thanks wssmom, love the shrimp roll idea and the sangria. Wish I had thought of that before I ate my lunch.
 
Summer O. July 17, 2012
Holy smokes! I made a mention of it with croissants (at bridal showers) and deleted it - that is truly too much. Fantastic with croissants.
 
meganvt01 July 17, 2012
yum! love it with a croissants - this is truly a Maryland dish.