Blackened Shrimp with Avocado Ranch Dip
INGREDIENTS
Avocado Ranch
- 1 small avocado
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 cup low fat buttermilk
- 2 tbsp freshly chopped parsley
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh chives
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Blackened seasoning
- 3 tbsp smoked paprika
- 3 tsp onion powder
- 3 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (or up to 1 tsp to make it really spicy!)
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
Shrimp
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 lbs Marina del Rey Foods Argentinian Red Shrimp, thawed according to package instructions
- 2-3 tbsp blackened seasoning plus another pinch kosher salt
- Juice from 1/2 lime, plus lime wedges for serving
INSTRUCTIONS
Avocado Ranch Dip
- Place the avocado, lime juice, onion powder, garlic powder, buttermilk, parsley, chives and dill in the bowl of a food processor.
- Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, and process until smooth.
- Adjust the seasoning as necessary and set aside.
Blackened Seasoning
- Place all of the herbs and spices in a small bowl and stir to combine.
Shrimp
- Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat.
- Add the thawed shrimp followed by 2-3 tbsp of the blackened seasoning and a generous pinch of salt.
- Stir until the shrimp are well coated with the seasoning and saute for 5 minutes or until cooked through.
- Place the shrimp on a serving platter with the avocado ranch dip and squeeze fresh lime juice over the shrimp. Serve immediately with fresh lime wedges and enjoy!
Notes
Store leftover blackened seasoning in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month or so for maximum freshness. It’s great with chicken, veggies and of course more shrimp!
* The blackened seasoning is super easy to whip up, and it really isn’t spicy. I added 1 1/2 tbsp to 1 lb of shrimp and I have a spice intolerant family. You can certainly up the amount of cayenne pepper to your spice mix if you want to turn up the heat!
Contributor: Marcie Bidou from Flavor the Moments