Shrimp Pasta Salad

Whenever I want to make my summer pasta salads just a little more special, I transform it into a seafood salad by adding plump, juicy shrimp. But, I find that just adding shrimp to seasoned mayo and pasta doesn’t elevate the flavors enough.  So, to really pump up the zest, I combine the seasoned mayo with a spicy homemade Thousand Island dressing. Not only does it make the colors more vibrant, but it adds a little boldness to the dish, giving the shrimp the recognition it deserves. Whether serving as a cook-out side dish, or a weeknight main meal, this Shrimp Pasta Salad is sure to become a summertime favorite.

Chop celery and red onion. If using raw shrimp, peel, devein and cook shrimp.

Prepare Spicy Thousand Island Dressing:  In small bowl, combine mayonnaise, chili garlic sauce, Sriracha, ketchup and relish. Chill until ready to use.

Cook pasta according to package directions. The last 3 minutes, add peas to water.

Rinse in cold water and drain thoroughly. Transfer cooked pasta with peas to large serving bowl. Stir in cooked shrimp. 

In separate mixing bowl, combine 1 cup mayonnaise, Old Bay Seasoning, lemon juice and all of prepared Spicy Thousand Island Dressing. Whisk well to combine. 

Add as much, or as little, of the mayonnaise mixture to pasta as desired, stirring well to combine. Cover and refrigerate any remaining mayonnaise mixture. Chill pasta salad for several hours. As with any cold pasta salad, the pasta will absorb much of the dressing. Before serving pasta, add additional mayonnaise mixture to desired consistency.


Serve on a bed of lettuce.

SHRIMP PASTA SALAD
Posted by: www.meldingmagic.com

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 (16-ounce) package shell pasta
• 1-1/2 cups finely chopped celery
• 1/2 cup chopped red onion
• 2 pounds small shrimp, cooked
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Spicy Thousand Island Dressing:

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2 Tablespoons Sambal Oelek (chili garlic sauce)
• 1 Tablespoon Sriracha
• 1 Tablespoon drained relish
• 1 Tablespoon ketchup

DIRECTIONS:
1. Prepare Spicy Thousand Island Dressing:  In small bowl, combine mayonnaise, chili garlic sauce,
    Sriracha, ketchup and relish. Chill until ready to use.
2. Cook pasta according to package directions. The last 3 minutes, add peas to water.
3. Rinse in cold water and drain thoroughly. Transfer cooked pasta with peas to large bowl. Stir in
    cooked shrimp.
4. In separate mixing bowl, combine 1 cup mayonnaise, Old Bay Seasoning, lemon juice and all of
    prepared Spicy Thousand Island Dressing. Whisk well to combine.
5. Add as much, or as little, of the mayonnaise mixture to pasta as desired, stirring well to combine.
    Cover and refrigerate any remaining mayonnaise mixture. Chill pasta salad for several hours. As with
    any cold pasta salad, the pasta will absorb much of the dressing. Before serving pasta, add additional
    mayonnaise mixture to desired consistency.
6. Serve on a bed of lettuce.