Marinated Shrimp Salad is an easy, fresh, healthy, make-ahead salad that is perfect as a first course, or lunch or a light salad for your celebration of the Feast of Seven Fishes this Christmas Eve. Great flavors of olives, crisp celery, garlic and lemon brighten and highlight the shrimp. Prep only takes minutes and then you leave it to marinate overnight. Gluten free, dairy free, nut free and paleo friendly.
Are you celebrating the Feast of the Seven Fishes this Christmas Eve?
Never heard of The Feast of the Seven Fishes? You are not alone.
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is part of the Italian-American Christmas Eve celebration, although it’s not called that in Italy. It seems Italian Americans gave it the name.
In Italy, it is traditional to eat seafood on Christmas Eve, dating from the Roman Catholic tradition of abstinence. The meal may include more than just seven fish dishes, as many as twelve.
So why seven? Many believe because seven is the most repeated number in the Bible and appears over 700 times. Others believe represents the seven Sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church.
As you many know my husband was brought up by an Italian mother, so the Italian culture is strong through his family. Though they never celebrated the Feast of the Seven Fishes my mother-n-law always served several courses of fish on Christmas Eve. One dish she made often was a marinated shrimp salad. Today I am sharing a variation of that recipe that is perfect for a light salad during your Christmas Eve celebration or a light dinner to enjoy with a salad during the week.
I am excited to be sharing this recipe along side many of my talented blogging friends who are contributing to complete menu ideas for you to enjoy at your own Feast of the Seven Fishes.
Below is a list of twelve delicious recipes with direct links to each. Please check out each one and see how delicious each recipe is.
Brought to America from Southern Italy where it is all now but forgotten, the Feast of the Seven Fishes is a meal eaten by Italian-Americans that features (at least) seven fish/seafood dishes. Along with our hosts, Heather from All Roads Lead to the Kitchen and Lora from Savoring Italy, some bloggers have gotten together to share menu ideas for your Seven Fishes feast. Along with the traditional seven fish and seafood dishes, we’ve included some side dishes, a palate cleanser, a dessert, and a cocktail.
Salmon Rillettes from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
Marinated Shrimp Salad from A Healthy Life For Me
Pistachio Crusted Baked Cod from Cravings of a Lunatic
Pasta con le Sarde from Savoring Italy
Tuscan Seafood Stew from Food Done Light
Mixed Seafood Risotto from All Roads Lead to the Kitchen
Linguine with Scallops and Broccoli from Kudos Kitchen By Renee
Brussels Sprouts Risotto from Eats Well With Others
Marinated Roasted Vegetables from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Limoncello Sorbet from Creative Culinary
Zuppa Inglese from Christina’s Cucina
Cranberry Limoncello Spritzer from Snappy Gourmet
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Amy Stafford
Yields 6-8
Marinated Shrimp Salad is an easy, fresh, healthy, make ahead salad that is perfect as a first course, or lunch. Great flavors of olives, crisp celery, garlic and lemon brighten and highlight the shrimp.
8 minPrep Time
8 minTotal Time
Save Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 -3 pounds small shrimp - already cleaned and cooked {directions for uncooked shrimp below}
- Juice 2 to 3 lemons
- 5 ounces pimento martini olives-rinsed, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbsp. white balsamic vinegar
- 3 stalks of celery, diced
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a shallow bowl, combine all the dressing ingredients mix well, add shrimp if cooked. {**if not cooked follow directions below} and cover in
- Cover and allow it to marinate overnight in the refrigerator, turning the mixture occasionally.
- Shrimp salad will stay fresh refrigerated up to 3 days.
- Before serving, allow the salad to come to room temperature.
- Transfer to a large salad platter and serve.
- **Directions for uncooked shrimp
- In a large sauce pan, bring 4 cups of water to boil.
- Add some salt.
- Add the shrimp and boil until they turn pink, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon, remove the shrimp and let cool.
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Such a beautiful dish, Amy! I’d love it on Christmas Eve or any time of the year!!!
I am pretty sure this Marinated Shrimp Salad will make an appearance at my Christmas Eve feast this year. I love the flavor combinations. It’s looks so easy too. Thanks for sharing!
I hope it makes an appearance Melissa.
What a lovely way to start the Feast of the Seven Fishes. I really enjoy light salads like this (and so do my kiddos!!). Thank you for being a part of our virtual party, Amy! Buon Natale!
Thanks Lora!
This sounds incredible…the perfect light and fresh seafood element to our feast. Plus, it’s so pretty!
Thanks Heather!
I love the idea of marinated shrimp. Sounds so delicious and different. A perfect second course for a wonderful feast.
Thanks christie!
I would love this! Anything with vinegar in it has my name on it! What a lovely addition to the Christmas Eve Feast!
Thanks Christina!
This sounds delicious! So fresh and light. How cool that you have a family recipe for this event. Your photos are beautiful.
Thanks Karen! It helps to have an Italian Mother-n-law!
Love how fresh and easy this looks. Perfect!
Thanks Lisa!
This looks beautifully delicate and wonderfully elegant!
Thanks Renee!
Delicious!! This is such a great flavor combo! I have got to try this soon!
I hope you do! Enjoy Annie.
What an awesome salad idea! Can’t wait to try it out!
Thanks Kristyn! I hope you enjoy it.
This salad seriously has my mouth watering – those olives, yum!
Thanks Kelly.
Your shrimp salad sounds delicious! I’m not Italian so I’ve never celebrated Christmas Eve with the Feast of the Seven Fishes. We do always have shrimp cocktail though 😉
Give this a try in place of the shrimp cocktail.
What a wonderful healthy option to have through these Holiday gatherings!
Thanks Heather!
I’d love to have this for Christmas!
I hope you enjoy it!
We’re not celebrating the Feast of the Seven Fishes but we have a lot of friends that are! Passing this over to them and also keeping it in mind for us! We may not be celebrating Feast of the Seven Fishes but I still want this!
Thank you so much for sharing Angie! xo Have a lovely holiday!
What a light, lovely dish and a perfect part of our ‘fish fest!’
Thanks Barb!