Fresh Shrimp and Creamy Avocado Bowls (Printable Version)

Smoky grilled shrimp with creamy avocado, nutty quinoa, bright mango salsa, and tangy lime chili sauce for refreshing crunch.

# What You'll Need:

→ Shrimp

01 - 1 pound fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Quinoa & Avocado

06 - 1 cup cooked quinoa
07 - 1 ripe avocado, halved, pitted, and sliced

→ Mango Salsa

08 - 1 mango, peeled and diced
09 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped
10 - 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
11 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
12 - Juice of 1 lime
13 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
14 - Salt to taste

→ Lime Chili Sauce

15 - 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
16 - 1 tablespoon lime juice
17 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
18 - Salt to taste

→ Garnish

19 - Lime wedges for serving

# How To Make It:

01 - In a large bowl, toss shrimp with olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Allow to marinate for 15 minutes.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine diced mango, chopped red onion, diced red bell pepper, minced jalapeño, lime juice, fresh cilantro, and salt. Mix thoroughly and set aside.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream or Greek yogurt, lime juice, chili powder, and salt until smooth. Set aside.
04 - Heat a grill pan or non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add marinated shrimp and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side until pink and cooked through. Remove from heat.
05 - Divide cooked quinoa equally among four serving bowls. Top each portion with sliced avocado.
06 - Place grilled shrimp alongside quinoa and avocado in each bowl. Spoon mango salsa generously over the shrimp.
07 - Drizzle lime chili sauce over mango salsa and shrimp. Garnish with lime wedges and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like vacation but takes less than an hour from start to finish.
  • Every bite has contrast: smoky shrimp, creamy avocado, sweet mango, tangy lime, and a little kick from the chili sauce.
  • You can prep the components ahead and toss them together right before serving, making it perfect for busy weeknights or casual dinner parties.
  • It feels indulgent and restaurant-worthy but uses simple, everyday ingredients you can find at any grocery store.
02 -
  • Don't skip the marinating time for the shrimp, even 15 minutes makes a huge difference in flavor and keeps them from tasting bland.
  • Cook the shrimp on high heat and don't move them around too much or they won't get those beautiful char marks.
  • Slice the avocado right before serving or toss it with a little lime juice to keep it from browning and looking sad.
  • Taste the mango salsa before assembling, because depending on the sweetness of your mango you might need more lime or salt to balance it out.
03 -
  • Use a grill pan with ridges instead of a flat skillet, the char marks add smokiness and make the shrimp look restaurant-quality.
  • If your mango isn't perfectly ripe, toss the salsa with a tiny pinch of sugar to bring out the sweetness and balance the lime.
  • Don't overdress the bowls with sauce, start with a light drizzle and let people add more at the table so nothing gets soggy.
  • For extra smoky flavor, finish the shrimp with a squeeze of fresh lime right off the heat while they're still sizzling.
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