"Shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sauté it. There's, um, shrimp kebabs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo, pan-fried, deep-fried, stir fried. There's pineapple shrimp and lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich... That's, that's about it."―Mykelti Williamson. Simply put, shrimp are delightful. They are America's favorite seafood, along with salmon, and more than 1 billion pounds of it is consumed annually in the US. On the other hand, salads are exceptionally nutritious given that the raw veggies in salads are antioxidant sources that aid the body to fight diseases like cancer; and also annul the adverse effects of free radicals. Some fruits and veggies have high water content which keeps dehydration at bay. Cajun Style Rice Shrimp and Ham Salad The best thing about this recipe is that you can serve it as a main dish for dinner or a starter as usual. All you need to gather of this recipe are,

• Long grained rice, 2 cups (cooked)
• Shrimp, 250 gms (cleaned and deveined)
• Mushrooms, ½ cup (slivered)
• Ham, 150 gms (cubed into ½" bits)
• Eggs, 2 (boiled and sliced)
• Capsicum, 1 cup (chopped)
• Parsley, 2 tbsp. (minced)
• Olive oil, ¼ cup
• Vinegar, ¼ cup
• Water, ¼ cup
• Spring onion, 1 (finely chopped)
• Kashmiri chili powder, 2 tsp.
• Chili powder, 1 tsp.
• Mustard powder, 1 tsp.
• Garlic, ½ tsp. (minced)
• Lettuce and chili flowers, to garnish
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Procedure Take a screw-top jar and throw in the olive oil, vinegar, water, spring onion, Kashmiri and red chili powders, mustard powder, and garlic. Shake it vehemently until it all gets blended. Season with salt and pepper and keep aside to settle down. Now, in a large bowl add the rice, eggs, ham, shrimp, parsley, and capsicum one by one, and stir gently to mix it up well. Pour the dressing over it. Ladle through this concoction well to make a uniform mixture. Put it in the freezer and keep it there for at least 20 hours. While serving, place whole lettuce leaves on the dish, place the shrimp salad on it and then garnish with chili flowers. Remember, it will be sufficient for three if eaten as a main course and satiate six if consumed as a starter. Yogurt Shrimp Salad This recipe is ideal for a quick snack when very hungry, or is a good option when the main course requires more time and elaborate preparation. Just lay your hands on some,

• Shrimp, 100 gms (cleaned, shelled and deveined)
• Yogurt, 200 gms (beaten till smooth)
• Salt, pepper, and sugar, to taste
• Lettuce leaves, to garnish

Procedure Simply boil the shrimp for not more than two minutes and drain it of water. While beating the yogurt add the salt, sugar, and pepper as per your preferences. Now add this yogurt to the shrimp and mix it up well. Serve it on a bed of lettuce. Spicy Shrimp Salad Recipe with Sprouts This is another very easy and yet spicy recipe. You'll need

• Shrimp, 100 gms (shelled, cleaned and deveined)
• Bean sprouts, 50 gms
• Potato finger, 100 gms (pre-fried)
• Hand-crumble cottage cheese, 25 gms
• Olive oil, 2 tbsp.
• Spring onion, 1 (chopped)
• Red pepper, 1 (julienned)
• Green chilies, a few (chopped)
• Salt, to taste
• Lemon juice, a dash

Procedure Heat the oil in a skillet and sauté the shrimp in it until they take on a reddish tinge. Add the strips of red pepper, spring onion, bean sprouts, potato fingers, and cottage cheese to it. Stir for a minute and add lemon juice, salt, and green chili flakes as per your bud directives. Sauté for another 5 to 6 minutes and then remove from flame. Serve it hot and enjoy with relish. As easy as it gets, these recipes are delicious along with being wholesome. Shrimp is a healthy food item with high sodium, potassium, and protein contents. However, they are also handsome sources of saturated fats and cholesterol. Just ensure that you do not indulge in them way too often.