Puerto Rican Seafood Salad

ENSALADA DE CAMARONES (PUERTO RICAN SHRIMP SALAD)

Steps:

• Peel and cut potatoes in cubes.
• In a large kettle, cover potatoes with water, add the salt and bring the potatoes to a boil.
• Cook until potatoes are tender; drain and cool.
• Chop shrimp and pimentos into small pieces.
• In a large salad bowl, combine cooled potatoes, shrimp, pimentos, crushed pineapple, peas, mayonnaise, and salt (to taste).
• Garnish with olives in the form of a clock (with one at each hour and one in the middle).
• Chill before serving.

SPANISH SEAFOOD SALAD

Steps:

• Heat a charcoal or gas grill to high for direct grilling.
• Brush the shrimp and squid with canola oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and grill until slightly charred on both sides and just cooked through, about 4 minutes for the shrimp and 6 minutes for the squid bodies and tentacles.
• Combine the shrimp, squid, crab, peppers, celery, onions, olives, cornichon and parsley in a large bowl. In a second bowl, whisk together the vinegar, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, and season with salt and pepper. Pour over the salad and toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

PUERTO RICAN GAZPACHO SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Cook codfish in boiling water to reduce saltiness to your taste, 10 to 25 minutes; drain. Let codfish cool completely.
• Mix avocado, tomato, and onion together in a bowl. Break cooled codfish into small pieces, discarding any bones, and add to the avocado mixture; stir gently. Drizzle olive oil over the mixture; add whine vinegar and stir gently. Season salad with black pepper; stir. Cover bowl with plastic wrap.
• Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Refrigerate salad at least 45 minutes.

PUERTO RICAN SHRIMP WITH CRISPY ONIONS & AVOCADO SALAD

Steps:

• To prepare shrimp, add all ingredients except shrimp to a small saucepan.
• Heat to a boil and reduce by one-half.
• Let cool, add shrimp, and marinate for two hours.
• Cook the shrimp on a grill on in a grill pan for about a minute on each side (shrimp should just lose their translucency)- keep shrimp warm.
• Next prepare crispy onions.
• Heat oil in a deep fat fryer; soak onions in buttermilk, then dredge them in flour, and then fry in hot oil.
• Drain well and keep warm.
• To assemble dish, place fried onions in center of plate.
• Add three avocado slices to corners of plate, and place shrimp on avocado slices.
• Serve while warm, garnished with lemon and cilantro leaves.