This very easy, slightly spicy recipe for shrimp in a jar pairs tender shrimp with avocado, tortilla chips, tomato and spices for a fun and portable lunch! Because eating things out of mason jars somehow makes them taste that much better.
Okay, so I know this particular dish is half novelty and half supper, but honestly, the whole thing made me just ridiculously happy, and how often can you say that about a Tuesday night supper?
This all started with a trip to Costco, where the Southern husband (who THINKS he has more self-control than I do at Costco but really doesn’t) not only bought a huge bag of shrimp but also a Costco sized bag of avocados. Now, the shrimp can be sub-divided into many freezer bags and stored away for future meals.
The avocados? Not so much. It was use-it-or-lose-it time, avocado-wise. And since I am a girl who loves a challenge, I spent a week making many avocado-based things while still trying to keep it interesting. We had:
BLA’s (Bagel with Lox and Avocado)
so what exactly is shrimp in a jar, anyway?
And…Shrimp in a Jar, which is basically layers of chopped lettuce, fresh tomato salsa, cooked chopped shrimp, mashed avocado with lime juice, all topped with crumbled tortilla chips. But the beauty part is the jar. Why?
This very easy, slightly spicy recipe for shrimp in a jar pairs tender shrimp with avocado, tortilla chips, tomato and spices for a fun and portable lunch! I have no idea — but for some reason it was just so much fun!
I picked up wide mouth mason jars to make this, and once you have finished eating your supper out of them they make GREAT little storage devices. They are currently lined up on my counter with four different types of cookies in them.I’m already thinking up new possibilities for what the Southern husband is already calling “jar food.”
In the meantime, here’s the recipe!
Shrimp in a Jar
This very easy, slightly spicy recipe for shrimp in a jar pairs tender shrimp with avocado, tortilla chips, tomato and spices for a fun and portable lunch!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped sweet onion
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- 1 to 2 teaspoons chopped fresh jalapeno
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 pound peeled cooked shrimp, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 2 avocados
- 2 cups shredded lettuce (I used iceberg)
- 1/2 cup coarsely crumbled tortilla chips
Instructions
- Stir together tomatoes, onion, parsley, chile, ketchup, 1 tablespoon lime juice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir in shrimp and season with salt and pepper.
- Mash avocados with remaining 1 to 2 tablespoons lime juice and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
- Divide lettuce among jars and layer shrimp mixture, avocado, and crumbled chips on top.
Vicky says
Just stumbled across your blog. Way cool!
Thanks so much and so glad you found me!
Sharon Creech says
Well, it's just so fine, all of it!
Boodle says
your pictures are amazing :D
Kate Morgan Jackson says
Megs: Yes,probably a day, but longer than that and the avocado would probably break down.
Megs says
I love this…how long would it last in the fridge without the chips on it? A day or two?
Jamie says
i truly believe you are brilliant :)
Jennifurla says
LOVE IT, sometimes just adding a twist makes dinner much more fun – why not if you ask me
Vicki says
"Jar Food"….that is hilarious!
a Broad says
Another great jar food is Gazpacho.
Make it, put the lid on, leave it in the fridge, have it for dinner with your chips and your endless supply of avacados :)
smalltownoven says
Shrimp in a jar! I love it. It's so cute and perfect for a dinner party. Also, the lox with avocado sounds delicious. Will have to try that as well!
Charlyce says
This is Iron Chef level cooking. Bravo!
Fun and Fearless in Beantown says
I love the presentation in the jar! This makes this so whimsical and perfect for a summer gathering!
PoetessWug says
Now that I see this and I think a little about it….I can see LOTS of different foods "in a jar"!! ^_^
Kelly says
neat! I like the novelty part of it, and it looks so fresh and light!