Alex Snodgrass of The Defined Dish shares a Cajun cobb salad with shrimp recipe from her new book Dinner Tonight. This dinner is fresh, flavorful, and easy!
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Welcome to Daily Meal Journal Cookbook Club! This month, we're featuring Dinner Tonight by Alex Snodgrass, the personality and recipe creator behind The Defined Dish blog. Read on to find out why Alex prioritizes family dinners and how she gets a meal on the table with ease. Plus, get the recipe for her zesty Cajun Cobb salad with shrimp.
Alex Snodgrass is a big believer in gathering family around the dinner table. "The bulk of my childhood memories are set in the kitchen with my mom, dad, sister, and brother around the table enjoying my mom's delicious meals," she says. Still, cooking a family dinner every night of the week can become a chore for anyone. "Even if you love cooking as much as I do," she admits, "it can feel like you are in a constant cycle of cooking, scrubbing pots and pans, and filling the dishwasher, only to get up and do it all over again."
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Step
1
Make the Cajun seasoning mix: In a small bowl, combine the seasoning ingredients. Set aside.
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Step
2
Make the Cajun ranch dressing: In a blender or using an immersion blender in a wide-mouth jar, combine the mayo, salt, black pepper, coconut milk, lemon juice, vinegar, and 2 1/4 teaspoons of the Cajun seasoning mix. Blend until smooth. Stir in the chives and refrigerate until ready to serve. This keeps in the fridge for 5 to 7 days.
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Step
3
Make the salad: In a large bowl, combine the romaine, cherry tomatoes, shallot, hard-boiled eggs, chopped bacon, and avocado. Set aside.
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Step
4
Prepare the shrimp: Pat the shrimp very dry with paper towels. Transfer them to a medium bowl and season with the salt, black pepper, and the remaining Cajun seasoning mix. Toss to combine.
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Step
5
In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot but not smoking, transfer the shrimp to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp are cooked through and no longer translucent, about 6 minutes. Add the lemon juice to the skillet and toss to combine.
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Step
6
Add the cooked shrimp to the salad and drizzle with the desired amount of the Cajun ranch dressing. Gently toss to coat.
