Wilted Kale Shrimp Zucchini Noodle Salad
Wilted Kale Shrimp Zucchini Noodle Salad is the tastiest salad you’ll not care is healthy too! Gluten Free, Grain free, can be vegetarian, and bursting full of flavor!
Maybe because it’s a warm wilted dish, calling it a salad isn’t typical, but to me it is all things salad related. You’ve got your greens (kale), you’ve got your veggies (tomatoes & zucchini), you’ve got some protein (shrimp) and you’ve got an amazingly mouthwatering garlic lemon dressing that brings it all together. The dressing isn’t whisked as a typical salad dressing would be, rather it’s all sautéed in the skillet and it’s a one pot wonder dish! Who doesn’t love a one pot meal right?!
I must be honest with you as I made this for the hubby and me one day when the kiddies were at music classes and he was working from home. I was not sure he’d like the zoodles, you know, zucchini noodles as it was his first time ever trying them. If this didn’t have shrimp in it I highly doubt he would have eaten it. My guy is more of a meat and potatoes man, but to my surprise he absolutely loved it and even shocked himself! I have not bought myself a spiralizer yet, but I do have a serrated peeler from Pampered Chef that does the same thing if not with a little more effort on my part, but it works.
Here’s what it looks like. You just use the serrated side and hold the zucchini and peel downward and it makes it like noodles.
Messermeister 3-pc. Pro-Touch Peeler Trio
What makes this dish stand out though is the lemon and garlic and lots of it. My hubby thought it a bit overpowering and thinks the lemon could be reduced, but if you like lemon as I do, keep it as is. Or try it with less then add more if you like. I’m happy with the lemon flavor being the star player here. 🙂
My hubby is not a fan of warm tomatoes, but I like the way they soften and split a little when sautéed with the kale. If you’re not into warm tomatoes, just skip that step and throw them in after the dish is off the heat.
Now the nutrition info is up for discussion. The hubby and I split this meal. I personally don’t think it was too much when divided by 2 for a meal. When I worked the Weight Watchers points in my calculator for 2 servings, it is surprisingly 11. I would suggest just counting the shrimp for 4 ounces (3 points) and one tablespoon of olive oil (3.5points) but it is up to you.
Wilted Kale Shrimp Zucchini Noodle Salad
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 8 ounces shrimp deveined, tails removed
- 1 bunch organic kale stem removed, chopped (about 6 cups)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 2 cups zucchini noodles
- 2 lemons juiced or 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped basil
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium low heat.
- Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Add shrimp and cook until pink on both sides and curled around edges.
- Reduce heat to low and add kale, tomatoes, salt and pepper.
- Continue to cook until kale is wilted.
- Stir in zucchini noodles and lemon juice and cook 2-3 more minutes to soften zucchini.
- Serve topped with fresh basil.
Notes
Nutrition
About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & Refined carb free for 17 years and has written 2 cookbooks, Sugar-Free Mom, and Naturally Keto and her 3rd book The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, is a four part program to help you detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar and lose weight all while eating a delicious, nutrient dense whole foods. Meal plan offers two tracks to follow, low carb or keto. She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and Sugar Free Tribe weight loss membership. Learn more.
This looks so fresh and colorful – I love this and can’t wait to give it a try this summer!
Thanks Joelen!
This looks like such a healthy and delicious meal for summer. Yum!
This looks like the perfect summer salad! Great for when it’s too hot to cook but you want something “hot” to eat for dinner! I love the burst of cherry tomatoes when they are simmered in garlic and olive oil.
I am counting my carbs and was wondering why the carb count is so high? Everything listed
as far as I know is not high in carbs? It looks delicious but if the carb count is correct I will not be able to
make this dish.
Thank you! I love your site and all your recipes!
Terry
HI Terry,
The net carbs are 31.7g by subtracting the fiber from the total carbs. Tomatoes are high in carbs so you could either reduce by a cup of leave them out altogether. I use myfooddiary.com to calculate all the nutrition info.
I would definitely call this a salad, even if the kale is a little wilted. It looks fantastic!
Warm salads are a preference but I liked it so hopefully others will too!
I love kale, but run out of creative ways to use it. This is a great idea!
Thanks Jessica, I’ve got a bunch more in my fridge and need to make something else with it!
I love this recipe, and I love those peelers. This is absolutely gorgeous.
On a side note, I love your header. Very cute.
Thank you Kim!
This is my kinda salad! Pass me the bowl ; )
I devoured it!
I love a good one pot meal, and this is exactly the kind of thing I crave in the summer. Simple meals with the best fresh produce you can find. Pinned!
Thanks for pinning!
I love salads, especially ones with all these great veggies. Ginny and I could share one without the shrimp!
One pot meals are my favorite! “Traditional” salad or not, I’d love to try this!
thanks Angie!
How refreshing this looks. I have to leave out the shrimp but I am sure it will still be amazing.
Who WOULDN’T like this?! SO fresh and delicious looking!
It’s 90 degrees where I am! So, we’re all about the salads now…love this!
This zucchini noodle salad looks delicious, I would love it for lunch today! Pinned 🙂
Thanks for pinning Jenn!