Description
This Honey Lime Shrimp & Avocado Rice Stack is a vibrant and fresh dish combining succulent marinated shrimp with creamy avocado and fragrant rice. Layered and presented beautifully, it balances sweet honey, zesty lime, and a touch of spice, making it a perfect light lunch or elegant appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp Marinade
- 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Avocado Rice Mixture
- 1 cup cooked rice (jasmine or basmati works well)
- 1 large avocado, diced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 red onion, finely diced
- Pinch of salt
Garnish
- 1 lime, cut into wedges (for serving)
- Optional: Sliced jalapeños for garnish
- Additional fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, lime juice, minced garlic, chili powder, salt, and pepper to create a flavorful marinade for the shrimp.
- Marinate the shrimp: Add the peeled and deveined shrimp to the marinade and toss to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 1 hour to enhance flavors.
- Make the avocado rice mixture: In a separate bowl, combine the cooked rice, diced avocado, chopped cilantro, finely diced red onion, and a pinch of salt. Gently fold the ingredients together until well mixed.
- Cook the shrimp: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until shrimp turn pink and opaque. Avoid overcooking to keep shrimp tender.
- Assemble the rice stack – Layer 1: Using a round ring mold or small bowl, place a scoop of the avocado rice mixture at the bottom and press down gently to form the base layer.
- Layer 2 – Shrimp: Carefully add a layer of cooked shrimp over the rice, stacking a few shrimp for a visually appealing presentation.
- Optional second stack: Repeat layering with more avocado rice and shrimp if desired to build a taller stack.
- Remove mold: Carefully lift off the ring mold or bowl so the layers hold their shape beautifully.
- Garnish and serve: Decorate the top with additional cilantro, sliced jalapeños if using, and arrange lime wedges around the plate for squeezing over before eating.
Notes
- Marinating shrimp for longer (up to 1 hour) intensifies flavor but do not exceed 1 hour to avoid texture changes.
- Use ripe but firm avocado to maintain good texture in the rice mixture.
- Jasmine or basmati rice are recommended for fluffy texture; avoid sticky rice varieties.
- For a spicier kick, add more chili powder or extra jalapeños.
- Stack presentation works best when using a mold for clean layered appearance, but can be served deconstructed if preferred.
