1-First step: Season and cook the shrimp Start by patting the raw shrimp dry if needed. Season them with 1/4 teaspoon salt and black pepper to taste. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, then cook the shrimp for about 3 minutes, just until they turn pink and opaque. Do not overcook them. Shrimp can go from tender to rubbery very fast, so keep an eye on the pan. Once cooked, chop the shrimp into bite-sized pieces if you want smaller bites in the salad.

2-Second step: Add the lime juice Place the warm chopped shrimp in a bowl and squeeze in the juice of 3 medium limes. Stir well so the shrimp gets fully coated. Let it sit for a few minutes while you prep the vegetables. The lime juice does more than add flavor. It gives the salad that bright avocado salsa taste and helps the whole dish feel extra fresh. If you are using pre-cooked shrimp, this step still works well. Just rinse the shrimp under cold water, pat them dry, chop, and toss with the lime juice.

3-Third step: Dice the vegetables and fruit Now dice the 2 medium or large avocados, 1/2 English cucumber, and 3 medium or 4 Roma tomatoes. Keep the pieces similar in size so every bite is balanced. Finely dice the 1 small red onion and chop the 1/2 cup cilantro. If you want the avocado to stay bright and pretty, cut it last and toss it right away with the lime-coated shrimp. That simple trick helps slow browning and keeps the salad looking fresh.

4-Fourth step: Combine everything Add the avocado, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro to the bowl with the shrimp. Stir gently so the avocado does not get mashed too much. You want some creaminess, but you also want clear chunks of cucumber and tomato for texture. Taste the salad and add a bit more pepper if needed. If you like a little heat, this is a good time to add hot sauce directly to the bowl or save it for serving.

5-Final step: Serve and enjoy Spoon the salad into bowls and serve right away with hot sauce and tortilla chips. The crunchy chips make this shrimp salsa feel more like a fun snack or light meal, and the hot sauce adds a nice kick.