Sometimes I’m surprised how long some foods have been around. I recently came across a hundred-year-old recipe for Shrimp Salad that called for canned shrimp. I never would have guessed that canned shrimp was available in 1923.
In any case, I decided to try the recipe. The recipe called for the canned shrimp, celery, and mayonnaise – plus a few capers to garnish the salad. This tasty recipe was quick and easy to make, and in some ways seemed very modern.
Here’s the original recipe:
Here’s the recipe updated for modern cooks:
Shrimp Salad
1 can shrimp (either a 4-ounce or 6-ounce can will work in this recipe)
1 stalk celery, chopped
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon capers
lettuce leaves, optional
Drain and rinse the canned shrimp. Unless the shrimp are very small, cut into pieces. Put shrimp, celery, and mayonnaise in a bowl; mix until thoroughly combined. Arrange lettuce leaves on plate(s), and place mounds of the Shrimp Salad on the lettuce. If desired the lettuce can be skipped, and the Shrimp Salad can be put in a bowl to serve. Garnish with capers.
Looks pretty modern to me!
Agree!
I like this.
It’s yummy.
As usual, your post made me curious! I could see this being served at a ladies’ bridge party. 🂡🂣 Would you believe in 1867, the Dunbar family began the innovation of canning shrimp in New Orleans, LA? They opened the Dunbar & Dukate oyster and shrimp cannery in Biloxi in 1881.
Wow, I’m amazed. I never would have guessed that they’ve been canning shrimp and oysters since the early 1880’s.
Me either.
It does look really easy and you can keep most of the ingredients on hand.
Agree- it’s nice that most of the ingredients can be kept on hand.
I never saw fresh or raw shrimp growing up in the Midwest. All we ever had was canned (not even frozen). I think that canned was the only way those who lived any distance from the coast could get shrimp since transportation wasn’t fast enough to prevent it from going bad!!
Times sure have changed over our lifetimes. It’s amazing how far foods are transported today.
My father used to make a shrimp salad similar to that when he was trying to get me and my sister used to fine dining.
One of my uncles used to buy fresh shrimp somewhere and boil them. My sister, my cousins and I would eat them on soda crackers.
What a fun memory!
I do love fresh boiled shrimp!
Looks delicious. I haven’t heard of canned shrimp. I agree It’s not something I would’ve thought of being available back then. Thanks for another tasty easy recipe. 😊
At the store where I shop, canned shrimp in the same section as tuna. Frozen cooked shrimp would also work.