Easy Flavorful Shrimp Cocktail Recipe
Shrimp cocktail, a classic appetizer, has a timeless charm that never goes out of style. It’s the kind of dish that can elevate any gathering, from intimate dinners to grand celebrations. Our Flavorful Shrimp Cocktail recipe takes this beloved classic to a whole new level, ensuring that every bite is a succulent, flavorful delight.
With just 5 minutes of prep time and 15 minutes of cooking, you can create a stunning appetizer that’s not only delicious but also impressive. It’s a recipe that showcases the beauty of simplicity and quality ingredients.
We start by simmering a flavorful broth infused with carrots, celery, garlic, and a touch of Old Bay seasoning. This aromatic bath serves as the perfect backdrop for our star ingredient: plump, tender shrimp. Once cooked to perfection, these shrimp take a refreshing dip in an ice bath, preserving their delicate texture and flavor.
But what’s a shrimp cocktail without the perfect sauce? Our zesty cocktail sauce, with its harmonious blend of ketchup, horseradish, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce, adds the ideal touch of tanginess and spice to complement the sweetness of the shrimp.
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Whether you’re hosting a dinner party, celebrating a special occasion, or simply indulging in a gourmet appetizer at home, our Shrimp Cocktail recipe will leave your taste buds delighted. So, let’s dive into the details and create a dish that’s not just an appetizer but a memorable experience. Get ready to savor the perfect bite!
Recipe Notes:
- Shrimp cocktail can be prepared a day in advance.
- Any left-over shrimp can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To quickly thaw frozen shrimp, place shrimp in a large bowl, fill bowl with cool tap water and let shrimp sit for 3-4 minutes. Continue to run cool tap water over shrimp, separating any that are attached together, until they are thawed, 4-5 minutes.
- To peel and devein shrimp, along the back side of the shrimp cut a slit in the shell running from the base of the tail to the end of the shrimp. Gently peel back shell and remove, leaving the tail intact. Remove the mud vein and rinse with cool water to remove any debris.
- This recipe uses extra-large shrimp, but any size of shrimp can be made into shrimp cocktail. The cooking time may vary, smaller shrimp may only need a couple minutes, while larger shrimp will need a minute or two longer. Watch for signs of doneness; shrimp will be bright pink, and the tail has curled.
- Shrimp can be cooked with the shell on. Cook as directed, simply peel them after they have chilled in the ice bath.
Easy Flavorful Shrimp Cocktail Recipe
- To make cocktail sauce combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix until thoroughly combined, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
- In a large stock pot add water, carrots, celery, garlic cloves, Old Bay, and salt. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to maintain a low boil. Cook for 15 minutes.
- While broth cooks, prepare an ice bath by placing 4-5 cups of ice in a large bowl along with 4 to 5 cups of cool tap water.
- Remove pot from heat and add shrimp. Cook shrimp, stirring occasionally for 4-5 minutes or until cooked through. The shrimp will be pink and curled.
- Once the shrimp has cooked remove them with a large, slotted, spoon and immediately place in the prepared ice bath to stop cooking. Allow shrimp to sit in the bath for 2-3 minutes or until thoroughly chilled.
- Remove the shrimp from the ice bath and place them in a bowl or on a serving platter. Cover and refrigerate shrimp until ready to serve. Serve with prepared cocktail sauce or your favorite store-bought sauce and lemon wedges.
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Easy Flavorful Shrimp Cocktail Recipe
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Ingredients
- 2 pounds peeled and deveined extra-large raw shrimp
- 2 medium carrots
- 2 stalks celery
- 3-4 garlic cloves peeled
- 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3-4 quarts water
- Slices of lemon for garnish
Cocktail Sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoon prepared horseradish
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce
- ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Dash of salt and pepper
Instructions
- To make cocktail sauce combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix until thoroughly combined, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
- In a large stock pot add water, carrots, celery, garlic cloves, Old Bay, and salt. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to maintain a low boil. Cook for 15 minutes.
- While broth cooks, prepare an ice bath by placing 4-5 cups of ice in a large bowl along with 4 to 5 cups of cool tap water.
- Remove pot from heat and add shrimp. Cook shrimp, stirring occasionally for 4-5 minutes or until cooked through. The shrimp will be pink and curled.
- Once the shrimp has cooked remove them with a large, slotted, spoon and immediately place in the prepared ice bath to stop cooking. Allow shrimp to sit in the bath for 2-3 minutes or until thoroughly chilled.
- Remove the shrimp from the ice bath and place them in a bowl or on a serving platter. Cover and refrigerate shrimp until ready to serve. Serve with prepared cocktail sauce or your favorite store-bought sauce and lemon wedges.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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