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"The Perfect Shrimp Cocktail Recipe"
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The Perfect Shrimp Cocktail Recipe

This shrimp cocktail recipe is delicious poached shrimp and zesty flavorful cocktail sauce. The perfect appetizer for any occasion.
Course Appetizer, Seafood
Cuisine American
Keyword shrimp cocktail appetizer, shrimp cocktail recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Thawing 35 minutes
Servings 5 servings
Calories 17kcal
Author Joe Boyle

Ingredients

Shrimp

  • 1 1/2 lbs. shrimp, 16-20 size, peeled, deveined, tail-on

Poaching Liquid

  • 3 qts. water
  • 1 tbsp. kosher salt
  • 1 tbsp. granulated sugar
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 1/2 tbsp. Old Bay Seasoning
  • 20-25 black peppercorns

Cocktail Sauce

  • 272 grams ketchup, (1 cup)
  • 2 tbsp. prepared horseradish (Inglehoffer cream style)
  • 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tsp lemon zest
  • 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp. Crystal hot sauce
  • 1/4 tsp. kosher salt

Instructions

Poaching the Shrimp

  • Add 3 quarts of water to a large pot and add all of the poaching ingredients and bring it to a boil. Allow to softly boil for at least 10 minutes for the flavors to develop.
  • Set a timer to 2 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and allow 10 to 20 seconds for the boiling to stop, then add the raw shrimp. Start timing and let the shrimp cook for 2 minutes. Then check that the shrimp are pink and white with no gray areas which indicates that they are cooked through.
  • Use a kitchen spider to remove the shrimp from the liquid and place them on a double layer of paper towels. You could also pour the water and shrimp through a stainer in your sink.
  • Place the shrimp into a small bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or place in your freezer for 10 minutes to cool.

Cocktail sauce

  • Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Shrimp Cocktail

  • Serve the shrimp and cocktail sauce cold with lemon wedges or crackers.

Notes

    1. Nutrition information is for 1 tablespoon of the cocktail sauce. 5 ounces of shrimp and 2 tablespoons of sauce would equal about 168 calories.
    2. If you have a kitchen scale, it is easy to measure the ketchup in grams. Zero the scale with the small bowl on it, turn the scale to measure grams, then add 272 grams of the ketchup. This will save you from having to use a measuring cup for the ketchup. If your scale has only ounces, then squeeze in 9.6 ounces.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tbsp | Calories: 17kcal