Shrimp Cocktail
For a holiday appetizer that’s sure to impress, try serving homemade shrimp cocktail. It’s simple to make, looks elegant, and can be more cost-effective than buying it pre-made from the fish market. Start by simmering a pot of water with flavorful aromatics like lemon, onion, garlic, Old Bay seasoning, and bay leaves. Once the water is ready, add the shrimp, cover the pot, and turn off the heat. In just 3 to 4 minutes, you’ll have perfectly pink and tender shrimp—not chewy!
Ingredients
SHRIMP
- 1 lemon, halved
- 1 onion, roughly chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
- 1 Tbsp. Old Bay Seasoning
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 tsp. black peppercorns
- 2 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined (thawed if frozen)
COCKTAIL SAUCE
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 Tbsp. prepared horseradish
- 1 tsp. hot sauce
- 3 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
Instructions
- For the shrimp: Fill a large pot with 8 cups cold water. Squeeze in the lemon juice, then add the lemon halves. Add the onion, garlic, Old Bay, bay leaf, salt and peppercorns and bring to a simmer over medium heat; cook for 20 minutes. Scoop out the solids and return the liquid to a simmer.
- Fill a large bowl halfway with ice. Add 3 cups of water and place a smaller bowl inside (but don’t let the water get in the smaller bowl!).
- Add the shrimp to the pot with the simmering liquid and stir, then cover and turn off the heat. Let sit until the shrimp are pink, curled and opaque throughout, 3 minutes for smaller shrimp and 4 minutes for larger shrimp. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the shrimp to the bowl set over the ice bath. Gently stir every few minutes to cool down the shrimp. Once they’re no longer steaming, put the shrimp on a platter and refrigerate until cold, at least 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, for the cocktail sauce: Stir the ketchup, horseradish, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Chill at least 30 minutes before serving. Serve with the shrimp.
Nutrition
Calories: 114kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 19gFat: 1gCholesterol: 146mgSodium: 355mgPotassium: 359mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gCalcium: 77mgIron: 1mg
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