SHRIMP COCKTAIL with Homemade Cocktail Sauce
Shrimp Cocktail is still one of the most popular party foods around! It is the one appetizer that I consistently serve at most holidays and special occasions! My family loves it!
For shrimp cocktail, I like to use a large to extra-large sized shrimp and to serve them with cocktail sauce and lemon wedges.
Whenever I prepared any type of boiled or steamed shrimp, I like to cook the shrimp with the shell on because I think it adds flavor and keeps them from shrinking as much. I then peel and devein them after cooking.
Here are the spices and seasonings that I use in the poaching liquid for the shrimp.
Add all of the seasonings and spices to the large pot of water, turn on the heat, and stir well.
Cut a lemon in half and slice a small onion. Add these to the poaching liquid.
Bring the poaching liquid to a simmer and cook for at least 15 minutes to let the flavors blend.
Add the raw, shell-on shrimp to the boiling poaching liquid and cook uncovered until the shrimp turn pink on the outside and the meat is no longer transparent in the center which will take about 4 to 5 minutes.
While the shrimp are poaching, get a colander ready to drain them and a bowl of ice to immediately cool them once drained.
Once the shrimp are cooked, drain them quickly into a colander!
After draining the poached shrimp, submerge them into ice water to quickly stop the cooking process and cool down the shrimp. The shrimp should then be peeled, deveined, and put into the refrigerator until service time.
Here is a link to a video I posted on how to peel and devein shrimp in case you want to check it out – https://youtu.be/HrEE28U-CGw
While the shrimp is cooling under refrigeration, make the cocktail sauce by whisking the ingredients together in a mixing bowl.
When all of the ingredients for the cocktail sauce have been whisked together, taste and correct the seasonings to the flavor you desire. Then cover and place into the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes until chilled.
To serve, arrange the shrimp onto a plate or serving platter. Serve with chilled cocktail sauce garnished with lemon wedges and your choice of herbs if desired.
Shrimp Cocktail
Shrimp cocktail is a very popular special occasion appetizer that is usually served with chilled cocktail sauce and lemon wedges!
Equipment
- 1 Large Sauce or Stock Pot
- 1 Mixing Bowl
- 1 Collander
Ingredients
Poaching Liquid
- 3 quarts water
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tsp whole black peppercorns
- 1 tbsp Old Bay seafood seasoning
- 1 tsp pickling spice
- 1 tsp dried dill weed
- 1 each bay leaf
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 each small onion, sliced
- 1 each lemon, cut in half
- 2 pounds raw, shell-on large shrimp
Cocktail Sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup chili sauce
- 1 tbsp lemon juice or to taste
- 4 tbsp prepared horseradish or to taste
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 4 drops hot sauce or to taste
- 1/2 tsp salt as needed
Garnish (optional)
- lemon wedges
- fresh parsley sprigs or other fresh herb
Instructions
- In a large pot, combine the water with the salt, whole peppercorns, Old Bay seasoning, pickling spice, dried dill weed, bay leaf and dried thyme. Stir and then add in the sliced onion and lemon halves.
- Bring to a simmer and cook until the flavors blend, about 15 minutes.
- Bring the poaching liquid up to a boil and add the shrimp. Cook uncovered until the shrimp turn pink on the outside and the meat is no longer transparent in the center, about 4 to 5 minutes total. Do not overcook as that will make the shrimp tough and chewy.
- Drain the shrimp into a colander and then immediately transfer them to a bowl of ice water and stir. This will stop the cooking process and prevent the shrimp from continuing to cook. Keep the shrimp immersed until cold.
- Remove the shrimp from the ice water when chilled and then peel and devein them. Cover and put into the refrigerator until service time.
- To make the cocktail sauce, whisk together the ketchup, chili sauce, horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and salt in a bowl. Taste and correct any seasonings. Cover and put into the refrigerator until chilled, at least 15 minutes.
- To serve, arrange the chilled poached shrimp onto a plate or serving platter, and serve with chilled cocktail sauce garnished with lemon wedges and parsley sprigs if desired.
- NOTE: It is a great time saver to make your shrimp cocktail a day or two before and then just chill until it is needed, especially if prepping for a party.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Here are some other great shrimp videos / recipe suggestions from our YouTube channel that we recommend you check out!
Please follow, share, and like us:
