Classic Shrimp Cocktail

Classic Shrimp Cocktail is a simple appetizer for easy entertaining. Instead of buying that prepared shrimp in a plastic container at the grocery, which lacks flavor anyway, you can wow your guests with your own homemade version in individual servings. Yes, the presentation is everything!

A pin of a shrimp cocktail in a mini cocktail glass caught my eye on Pinterest. Clicking on the pin took me to a recipe for Roasted Shrimp by Kellie at the Suburban Soapbox. If you want an alternative to the poached shrimp, you might try her recipe. today I’m going classic but planning to try her roasting method another day…

Poached Shrimp

3 quarts cold water
1/2 medium onion – sliced
1/2 lemon
2 cloves garlic – peeled and lightly bruised with the flat side of a knife
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
1 Tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 whole bay leaf
2 pounds peeled and deveined large or jumbo shrimp

Place the water, sliced onion, lemon, garlic, spices, bay leaf, and seasoning in a large pot. Then, stir well. Heat to just below the boiling point and simmer for about 15 minutes until all the flavors have blended. (Your kitchen will smell amazing!)

Turn the heat up and bring it to a full boil. Place the shrimp in the hot liquid and cook for about 1 – 2 minutes, or more, depending on the size of the shrimp. The shrimp should be pink on the outside and cooked through. Don’t walk away! It will take no time!

Remove the pan from the heat, and using a spider or skimmer, quickly remove the shrimp and immerse them in a bowl of ice water until the shrimp is chilled.

Remove the poached shrimp and plunge in ice water.

Drain the ice water. Then, transfer the shrimp to a glass container and keep refrigerated until ready to prepare the mini appetizers.

Classic Cocktail Sauce

1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup chili sauce
2 Tablespoons horseradish
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
3 drops hot sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Place the ketchup, chili sauce, horseradish, lemon juice Worcestershire, hot sauce, pepper, and salt in a small glass mixing bowl. Mix well. Then, cover and chill in the refrigerator for one hour or until serving.

Just a warning here, this sauce smells terrific and you’ll be tempted to eat it immediately but it tastes best cold. You should still chill it before serving… When you serve the sauce in these individual mini glasses, your guests can double dip, too!

Assembling The Shrimp Cocktail

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Spoon some of the cocktail sauce into the bottom of the mini cocktail glasses.

(To avoid dripping down the edge of the cocktail glasses, hold the bowl and the spoon right over the glass and spoon the sauce into the middle.)

Next, arrange three poached shrimp around the edge of the glass.

Lastly, garnish with a wedge of fresh lemon and a sprig of parsley.

Classic Shrimp Cocktail - How To Easily Make Your Own. . #shrimpcocktail #shrimp #classicshrimpcocktail — Classic Shrimp Cocktail

Aren’t these adorable? Just imagine the accolades you’ll get when you serve these! When you realize how easy this is, you won’t buy that lackluster plastic tray again!

If you like shrimp dishes, as I do, click here► shrimp recipes.