Romantic Shrimp Cocktail (Printable Format)
Succulent shrimp paired with zesty homemade sauce, perfect for intimate dinners and special occasions.
# What You Need:
→ Shrimp
01 - 12 large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails on
02 - 1 teaspoon sea salt
03 - 1 lemon, sliced
→ Cocktail Sauce
04 - 1/3 cup ketchup
05 - 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
06 - 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
07 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
08 - 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce
09 - Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
→ Garnish
10 - Lemon wedges
11 - Fresh parsley or dill sprigs
# How-To Steps:
01 - Fill a medium saucepan with water, add sea salt and lemon slices. Bring to a boil over high heat.
02 - Add shrimp to boiling water and cook for 2–3 minutes, until shrimp turn pink and are just cooked through. Do not overcook.
03 - Immediately transfer shrimp to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Chill for at least 5 minutes. Drain well and pat dry.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and black pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste.
05 - Arrange chilled shrimp on a serving platter or in cocktail glasses. Serve with cocktail sauce, lemon wedges, and garnish with fresh parsley or dill sprigs.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- It comes together in under 20 minutes but looks like something from a high end restaurant
- The homemade sauce puts bottled versions to shame and takes literally two minutes to whisk together
02 -
- Overcooked shrimp cannot be saved so when in doubt pull them out a little early
- The ice bath step is what separates cocktail shrimp from sad boiled shrimp
- The sauce actually tastes better if you make it an hour ahead so the horseradish can mellow slightly
03 -
- Leave the little swimmer legs on the shrimp for extra visual impact and texture contrast
- Double the horseradish if you love a sauce with real personality