Cocktails remind everybody of an alcoholic drink. But wait! Do you think shrimp cocktail means shrimps in some alcohol? Hold your horses! Don’t be worried as you may get a hint by the name that it is an alcohol-based recipe but it is not.
The word cocktail is used in this recipe because of the way shrimps are served in a cocktail glass with a cocktail sauce. Shrimp cocktail is also known as prawn cocktail as it contains prawns.
To make shrimp cocktail, prepare the shrimp in a saucepan containing water, salt, sugar, onion, and parsley. Bring it to a boil until it turns pink and tender.
Make a cocktail sauce by combining all the sauces in a cocktail glass. Serve the cooked prawns and lemon wedges with parsley.
You can use any glass or bowl to serve the prawns with sauce. Just remember to hang the prawns on the edge of the glass and add the sauce into the glass.
You must be amazed to see how easy this recipe is, right? The only thing in this recipe is too gather the ingredients; rest is just so easy and quick to be done.
This recipe is delicious, so let me not delay more and provide you with the ingredients and other follow-ups for the recipe. Here you go.
What Equipment Will You Need To Make Shrimp Cocktail?
- Saucepan – Boil the prawns in a saucepan until they turn pink and tender for five minutes.
- Bowl – Transfer the cooked prawns to a bowl with all the sauces.
- Cocktail Glass – Serve the prawns and sauce in a cocktail glass with lemon wedges.
- Knife – Half the onion and cut lemon wedges using a knife.
- Strainer – Strain the water from the bowl containing cooked prawns for immediate use, using a strainer.
- Chopping Board – Chop the onion and cut the wedges on a chopping board.
How Much Time Will You Need To Make Shrimp Cocktail?
| Preparation Time | Cooking Time | Total Time |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Minutes | 10 Minutes | 25 Minutes |
What Ingredients Will You Need To Make Shrimp Cocktail?
For Shrimp
- Prawns – Cook prawns on high heat to give them the best texture, juicy, and tender, without any stringy chewiness.
- Water – Soak prawns in water to keep seafood moist.
- Ice – Soak cooked prawns in ice water to keep it moist.
- Onion – Chop onion and add to the pan to help tenderize prawns. It will sweet, savory, and pungent flavor.
- Parsley – Parsley will add a bright, herbaceous, and slightly bitter taste to the prawns.
- Lemon – The lemon juice breaks down the proteins in the prawns and prepares it for consumption, turning the flesh an opaque pink.
- Granulated Sugar – Adding just a pinch of sugar to your prawns will help brown prawns better when added to the pan, keeping a perfect caramelized outer layer, while staying juicy and non-rubbery on the inside.
- Kosher Salt – Sprinkle salt in the pan to help penetrate the marinade flavors.
For Cocktail Sauce
- Chili Sauce – Add red chili sauce to a bowl to get sweet, sour, and spicy cocktail.
- Hot Sauce – Hot sauce will add spicy taste due to the addition of sour vinegar.
- Ketchup – Add ketchup to give the cocktail a sweet and tangy flavor.
- Worcestershire Sauce – Worcestershire sauce will add a powerful umami flavor to the cocktail.
- Lemon Juice – The juice of the lemon will give the cocktail a sour taste.
- Lemon Zest – Serve your cocktail with lemon zest to make it more appealing.
- Horseradish – Horseradish will add strong and spicy taste to the cocktail.
- Salt – Salt can help bring balance of flavor to a cocktail, brightening the sweet and sour notes while reducing bitterness.
Steps To Make Shrimp Cocktail
1. Preparing The Shrimp
Start by peeling half small-sized onion and cut it into half. Divide two lemons using a knife and keep them aside.
In a saucepan, pour six cups of water, half cup peeled and chopped onion, one tablespoon of parsley and two tablespoons each of sugar and salt. Now squeeze lemon juice.
Bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiled, add peeled prawns to the pan and let it cook until they turn pink and opaque. It may take 3-5 minutes.
2. Spicy Shrimp Cocktail
Take a large bowl and fill the bowl half with ice and water. Set it aside. Cut lemon wedges and keep them separately.
Once the prawns are cooked, transfer them to a bowl of ice and water. Strain them and use immediately or store them in the refrigerator for 12 hours before you serve.
To make a cocktail sauce. Mix chili sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and lemon juice. Add horseradish and celery salt to a bowl and mix it until well combined.
Serve the prawns and the sauce in a cocktail glass with some lemon wedges and parsley sprinkled on it.
Nutritional Information
| Calories | 188 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 22.7 g |
| Protein | 23.4 g |
| Fat | 0.8 g |
| Cholesterol | 182.5 mg |
| Sodium | 971 mg |
| Sugar | 17 g |
| Vitamin A | 183.8 IU |
| Vitamin C | 31.1 mg |
How Will Shrimp Cocktail Look And Taste Like?
Shrimp cocktail is one such recipe which is a combination of cold shrimps with a hot spicy and sweet sauce. Prawn in this recipe are tender and juicy.
This homemade cocktail sauce and the shrimp is tender, juicy, and delicious. I’ve had some amazing shrimp cocktails in my day.
They’ve usually been served as appetizers at steakhouses. Cold and tender shrimp. Sweet and spicy sauce. So good.
Recipe Card
Shrimp Cocktail Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
For Shrimp
- 2 lb Prawns (peeled)
- 2 lb Ice
- 6 cups Water
- ½ small-sized Onion (peeled and halved)
- 2 Lemons (divided)
- 1 tablespoon Parsley
- 2 tablespoon Kosher Salt
- 2 tablespoon Granulated Sugar
For Cocktail Sauce
- ½ cup Chili Sauce
- 2 dashes Hot Sauce
- ½ cup Ketchup
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 tablespoon Lemon Juice
- 1 tablespoon Horseradish
- 1 teaspoon Lemon Zest
- ¼ teaspoon Celery Salt
Instructions
- Take a large bowl and fill the half bowl with ice and water. Set it aside
- In a saucepan, add water, salt, sugar, chopped onion, and parsley with freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- Bring the mixture to boil. Once boiled, add prawns and cook until they turn pink and opaque.
- Once the prawns are cooked, transfer them to a bowl of ice and water.
- Strain them and use immediately or you can store them in the refrigerator for 12 hours before you serve.
- To make a cocktail sauce. Cut lemon wedges and keep them separately.
- Mix all the listed ingredients of the sauce in a bowl and mix until well combined.
- Serve the prawns and the sauce in a cocktail glass with some lemon wedges and parsley sprinkled on it.
Video
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is shrimp cocktail made of?
Shrimp cocktail is also known as prawn cocktail as it contains prawns. It is loved as an appetizer in Britain and America since the 1960s. This one such recipe is a combination of cold shrimps with a hot spicy and sweet sauce.
Is there alcohol in shrimp cocktail?
To a blender, add the tomato juice, shrimp stock, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, horseradish, if desired, and the vodka and blend until smooth. Pour into 4 ice-filled rocks glasses. Garnish each glass with a poached shrimp and wedge of lemon.
Why is shrimp cocktail called a cocktail?
“Cocktail” appetizers, typically fruit or shrimp cocktails, were standard in the 1920s, also called the decade of prohibition. They would serve these appetizers in cocktail glasses primarily meant for holding alcoholic beverages.
What is cocktail sauce made of?
In the United States and Canada it generally consists of, at a minimum, ketchup or chili sauce mixed with prepared horseradish. Lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco sauce are common additives, often all three.
Conclusion
This homemade shrimp cocktail takes minutes to prepare and the flavor is so much better and is comparable to a shrimp cocktail you’d order in a fancy restaurant.
Can’t wait to begin with the recipe? Try it and share your reviews in the comment section. Just in case you have any query related to the recipe, you can ask your questions in the comment section too. Bon Appetite!
