Who doesn’t love a good shrimp cocktail? Homemade shrimp cocktail with spicy cocktail sauce is easy and delicious. When you make your own, you know everything is fresh. The jumbo shrimp are tender and delicious. The seasoning added during cooking makes all the difference. Once you make your own cocktail sauce, you’ll never go back. It is very easy to make and you can control the seasoning and the heat. We like ours with lots of horseradish!
Shrimp cocktail is great with grilled steak. Serve it for lunch with a simple salad. Or take it to your next potluck. However you decide to serve it, it will be a hit with your family and friends.
What you need for the spicy cocktail sauce
Ketchup
Horseradish
Worcestershire sauce
Lemon juice
What you need for the shrimp
Jumbo shrimp
Celery
Dill
Bay leaves
Lemons
Old Bay seasoning
Tri-color peppercorns
How to make the spicy cocktail sauce for shrimp cocktail
In a medium mixing bowl, add the ketchup, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice. The amount of horseradish you add will determine the spiciness of the sauce. Start small and add more until it is to your liking. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cover and keep in the refrigerator while you prepare the shrimp.
How to make the shrimp for shrimp cocktail
Frozen shrimp comes in a variety of sizes. They are also available with shells on or off, tails on or off, cooked or uncooked. You should be able to find a 2 pound bag of raw jumbo shrimp that has been peeled and deveined, with the tail on. Using shrimp that has been peeled and deveined saves a lot of time and effort, which makes this recipe quick and easy. The tail is important as it will be the handle for picking up and eating the shrimp. Defrost by placing in the refrigerator overnight.
Start by adding 8 cups of water to a stockpot. Add the celery, dill, bay leaves, peppercorns and Old Bay seasoning. Cut one lemon in half, squeeze it into the water, then add the half lemon itself. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 3 minutes.
Next, add the shrimp to the simmering water. Give the shrimp a quick stir. Turn the heat off, cover and let sit for 5 minutes. Transfer the shrimp to an ice water bath for 5 minutes to bring the heat down quickly and stop the cooking. Drain the water and ice, cover and refrigerate to cool completely.
Now you’re ready to serve the shrimp cocktail. Place crushed ice into a large shallow bowl with a cup of cocktail sauce in the center. Arrange the shrimp and lemon wedges on the ice.
Shrimp Cocktail with Spicy Cocktail Sauce
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Ingredients
- For the spicy cocktail sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 to3 tablespoons prepared horseradish
- 2 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
- For the shrimp
- 2 pounds jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined, tail on
- 1 stalk celery
- 1 tablespoon fresh or dried dill
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 1/2 lemons
- 2 teaspoons tri-color peppercorns
- 2 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
Directions
- Step 1 In a medium bowl, add the ketchup, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice. The amount of horseradish will determine how spicy the sauce is. Start small and add more to taste. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate while you prepare the shrimp.
- Step 2 Add 8 cups of water to a stockpot. Add the celery, dill, bay leaves, peppercorns and Old Bay seasoning. Cut one lemon in half, squeeze it into the water and add the lemon.
- Step 3 Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 3 minutes.
- Step 4 Add the shrimp to the simmering water. Give the shrimp a stir.
- Step 5 Turn off the heat, cover and let sit for 5 minutes.
- Step 6 Transfer the shrimp to an ice water bath for 5 minutes to bring the temperature down and stop the cooking.
- Step 7 Drain the water and ice, cover and refrigerate to cool completely.
- Step 8 Place crushed ice into a large shallow bowl with a cup of cocktail sauce in the center. Arrange the shrimp and lemon wedges on the ice.