Elegant Shrimp Cocktail Experience
Elevate your gatherings with our Elegant Shrimp Cocktail Experience! This versatile dish features two delightful methods for preparing shrimp—classic poaching and savory oven roasting—crowned with a trio of tantalizing dipping sauces. Perfect for festive celebrations like New Year’s Eve or casual get-togethers, this shrimp cocktail bar promises to impress your guests and satisfy their taste buds with fresh ingredients and bold flavors. Enjoy the sweet, tender shrimp paired with zesty sauces for a truly memorable appetizer!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
39
Ingredients
Ingredients
Carrots
2 medium (peeled and quartered)
Celery
2 ribs (quarter)
Onion
1 large (quartered)
Garlic
1 head (halved)
Lemon
1 (halved)
Fresh parsley
1/2 cup (chopped)
Fresh thyme
5 sprigs (whole)
Bay leaves
2 (whole)
Salt
1 tablespoon (for the broth)
Jumbo shrimp
2 lbs (peeled and deveined with tails on)
Olive oil
1 tablespoon (for roasting)
Salt
1 teaspoon (for seasoning roasted shrimp)
Black pepper
1/2 teaspoon (for seasoning)
Garlic cloves
2 (minced)
Fresh thyme
3 sprigs (whole)
Crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon (for seasoning)
Fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon (for seasoning roasted shrimp)
Ketchup
1/2 cup (for cocktail sauce)
Chili sauce
1/2 cup (for cocktail sauce)
Lemon
1 (zested and juiced for cocktail sauce)
Prepared horseradish
1-2 tablespoons (to taste for cocktail sauce)
Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon (for cocktail sauce)
Hot sauce
couple dashes (for cocktail sauce)
Mayonnaise
1/2 cup (for remoulade)
Hot sauce
1 teaspoon (for remoulade)
Fresh parsley
1 tablespoon (chopped for remoulade)
Capers
1 tablespoon (drained for remoulade)
Cajun seasoning
1/4 teaspoon (for remoulade)
Green onion
1 (sliced for remoulade)
Black pepper
1/4 teaspoon (for remoulade)
Lemon
1 (zested and juiced for remoulade)
Sour cream
1/4 cup (for avocado crema)
Fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons (chopped for avocado crema)
Avocados
2 small or 1 medium (peeled and pitted for avocado crema)
Lime
1 (zested and juiced for avocado crema)
Salt
1/4 teaspoon (for avocado crema)
Whole milk
1/4 cup (for avocado crema)
Garlic powder
1 pinch (for avocado crema)
Onion powder
1 pinch (for avocado crema)
Instructions
1
You have the option to prepare either the classic poached shrimp or the oven-roasted shrimp, or even both for an impressive display!
2
For the classic shrimp cocktail, start by filling a large pot with 10 cups of cold water. Add the carrots, celery, onion, garlic, lemon halves, fresh parsley, thyme sprigs, bay leaves, and salt. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil and let it simmer uncovered for about 25 minutes to develop the flavors.
3
Once the broth is ready, add the jumbo shrimp to the pot, stir well, and turn off the heat. Allow the shrimp to cook in the residual heat until they turn pink, approximately 3 minutes. Then, using a slotted spoon, transfer the shrimp into an ice bath to halt the cooking process and cool completely.
4
If you prefer roasted shrimp, preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the shrimp across the baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Season generously with salt, black pepper, minced garlic, thyme, crushed red pepper flakes, and fresh lemon juice. Toss the shrimp to ensure even coating and arrange them in a single layer. Roast for about 8 to 10 minutes until pink and firm, then let them cool slightly before serving.
5
To create the classic cocktail sauce, mix ketchup, chili sauce, lemon zest, lemon juice, prepared horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and a few dashes of hot sauce in a small bowl. Taste and tweak the flavors according to your preference. Keep it chilled until serving time.
6
For the remoulade sauce, whisk together mayonnaise, hot sauce, chopped parsley, capers, Cajun seasoning, green onion, black pepper, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Taste and adjust as necessary, then refrigerate until ready to serve.
7
Prepare the avocado crema by combining sour cream, fresh cilantro, peeled and pitted avocado, lime zest, lime juice, salt, milk, garlic powder, and onion powder in a food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy, then transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until serving.
8
Arrange the ice-cold shrimp (or roasted shrimp) on a display platter along with bowls of your delicious sauces for a stunning Shrimp Cocktail Bar!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Elegant Shrimp Cocktail Experience?
The Elegant Shrimp Cocktail Experience is a versatile appetizer dish featuring two shrimp preparation methods (classic poaching and oven roasting) accompanied by a trio of dipping sauces: classic cocktail, remoulade, and avocado crema.
What are the two ways to prepare the shrimp in this recipe?
You can prepare the shrimp using either the classic poaching method in an aromatic broth or the savory oven-roasting method.
How long should I simmer the poaching broth before adding the shrimp?
The poaching broth, containing aromatics like carrots, celery, and herbs, should simmer uncovered for about 25 minutes to fully develop its flavors.
How do I cook the shrimp using the poaching method?
Once the broth is ready, add the jumbo shrimp, stir, and turn off the heat. Let them cook in the residual heat for about 3 minutes until they turn pink.
Why is an ice bath used for the poached shrimp?
The ice bath is used to immediately halt the cooking process, ensuring the shrimp remain tender and cooling them completely for service.
What temperature is required for roasting the shrimp?
The oven should be preheated to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) for roasting the shrimp.
How long does it take to roast the shrimp in the oven?
The shrimp should be roasted for approximately 8 to 10 minutes until they are pink and firm.
What ingredients are used to season the roasted shrimp?
The roasted shrimp are seasoned with olive oil, salt, black pepper, minced garlic, thyme, crushed red pepper flakes, and fresh lemon juice.
What are the three dipping sauces included in this recipe?
The recipe includes a classic cocktail sauce, a creamy remoulade sauce, and a fresh avocado crema.
How do I make the classic cocktail sauce?
Combine ketchup, chili sauce, lemon zest and juice, prepared horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce in a small bowl and chill.
What ingredients are in the remoulade sauce?
The remoulade consists of mayonnaise, hot sauce, chopped parsley, capers, Cajun seasoning, green onion, black pepper, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
How is the avocado crema prepared?
Blend sour cream, fresh cilantro, avocado, lime zest and juice, salt, milk, garlic powder, and onion powder in a food processor until smooth.
Is this recipe suitable for holiday parties?
Yes, it is specifically designed for festive celebrations like New Year’s Eve or any gathering where an impressive appetizer display is desired.
Can I serve both roasted and poached shrimp together?
Absolutely! Preparing both provides an impressive variety for a Shrimp Cocktail Bar display.
What size of shrimp is recommended?
The recipe calls for 2 pounds of jumbo shrimp for the best experience.
Should the shrimp be peeled before cooking?
Yes, the shrimp should be peeled and deveined, but the tails should be left on for easier handling and presentation.
What aromatics go into the poaching liquid?
The liquid is flavored with carrots, celery, onion, garlic, lemon, parsley, thyme, and bay leaves.
How can I adjust the heat in the cocktail sauce?
You can adjust the amount of prepared horseradish and hot sauce to reach your preferred level of spiciness.
What type of milk is used in the avocado crema?
The recipe specifies using whole milk to help achieve a creamy consistency in the avocado crema.
Can the sauces be made ahead of time?
Yes, all three sauces should be refrigerated until serving, making them excellent candidates for advanced preparation.
What provides the acidity in the remoulade sauce?
The acidity in the remoulade comes from both fresh lemon juice and lemon zest.
Is the poached shrimp served hot or cold?
The poached shrimp should be served ice-cold after being chilled in an ice bath.
What is the best way to display the dish?
Arrange the shrimp on a display platter with individual bowls for each of the three dipping sauces.
How much water is needed for the poaching method?
You will need 10 cups of cold water to start the aromatic poaching broth.
What seasonings are used in the remoulade that aren't in the others?
The remoulade sauce specifically uses Cajun seasoning and capers for a unique, savory flavor profile.
How do I prep the garlic for the poaching broth?
The recipe suggests using one whole head of garlic, halved, for flavoring the poaching liquid.
What herbs are used in the avocado crema?
Fresh cilantro is the primary herb used to flavor the avocado crema.
Does the recipe include nutritional information?
The provided data does not list specific calorie or macronutrient counts for this recipe.
How many ingredients are in this recipe total?
The recipe contains a total of 39 ingredients across the shrimp preparations and the three sauces.
Can I use lime instead of lemon for the shrimp?
While the recipe calls for lemon for the shrimp and cocktail/remoulade sauces, lime is used specifically for the avocado crema.