How to Make Shrimp Cocktails: Best Recipes

What's not to love about a delicious shrimp cocktail? Whether you're enjoying this treat as an appetizer with a great glass of wine, or as a stand-alone light lunch, you simply can't go wrong with such a classic.  If you want to incorporate shrimp cocktail into a family meal, or to serve to guests at your next party, we've definitely got you covered.  While this dish is incredible served in its purest form—with just a bit of sea salt and fresh lemon—we've brought you a couple easy to prepare shrimp cocktail recipes with sauces that you can whip right up at home. 

Zesty Shrimp Cocktail 

Ingredients for Shrimp: 6 cups water 2 Tbsp. sea salt  2 Tbsp sugar 1/2 sliced onion  1 Tbsp fresh parsley  2 Medium lemons  2 pounds shrimp (shelled and deveined)   Sauce Ingredients: 1/2 cup chili sauce  1/2 cup ketchup 1 tsp freshly grated lemon zest 2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 Tbsp horseradish (or to taste) 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 2 dashes tabasco (or to taste)   Directions: Slice 1 lemon into wedges  Place a large pot on the stove and fill it with 6 cups of water, onion, salt, sugar, and a little parsley.  Take one lemon, and squeeze the juice into the pot Bring to a boil. Then, remove the pot from the heat source and add the shrimp. Once the shrimp turn pink (This will just take a couple of minutes, so be cautious not to overcook) remove the shrimp and place them on ice. In the meantime, prepare the shrimp cocktail sauce, by thoroughly mixing the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl.   Chill the sauce and the shrimp separately in the refrigerator, for about an hour.   Serve the shrimp in beautiful stemmed glasses, with a bit of cocktail sauce, Garnish with lemon wedges and parsley.  Enjoy! 

Beer Poached Shrimp Cocktail 

2 Pounds Large Shrimp  2 Tablespoons sea salt  6 Cups Water 3 Cups of your favorite beer  2 chopped celery stalks  1 chopped onion  4 Cloves of crushes garlic  1 section of ginger, chopped  3 sprigs fresh parsley The juice from 1 lemon    Sauce: ½ Cup Mayo  2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard  2 Cloves Garlic, finely chopped ⅓ teaspoon fresh lemon Juice ⅓ teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce Tabasco (to taste) 2 Tablespoons chopped parsley  Coarse sea salt (to taste) Red pepper flakes (to taste)   Garnish: Fresh lemon wedges    Directions: Clean the shrimp (removing shells and veins). Set the shells aside.   In a large pot, place the 6 cups water, beer, celery, garlic, onion, ginger, lemon juice, parsley, a pinch of salt and all the shells.  Bring to a quick boil, then reduce and simmer about 20 minutes.  Strain and throw away all solids, and place the broth back on the stove on medium heat  Add the shrimp, until they are pink. This will only take a couple of minutes.  Immediately place shrimp on ice (to halt the cooking process) and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes. In the meantime, prepare the sauce by combining all ingredients. Then place in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, or until the flavors have been fully developed. Serve shrimp and sauce in stemmed glasses and garnish with fresh lemon wedges. Delicious!     Now that you're in the mood for shrimp—and other meals from the sea—be sure to stop by Stiltsville Fish Bar where you can enjoy the freshest catch in town.  Our dishes are always prepared to perfection and presented in an atmosphere that's great for family gatherings, date nights, or a lively outing with friends.  Join us for lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch. You'll find us conveniently located at 1787 Purdy Avenue in Miami Beach. For reservation, please call 786.353.0477