Tender juicy shrimp cooked to perfection then dipped in a homemade wasabi cocktail sauce that will blow your mind! A perfect appetizer to impress any crowd!
Why pay restaurant prices for shrimp cocktails when you can make your own at home? Not only will it save your wallet, but it will be the best shrimp cocktail you have ever tasted!
We tested different cooking times and methods on how to make the perfect shrimp cocktail and cocktail sauce so that you don’t have to!
Adding wasabi really gives the cocktail sauce a nice kick and complements the flavors of the shrimp perfectly. Best of all, we made it healthy, sugar-free and low carb friendly!
What is shrimp cocktail?
Shrimp cocktail is a very simple and delicious appetizer consisting of cooked shrimp and cocktail sauce. Shrimp cocktail sauce is made from a combination of ketchup, sweetener, lemon juice, horseradish, and Worcestershire sauce.
How do you cook shrimp for a shrimp cocktail recipe?
To cook the shrimp, we use a poaching liquid technique. The directions are as follows:
In a medium pot, bring water to boil, turn off the heat, and quickly add in the shrimp.
Let the shrimp soak for 60-90 until the shrimp is no longer opaque and use a slotted spoon to transfer shrimp into the water with ice cubes to stop the cooking process.
The secret to a good shrimp cocktail is to make sure the shrimp is not overcooked, otherwise it will become rubbery.
What kind of shrimp should I use to make shrimp cocktail?
I prefer using large frozen or fresh pre-peeled deveined shrimp about 21/25 shrimp count per 1 pound. You can also peel and devein the shrimp yourself.
What kind of taste is this cocktail sauce?
This unique cocktail sauce is not your traditional cocktail sauce or Mexican shrimp cocktail recipe.
Instead of adding lime juice, cilantro, clamato or hot sauce, we mix ketchup as the base with a splash of Worcestershire and grated garlic cloves for depth and wasabi to make it spicy and give it a nice kick. Also, add some black pepper if you prefer.
Can you cook shrimp from frozen?
It’s recommended that you thaw before cooking the shrimp in hot water to get an even cook. Just do a quick thaw by running the shrimp under warm water until defrosted.
What is the nutrition information for this shrimp cocktail recipe?
- 10 Calories
- 1g Carbohydrates
- 1g Fiber
- 1g Protein
- 1g Fat
- 186mg Sodium
- 13mg Potassium
- 12mg Calcium
- 1mg Iron
- 2ui Vitamin A
- 1mg Vitamin C
Are there any tips for making this shrimp cocktail recipe?
- Don’t overcook the shrimp, otherwise the texture will be rubbery.
- For ease, you can buy the Wasabi Paste that comes in a tube at most grocery stores or you can also purchase on Amazon.
- Serve on the rim of a cocktail glass for better presentation.
- Garnish with lemon, parsley, cucumbers
Shrimp lover? Check out these other amazing shrimp recipes!
- Cajun Shrimp Boil – Boiling Crab Copycat
- Old Bay Pan Fried Garlic Shrimp
- Shrimp Cakes with Garlic Aioli
- Ebi Fry – Japanese Fried Shrimp
- Dynamite Mayo Shrimp
Now, let’s get making this Shrimp Cocktail recipe!
- Prep Time 5M
- Cook Time 1M
- Total Time 6M
- Net Carb/Serving ~1g
- Servings 4
Ingredients
- 1 lbs Defrosted Uncooked Peeled Shrimp
- 5 Cups Water
- 1 Garlic Clove
- 1/4 Cup Sugar Free Ketchup (can sub with regular ketchup but use half the sweetener)
- 1 tsp Sweetener (sugar alternative, sugar or preferred sweetener)
- 1/4 tsp Wasabi Paste (can sub with horseradish)
- 1 tsp Lemon Juice
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/2 tsp Sriracha
Directions
1) Gather all the ingredients.
2) Prepare a bowl of cold water as shown below. Note – if you prefer really cold shrimp cocktail, feel free to add in ice.
3) Add 5 cups water to a stove top pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, turn off the heat and add in shrimp. Mix the shrimp around, cook for 60-90 seconds until the shrimp is pink and opaque.
4) Transfer cooked shrimp into the bowl with cold water, let it rest for 1 minute and then transfer to a serving vessel of choice.
5) Grate garlic with a grater or garlic press and add it into a mixing bowl.
6) In the same mixing bowl, mix in Sugar-Free Ketchup, Wasabi Paste, lemon juice, sweetener, Worcestershire Sauce, Sriracha. Transfer sauce into a serving bowl and serve with chilled cooked shrimp.
Hope you enjoy your Shrimp Cocktail!
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Shrimp Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 lbs Defrosted Uncooked Peeled Shrimp
- 5 Cups Water
- 1 Clove Garlic
- 1/4 Cup Sugar Free Ketchup can sub with regular ketchup but use half the sweetener
- 1 tsp Sweetener sugar alternative, sugar or preferred sweetener
- 1/4 tsp Wasabi Paste can sub with horseradish
- 1 tsp Lemon Juice
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/2 tsp Sriracha
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Prepare a bowl of cold water as shown below. Note - if you prefer really cold shrimp cocktail, feel free to add in ice.
- Add 5 cups water to a stove top pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, turn off the heat and add in shrimp. Mix the shrimp around, cook for 60-90 seconds until the shrimp is pink and opaque.
- Transfer cooked shrimp into the bowl with cold water, let it rest for 1 minute and then transfer to a serving vessel of choice.
- Grate garlic with a grater or garlic press and add it into a mixing bowl.
- In the same mixing bowl, mix in Sugar-Free Ketchup, Wasabi Paste, lemon juice, sweetener, Worcestershire Sauce, Sriracha. Transfer sauce into a serving bowl and serve with chilled cooked shrimp.
Video
Nutrition
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