Welcome to The Ferguson Recipes: Shrimp Cocktail

🐟 Fish & Seafood Recipes

Shrimp Cocktail 🌄 💤
Garlic Butter Bay Scallops 🌄 💤
Baked Salmon With Mustard-Crumb Crust 🌄 💤 ⏳
Fish Tacos 🌄 💤
Pan-Seared Scallops 🌄 💤
Crab Mold - Carol's 🌄 💤 ⏳
Crab Bread 🌄 💤 ⏳
Garlic Butter Salmon in Foil 🌄 💤

🖨 🖨

Shrimp Cocktail

{Serving suggestion only*}
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Elevate your entertaining with this timeless shrimp cocktail recipe that showcases perfectly poached shrimp paired with a zesty homemade cocktail sauce. This classic appetizer features tender, succulent shrimp that are gently cooked in an aromatic court bouillon—a flavorful poaching liquid infused with vegetables, fresh herbs, garlic, and bright lemon. The result? Plump, juicy shrimp with incredible depth of flavor that far surpasses anything you'll find pre-made at the store. The homemade cocktail sauce is the perfect companion, combining tangy ketchup with freshly grated lemon zest, sharp prepared horseradish, a dash of Worcestershire sauce, and just the right amount of heat from hot sauce. This elegant yet simple dish has been a restaurant favorite for generations, and now you can recreate that same sophistication at home with minimal effort. Perfect for holiday gatherings, dinner parties, special occasions, or anytime you want to impress your guests, this shrimp cocktail delivers big on flavor and presentation. The gentle poaching method ensures the shrimp stay tender and never rubbery, while keeping them perfectly seasoned throughout. Serve them draped over martini glasses filled with cocktail sauce for a classic presentation, or arrange on a bed of crushed ice for a stunning display. Whether you're hosting New Year's Eve, celebrating an anniversary, or simply treating yourself to something special, this shrimp cocktail is guaranteed to be the star of your table. Ready in under 40 minutes from start to finish! - Claude

Ingredients

Court Bouillon:
10 cups cold water
2 medium carrots, quartered
2 stalks celery, quartered
1 large onion, quartered
1 head garlic, halved
1 lemon, halved
1/2 bunch parsley
5 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves

(continued in the next column ↗️)

Shrimp:
1 lb medium or large shrimp, in the shell, rinsed
1 Tbsp kosher salt
Lemon wedges for serving
Cocktail Sauce:
1 cup ketchup
1 lemon, zest finely grated and juiced
4 tsp prepared horseradish, or to taste, drained
1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Hot sauce, to taste

Directions

Put the water, carrot, celery, onion, garlic, lemon, parsley, thyme, and bay leaves in a pot and bring to a boil over high heat.

Lower the heat to a simmer, set a cover on top slightly ajar, and cook for 10 to 30 minutes.

Drop the shrimp into the liquid and turn off the heat.

Cook the shrimp, stirring occasionally, until they curl and turn pink, about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes for medium shrimp, 3 minutes for large ones.

Drain and cool to room temperature.

Peel the shrimp and remove the vein along the curve of the shrimp, if desired.

Refrigerate if not serving right away.

If refrigerated, bring the shrimp to room temperature 20 minutes before serving.

Cocktail Sauce:

Combine the ketchup, lemon zest and juice, horseradish, and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl.

Add hot sauce, if desired.

Mix well, then refrigerate until ready to serve.

To serve, put the cocktail sauce in a medium bowl and surround with the shrimp, or loop the shrimp over the edge of an individual cocktail glass and top with the sauce.

Garnish with lemon and serve.

Servings\Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Nutrition Facts

Nutrition Per Serving (based on 6 servings) - Calories: 152; Total Fat: 1g (Saturated Fat: 0g); Cholesterol: 122mg; Sodium: 1436mg; Total Carbohydrates: 23g (Dietary Fiber: 3g, Sugars: 12g); Protein: 17g; Calories from Fat: 9 (6%)

*Nutrition information is provided as a general estimate only. Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients, and is based on available nutrient data. Variations may occur based on ingredient brands and preparation methods.

💬 Uncle Dave says... Optional Tip: To devein the shrimp before cooking, hold a shrimp between the thumb and forefinger with the rounded side of the shrimp upward. Place the pointed end of a wooden skewer at the junction of the second and third segments of the shrimp shell, about 1/8-inch down from the top. Gently push the skewer through the shell and then lift up to remove the vein. From Food Network Kitchen.

🧑‍🍳 The Cook: Dave Ferguson 🔑 Keywords: shrimp, appetizer, cocktail sauce, seafood, party
🗂️ Categories: 🆕 New Recipes, 🥨 Apps & Snacks, 🐟 Fish & Seafood, 🎄 The Holidays
📚 Collections: Uncle Dave's Cookbook, The TFR Cookbook
Shrimp Cocktail was added on February 07, 2026 and last updated on February 07, 2026.

*Serving suggestion only. 😂 If a food photo doesn't look like it was taken by a monkey named Frank, it was most likely AI generated and not the result of Frank's minimal culinary or photographic skills. Unless you failed the "I'm not a robot" test, your recipes will probably not look like the ones in the pictures. See Creamy Turkey Veggie Soup to read more about AI images.

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