To make shrimp cocktail, start by cooking the shrimp with shells on in seasoned boiling water containing Old Bay, pickling spice, and lemon juice for 3-4 minutes until firm and pink. Chill the cooked shrimp in an ice bath, then peel and devein them. For the cocktail sauce, mix ketchup, chili sauce, horseradish, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce, adjusting horseradish to taste. Serve the shrimp chilled on crushed ice with cocktail sauce and lemon wedges.
Ingredients for Shrimp Cocktail:
- 1 pound shrimp (shell on)
- 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1 tablespoon pickling seasoning (optional)
- Juice of half a lemon
Ingredients for Cocktail Sauce:
- ½ cup ketchup
- ½ cup chili sauce
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 3-4 teaspoons prepared horseradish (to taste)
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
Instructions:
- In a 3-4 quart saucepan, bring water to a boil with Old Bay, pickling spice, and lemon juice.
- Add shrimp with shells on and cook 3-4 minutes until shrimp turn firm and pink.
- Drain shrimp and toss them in an ice bath to chill quickly for about 5-7 minutes.
- Peel and devein the shrimp.
- Mix cocktail sauce ingredients in a bowl; adjust horseradish to preferred spiciness.
- Serve the chilled shrimp on crushed ice with cocktail sauce and lemon wedges.
Avoid cooling shrimp in plain ice water directly, as that can reduce flavor. Use a bowl with ice for chilling. The shrimp and sauce can be prepared ahead of time but avoid cooking shrimp more than 8 hours in advance.
