Instead of buying bland pre-cooked shrimp, learn how to make delicious cocktail shrimp right at home with this easy recipe. Poaching is a gentle way to cook shrimp that will always be perfectly plump, juicy, and most importantly, FLAVORFUL for a cocktail! Get ready to step up your shrimp game with this impressive, yet quick and easy seafood dish that tastes like it came from a restaurant!
Update: This recipe was originally published in September 2015. I made updates to include more information about poaching shrimp to make cocktail shrimp at home. I also added a video recipe that shows you how easy it is to make this shrimp cocktail!
Do you want to know how to make cocktail shrimp at home? I can help you! Today we’re going to make the tastiest cocktail shrimp you’ve ever had!
But first, some honesty. To be honest, I never planned to share this cocktail shrimp recipe, even though I make it all the time. Why? Because I use a few important tips to make sure my shrimp is perfectly poached and juicy, but I thought the recipe was too easy all around.
Many times over the years, though, I’ve used these big shrimp to make shrimp cocktail, and my family and friends always say it’s better than any shrimp cocktail served at fancy steakhouses. Everyone always asks my secret to getting the shrimp so flavorful and perfectly plump. And then they politely demand the recipe. Well, I’m finally caving to the peer pressure. And, I guess my secrets are about to be out of the bag. So without further ado, here’s how to cook cocktail shrimp like a pro:
Shrimp cocktail is a classic appetizer that you’ll find at parties, weddings, and fancy restaurants. It features chilled, cooked shrimp served with a zesty cocktail sauce. While you can use pre-cooked shrimp from the store, homemade poached shrimp really takes this appetizer to the next level.
Poaching shrimp is a simple cooking technique that results in tender, juicy, and flavorful shrimp – perfect for serving chilled with cocktail sauce The key is to cook the shrimp gently so they absorb maximum flavor
In this article, I’ll explain exactly how to poach shrimp for shrimp cocktail, including tips for choosing shrimp, making a flavorful poaching liquid, and ensuring your shrimp come out perfectly cooked. After reading, you’ll be ready to make restaurant-quality shrimp cocktail at home!
Why Poach Shrimp for Cocktail?
Poaching shrimp yields the best texture for chilled shrimp cocktail. Here’s why it’s superior to other cooking methods:
-
Tender and Juicy Poaching cooks the shrimp gently so they stay incredibly moist and tender. The shrimp won’t be tough or rubbery.
-
Great Flavor: The shrimp absorb flavor from the poaching liquid. This adds lots of taste without needing heavy sauces.
-
Easy to Control: Poaching makes it easy to achieve perfect doneness. The shrimp cook slowly and evenly.
-
Perfect for Chilling: Poached shrimp hold up well to chilling. The texture won’t degrade like shrimp that are boiled or grilled.
Simply put, poaching is hands-down the best way to prepare shrimp for the perfect shrimp cocktail!
Tips for Choosing Shrimp
When buying shrimp for poaching, keep these tips in mind:
-
Get Raw Shell-On Shrimp: You’ll peel/devein them yourself. The shells add flavor to the poaching liquid.
-
Choose Large Shrimp: Opt for colossal (U15 per pound) or extra jumbo (16-20 per pound). Bigger shrimp work best.
-
Buy Sustainably Caught Shrimp: Look for wild-caught or sustainably farmed shrimp. This is better for oceans.
-
Determine Amount: Figure 4-5 jumbo shrimp per serving. Adjust for appetite and shrimp size.
Getting high-quality raw shell-on shrimp is key. This gives you the freshest flavor and allows using the shells.
How to Make a Flavorful Poaching Liquid
The poaching liquid is what infuses the shrimp with tons of flavor. Here are some tips:
-
Use Shells: Cook the shells in the liquid to extract seafood flavor. Strain before poaching.
-
Include Aromatics: Onion, garlic, ginger, peppers add depth of flavor. Lemongrass and citrus brighten it up.
-
Add Acidity: Lemon juice or vinegar helps balance and amplify flavors.
-
Use Alcohol or Stock: Chicken or shrimp stock, white wine, or light beer build even more flavor.
-
Season Generously: Salt, pepper, Old Bay, parsley, thyme, and other herbs season the broth.
-
Simmer: Simmering extracts maximum flavor. Don’t actually boil the liquid.
Experiment with different flavor combos until you find your favorite poaching liquid.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for perfect poached shrimp for shrimp cocktail every time:
Prep
-
Peel shrimp, reserving shells. Devein shrimp if desired.
-
Make poaching liquid: Simmer reserved shells, aromatics, acidic liquid, and seasonings for 20 minutes. Strain.
Poach
-
Bring poaching liquid to 185°F-190°F. Remove from heat.
-
Add shrimp and stir. Cover and let sit 5-7 minutes until opaque.
-
Meanwhile, prepare an ice bath.
Finish
-
Drain shrimp into colander and transfer to ice bath for 5 minutes.
-
Drain shrimp and chill covered in fridge 30+ minutes.
-
Serve chilled with cocktail sauce and lemon wedges. Enjoy!
The process is that easy! Now let’s break down the key steps.
Making the Poaching Liquid
As mentioned, the poaching liquid builds maximum flavor. Follow this process:
-
In a saucepan, combine shrimp shells, aromatics like onion/garlic/ginger, acidic liquid, and any alcohol or stock. Season generously with salt, pepper, and herbs.
-
Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes. This extracts tons of flavor.
-
Strain out the solids. Discard them.
-
Return the strained liquid to the pot and bring to 185°F-190°F. Then remove from heat.
Simmering the shells and aromatics is what really makes this simple poaching liquid incredibly flavorful.
Adding the Shrimp
Once your poaching liquid is flavored and heated, follow these steps:
-
Make sure liquid is around 185°F-190°F. If needed, reheat slightly.
-
Add the peeled, deveined raw shrimp. Stir to prevent sticking.
-
Cover pot with lid. Allow shrimp to steep 5-7 minutes until opaque and cooked through.
-
Resist stirring too much or cooking too long. This can make them rubbery.
-
Check doneness by cutting into a shrimp. It should be opaque throughout.
Poaching at a restrained temperature and not overcooking are the secrets to perfect texture.
Shocking and Chilling
After poaching, you need to shock and chill the shrimp:
-
Drain cooked shrimp into a colander. Discard poaching liquid.
-
Transfer shrimp immediately to an ice bath. Let sit 5 minutes to stop cooking.
-
Drain again and transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate 30+ minutes.
Shocking in ice water stops carryover cooking. Chilling firms up the texture before serving.
Serving Your Poached Shrimp
Your poached shrimp are now ready to serve! Follow these tips:
-
I like to peel the shrimp once chilled for presentation. Leave tails on for a nice handle.
-
Arrange shrimp on a platter or individual glasses.
-
Serve with small bowls of zesty cocktail sauce and lemon wedges.
-
Garnish with lemon slices, fresh dill, parsley, or microgreens.
Your homemade poached shrimp make for a very elegant and appetizing shrimp cocktail!
Poaching Liquid Ideas
As mentioned, you can get creative with your poaching liquid. Try these flavor ideas:
-
Classic: Onion, bay leaf, peppercorns, lemon, parsley
-
Spicy: Chili flakes, ginger, garlic, lemongrass
-
Herbaceous: Tarragon, dill, parsley, thyme
-
Citrus: Lemon, lime, orange
-
Aromatic: Cardamom, star anise, cinnamon, cloves
-
Savory: Celery, peppercorns, Old Bay seasoning
Play around with ingredients to create your own signature poaching liquid.
Cooking Poached Shrimp
While this recipe focuses on making chilled shrimp cocktail, you can also use poached shrimp in other ways:
-
Add to pasta, grain bowls, and green salads
-
Make shrimp tacos, sandwiches, flatbreads, and wraps
-
Top poached shrimp with compound butter or sauce
-
Stuff into avocados or tomatoes
-
Mix into vegetable fried rice or egg dishes
So don’t limit yourself to just shrimp cocktail! Poached shrimp are endlessly versatile.
Perfectly Poached Shrimp Await!
It’s a simple technique that results in tender, juicy, and crazy flavorful shrimp. The poaching liquid adds so much flavor without needing heavy sauces.
Be sure to experiment with different poaching liquid ingredients until you find your personal favorite. And look for new ways to use poached shrimp in appetizers, entrees, and more.
Now get out there and make the best shrimp cocktail you’ve ever tasted! Your tastebuds will thank you. Just be prepared for everyone to beg you for the recipe.
What is poaching shrimp?
Shrimp that is poached is more tender, juicy, and delicately cooked than shrimp that is cooked at higher temperatures, like with boiling water.
Poached shrimp are shrimp that have been cooked slowly by being submerged in a liquid instead of boiling or simmering. The liquid, known as a poaching liquid, is used to both cook and flavor the shrimp. Poaching can be done with plain water, stock, wine, or beer. Usually, aromatics, spices, and citrus are added to the liquids to make them taste better.
Once you’ve poached shrimp, you’ll want to try poaching chicken breast, tuna, and salmon too!
How long do you boil shrimp for cocktail?
Cocktail shrimp should have a soft texture. They should be juicy and plump, not tough or rubbery.
The precise length of time shrimp take to poach will depend upon the size of your shrimp. Poaching time can range from 1 minute for small shrimp to 6 minutes for colossal shrimp.
The best way to tell if shrimp are done poaching is by color, shape and feel.
- Color: Take the shrimp out of the lemon water as soon as they become opaque and pink with bright red spots. If the shrimp are still translucent, they’re not done cooking.
- Shape: Shrimp reduce in size and curl as they cook. Perfectly cooked shrimp will form a “C”. Overcooked shrimp will curl tightly into a “O”.
- When shrimp is poached right, it will feel just slightly firm to the touch.
Poaching Shrimp
How to cook shrimp for shrimp cocktail?
The best way to cook shrimp for shrimp cocktail is to poach them gently. My preferred method is to bring a pot of salted water to the boil. You can add some aromatics first like some lemon juice and lemon wedges, peppercorns, and a good handful of fresh parsley leaves. Those items are optional though.
How do you make a poached shrimp cocktail?
While that method is fine, you will end up with lackluster poached shrimp. This simple cocktail shrimp recipe uses a few easy tricks, ensuring you get plump, flavorful and perfectly tender shrimp each and every time! It all starts with a tossing raw, peeled shrimp in a mixture of baking soda and salt.
How do you cook poached shrimp?
Cooking shrimp in simmering water and then shocking them in an ice-water bath is one of the best ways to ensure tender shellfish. Learn how to make poached shrimp, plus discover some of the best ways to use them, from shrimp cocktail to spring rolls. Oops, something went wrong Fill a large stockpot with water.
What can I use to poach shrimp?
If you want, to add more flavor to the poaching liquid, you can use a roughly chopped celery stalk and a carrot too. Finally, the star of the show is 1 pound of medium-sized raw shrimp with the shell on, and we’ll garnish it all with another lemon sliced into wedges.