Do you want to serve something tasty with your delicious shrimp cocktail appetizer at a party you’re planning? This article will help.
Shrimp cocktail can be served with salads like Potato Salad, Macaroni Salad, Avocado Salad, Green Bean Salad,. or crackers such as Zesty Ritz Crackers, Ranch Oyster Crackers, Prawn Cracker, Saltine Crackers. Vegetables like Celery, Avocado add freshness, while savory options like Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan provide depth. Bread like Olive Garden Copycat Breadsticks and Garlic Butter Ciabatta also a good combination.
A shrimp cocktail just isn’t complete without the perfect accompaniment of cheese. The briny sweetness of chilled shrimp contrasts beautifully with creamy salty cheese. But with the wide variety of cheeses available how do you choose the best options to serve alongside your shrimp cocktail?
In this article, we’ll recommend 10 of our favorite cheese pairings for shrimp cocktail and discuss what makes them work so well. We’ll also share tips on how to prepare the ultimate shrimp and cheese platter. Read on for everything you need to know about picking the perfect cheeses for shrimp cocktail!
Shrimp Cocktail and Cheese Pairing Principles
Here are some guiding principles for pairing cheese with shrimp cocktail:
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Complementary flavors – Choose cheeses that taste good with the briny sweetness of shrimp. Sharp cheddar tangy feta and creamy brie all make sense.
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Contrasting textures – Pair the tender bite of shrimp with crumbly, hard, or smooth cheeses for mouthfeel interest.
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Mild strength – Pick mellow, moderately flavored cheeses so as not to overpower the shrimp.
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Easy to eat – Opt for firmer cheeses that are easy to pick up and pop in your mouth along with shrimp.
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Visual appeal – Select cheeses in a variety of shapes, colors and textures for visual diversity.
Keeping these principles in mind, here are 10 of our favorite cheeses to accompany succulent chilled shrimp cocktail:
1. Aged Cheddar
Tangy, sharp cheddar has enough flavor to stand up to briny shrimp. Aged cheddar also offers a firm texture that’s easy to eat with shrimp. Go for a white or orange cheddar depending on your color preference.
2. Parmesan
A good Parmigiano-Reggiano or other Parmesan cheese also makes a fine match for shrimp cocktail. It has a nice salty punch and granular texture. Shave some thin slices with a vegetable peeler or break off shards to eat with shrimp.
3. Pepper Jack
Pepper jack cheese has a bit of spicy kick thanks to jalapeño peppers. This complements sweeter shrimp perfectly. Slice pepper jack into sticks to spear shrimp and cheese together.
4. Manchego
This Spanish sheep’s milk cheese is firm, dry, and tangy – perfect with sweet shrimp. Manchego holds its shape well for slicing various ways. Aged manchego has more complex flavor.
5. Gruyère
Nutty, creamy gruyère is a nice counterpoint to briny shrimp. It has just the right amount of flavor without overpowering. Cut gruyère into chunks or slices to pair with shrimp.
6. Fresh Mozzarella
The mild milky flavor and soft, moist texture of fresh mozzarella work nicely with tender shrimp. Fresh mozzarella comes in small balls perfect for popping with shrimp.
7. Feta
Salty, tangy feta cheese crumbles beautifully to contrast with the shrimp’s smooth texture. Combine feta and shrimp on toothpicks for an easy bite-sized snack.
8. Goat Cheese
The subtle tang of goat cheese offsets sweet shrimp perfectly. Goat cheese also has a creamy texture when chilled that pairs nicely with shrimp. Slice a log into rounds to serve.
9. Brie
Buttery brie and briny shrimp make classic companions. The edible rind provides texture contrast to the shrimp. Serve wedges of brie with shrimp for spreading onto crackers or bread.
10. Blue Cheese
The pungent flavor of blue cheese stands up to shrimp’s sweetness. The crumbly texture also contrasts the shrimp’s smooth meat. Garnish shrimp with blue cheese crumbles for delicious flavor and texture interplay.
Tips for the Perfect Shrimp and Cheese Platter
Now that you know the best cheeses to pair with shrimp cocktail, here are some tips for arranging the ultimate shrimp and cheese platter:
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Chill shrimp cocktail and cheeses for 1-2 hours before serving for best flavor. Take cheeses out of fridge 15 minutes before to take the chill off.
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Arrange cheeses around edges of a platter with shrimp cocktail in the center for an eye-catching spread.
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Include a mix of cheese styles – soft, hard, blue, aged, fresh. Vary shapes and colors for aesthetic appeal.
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Pair with crackers, crusty breads or crostini for a carb vehicle to transport shrimp and cheese.
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Consider incorporating complementary flavors like olives, roasted peppers, prosciutto, salami, nuts, or fresh fruits like grapes.
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Offer a creamy dip like aioli in a small bowl so guests can dunk shrimp and cheese for added flavor.
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Provide small plates and utensils like cheese knives and toothpicks so guests can easily enjoy.
The beauty of a shrimp and cheese platter is you can customize it with your favorite flavors, textures, and shapes. Just stick to the cheese pairing principles and present the platter attractively. Then sit back and watch your guests devour this classic culinary combo!
Shrimp cocktail excels when matched with the right cheese. Aged cheddar, pepper jack, feta, brie, manchego and others all offer delicious flavor and textural complements. Follow our recommendations for surefire shrimp and cheese pairings. Then artfully arrange them on a platter for a tasty presentation your guests won’t be able to resist.
What To Serve With Shrimp Cocktail? Salad Suggestions
Potato salad is a classic crowd-pleaser, perfect for casual gatherings or family meals.
But pairing it with a shrimp cocktail takes it to a whole new level of deliciousness.
The creamy potatoes in the salad are light and tasty, and they give the shrimp a nice twist without taking over. Plus, the beauty of this combo lies in its versatility. Adding things like eggs or relish to potato salad can make it more interesting and give it your own flair.
The dressing for macaroni salad is creamy mayo. Diced vegetables are often added, and the dish is served cold. Serving Macaroni salad with shrimp cocktail offers a delightful culinary experience.
The creamy and sour tastes of the macaroni salad go well with the juicy shrimp, making a perfect mix of tastes and textures.
The softness of the macaroni contrasts nicely with the firmness of the shrimp, providing a satisfying mouthfeel. This is one of the best salads to serve with shrimp cocktail or other shrimp dishes.
Serving Avocado Salad with Shrimp Cocktail offers a perfect balance of flavors, textures, and nutritional benefits.
The smooth avocado goes well with the firm shrimp, and the fresh salad ingredients, like crisp lettuce or cucumber, juicy tomatoes, and a tangy lime dressing, make the whole thing taste better.
Additionally, avocados are packed with healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, while shrimp provides a lean source of protein. Because of this mix, Avocado Salad with Shrimp Cocktail is not only tasty, but also healthy and filling for any meal.
I suggest eating the spinach salad with toasted pecans, sliced strawberries, and tangy feta cheese. These foods will add sweetness, crunch, and savory flavors that go well with the juicy shrimp.
Typically, you can enjoy the shrimp cocktail as an appetizer, savoring the succulent shrimp dipped in cocktail sauce. Afterward, the Spinach Salad can serve as a refreshing side dish or accompaniment to the main course.
Lettuce or Salad Greens
Imagine a bed of soft lettuce leaves holding the shrimp cocktail. The crisp leaves would be a nice contrast to the salty seafood. Each bite of lettuce leaves or mixed greens has a mild flavor that lets the bright flavors of the shrimp cocktail shine through.
Shrimp Cocktail & Cream Cheese – Great Recipes
What cheese goes with shrimp cocktail?
The best cheese to serve with shrimp cocktail is a soft, mild cheese like brie or Camembert. You can also go for a stronger cheese like Parmesan or aged cheddar. If you want something more unique, try a blue cheese like Gorgonzola or Roquefort. What Cheese Goes with Shrimp Salad?
What do you eat with a shrimp cocktail?
It consists of a spicy cocktail sauce layer topped with succulent shrimp on top of a flavored cream cheese base. I like to serve it with my favorite crackers and sometimes tortilla chips.
Can you add parmesan to a shrimp cocktail?
This Roasted Asparagus recipe baked with parmesan is a simple and delightful choice that can complement your shrimp cocktail. Asparagus stalks seasoned with garlic, salt, and pepper, added with parmesan cheese, can provide a savory combination to the sweet and luscious taste of the shrimp.
Can you make shrimp cocktail sauce with bay shrimp over cream cheese?
So, when our partner Kroger asked us to come up with an easy appetizer recipe that would win you over, shrimp cocktail sauce with bay shrimp over cream cheese got no vetoes. When it comes to cream cheese shrimp dips we mostly remember a three ingredient dip—store bought cocktail sauce, block of cream cheese and bay shrimp.