For as long as I can remember, these are the prawn dipping sauces that my family has used. We also use them on our seafood platter! You can choose from Cocktail Seafood Sauce, Tartare, Marie Rose/Thousand Island, or a Thai Chilli Lime Sauce for a more refreshing taste. Plus, our Family Favourite Sauce!.
It’s really worth making your own dipping sauces when you’ve invested in fresh juicy prawns. The jarred stuff lacks the fresh flavour of homemade seafood sauces and just doesn’t do prawns justice!.
A couple of weeks ago, we catered my mother’s annual Christmas party for 30 of her friends. I’ve noticed that we get approached to do this every 2nd year. It seems like the organizers think that we’re still traumatized by the experience (maybe because we looked so raggedy at the end?) and that by waiting a year, we’ll only remember how much fun we had, so we never say no.
We mix it up from year to year. But two things have always remained a constant: Maple Glazed Ham and freshly cooked prawns with dipping sauces. There’s no doubt these two are always the most popular items there.
So, peeling 5 kg (10lb) of fresh cooked prawns is always at the top of the list of tasks that no one wants to do. I never put up my hand for that one. So I remain silent until someone volunteers. I say “someone”, but it’s always mother. She has to do it several times a year. For example, at a big beach BBQ last month, she had to peel and skewer 3 kg/6lb of raw prawns, which is even worse!
I will peel prawns for my mother’s friends. But that is not the Aussie way for a gathering of family and friends. We serve whole, peeled prawns in big bowls and buckets with different dipping sauces on the Christmas Feasting Table.
I know it’s easy to grab a jar of store-bought because, at this time of year, fish shops and supermarkets are nice enough to put out stands with all kinds of seafood sauces right next to the prawns.
That being said, you can make your own with very little work (just a few minutes), and the fresh taste will make you dislike the stuff in a jar. It’s just not the same, the jarred stuff has an edge of artificialness. I know this for sure because I bought a few jars of store-bought prawn dipping sauces to compare the flavors of these ones I was making. I think these ones I made myself are better, no matter what.
Shrimp is one of the most popular seafood ingredients. It’s versatile, easy to cook, and pairs well with a variety of flavors. While shrimp is delicious on its own, the right sauce takes it to the next level Sauces add moisture, flavor, and visual appeal to shrimp dishes
The key is finding a sauce that complements, rather than overpowers the natural sweetness of shrimp. The sauce should enhance the shrimp’s flavor, not mask it. When choosing a sauce for shrimp, opt for ones that contain acidic, creamy, sweet, savory or spicy elements.
Below are 10 of the best sauces that go well with shrimp, from classic pairings to creative fusion flavors.
1. Cocktail Sauce
Cocktail sauce is the quintessential pairing for shrimp. This tomato-based sauce has apunchy tangy flavor that cuts through the richness of fried or grilled shrimp.
Cocktail sauce typically contains ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce. The horseradish adds a sharp, spicy kick while the Worcestershire contributes savory umami flavors.
Cocktail sauce brings out the sweetness and brininess of shrimp. It’s especially good with boiled, grilled or crispy shrimp like shrimp cocktail, coconut shrimp and popcorn shrimp.
2. Tartar Sauce
Tartar sauce is a popular condiment for seafood, especially fried favorites like fish and chips, calamari and shrimp. This creamy, mayonnaise-based sauce provides a cool contrast to crispy fried shrimp.
In addition to mayonnaise, tartar sauce contains chopped pickles, capers, onions and herbs like dill, tarragon or parsley. The tangy, sour flavors of the pickles and capers cut through the rich mayo. Overall, it has a fresh, bright taste.
Tartar sauce pairs well with popcorn shrimp, shrimp cakes and coconut shrimp. It’s also delicious with grilled shrimp tacos or shrimp burgers.
3. Cocktail Dip
A fun spin on classic cocktail sauce, this creamy cocktail dip takes boiled shrimp to new heights of flavor. Combining mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish and lemon juice, it has the signature zing of cocktail sauce in a luscious, dippable form.
This easy blender sauce is chunkier than regular cocktail sauce with extras like garlic, onion and herbs. It clings nicely to peeled shrimp for finger-licking goodness. The cool, creamy dip provides balance to the hot, briny shrimp.
4. Marinara Sauce
Savory marinara sauce is an Italian restaurant classic with shrimp scampi and shrimp pasta dishes. Made with tomatoes, olive oil, garlic and herbs, marinara sauce has a lightly sweet, acidic flavor that pairs beautifully with plump shrimp.
The classic combination of shrimp and marinara sauce brings out the best in both ingredients. The sweetness of the shrimp balances the acidity of the tomatoes. Fresh herbs like basil, oregano and parsley add aromatic flavor.
Marinara is excellent with sautéed garlic shrimp, shrimp linguine, shrimp pizza and shrimp flatbread. It can also be served as a dip for grilled shrimp skewers.
5. Sweet Chili Sauce
For a taste of Asia, try shrimp with sweet chili sauce. This balance of sweet and heat is popular in Thai and Chinese cuisines. The sugariness plays off the brininess of the shrimp while the chili spice adds zing.
You can find sweet chili sauce pre-made at Asian markets and many grocery stores. Or make your own sauce by combining chili-garlic paste, rice vinegar, brown sugar and lime juice.
Sweet chili sauce pairs well with grilled shrimp, shrimp fried rice, garlic shrimp and shrimp lettuce wraps. It also makes a good dip for tempura shrimp.
6. Teriyaki Sauce
Teriyaki sauce is a Japanese-inspired favorite for seafood. Traditional teriyaki contains soy sauce, mirin, rice wine vinegar, ginger and garlic. It has a sweet-salty glaze that deliciously coats shrimp.
Brush shrimp skewers with teriyaki sauce while grilling for caramelized, charred goodness. It’s also excellent with sautéed garlic shrimp, shrimp stir fry and shrimp kabobs.
For extra flavor, add extras like sesame oil, chilies and pineapple juice to homemade teriyaki. Store-bought teriyaki works well too for easy weeknight meals.
7. Lemon Butter Sauce
Buttery, lemony and irresistibly rich, lemon butter sauce is a quick and easy match for shrimp. Combining melted butter with fresh lemon juice, garlic, white wine and herbs, it takes just minutes to make.
The salty butter and bright lemon provide the perfect balance of flavors for sweet shrimp. Lemon butter sauce is wonderful drizzled over grilled or sautéed shrimp. It also pairs nicely with shrimp risotto, shrimp pasta and garlic shrimp.
8. Cocktail Dip
For an easy appetizer, serve shrimp with this quick blender cocktail dip. Combining mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice and herbs, it has all the tangy flavor of cocktail sauce in a dippable form.
The mayonnaise base makes this dip creamy and substantial enough to coat shrimp. Garlic, onion and herbs provide extra dimension. Chill the dip for at least 30 minutes so the flavors develop before serving.
9. Aioli
Aioli is a classic French garlic mayonnaise sauce that every shrimp lover should try. Abundant garlic flavor gives it a robust, addictive taste that pairs fantastically with sweet shrimp.
Making your own aioli is simple. Just whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic, Dijon mustard and herbs until light and creamy. For extra flair, add saffron, roasted red peppers or harissa paste.
In addition to shrimp, aioli also goes well with grilled fish, chicken, potatoes and vegetables. Its versatility makes it a sauce worth mastering.
10. Thai Chili Sauce
Last but not least is Thai chili sauce, an exotic choice for shrimp. With a mix of sweet and heat, this sauce adds an energizing kick to shrimp dishes.
Thai chili sauce combines rice vinegar, garlic, sugar and red chili peppers for its signature flavor. You can find it prepared at Asian groceries or make your own using sriracha as a shortcut.
The sweetness balances the spiciness, creating an addictive flavor combo. Use as a dip for shrimp spring rolls, shrimp cakes or coconut shrimp. It also shines in stir fries, fried rice and noodle dishes featuring shrimp.
Tips for Picking the Perfect Shrimp Sauce
With so many options for sauces that pair beautifully with shrimp, how do you choose? Here are some tips for selecting a sauce that will complement, rather than overwhelm, the shrimp:
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Consider the cooking method – Fried shrimp pairs well with creamy sauces like tartar, cocktail or lemon butter. Grilled shrimp goes great with tomato-based sauces like marinara. Sauces with some sweetness help balance barbecued shrimp.
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Play on textures – Crispy fried or sautéed shrimp works nicely with cooling, creamy sauces. Flaky grilled shrimp benefits from the cling of tomato-based glazes and sweet chili sauce.
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Try complementary flavors – Sweet shrimp is balanced by the tang of citrus-spiked sauces like lemon butter, aioli and cocktail. Rich shrimp is cut by the acid of tomato sauces and the vinegar in tartar.
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Add intrigue with contrasts – Contrast creamy shrimp with the spike of heat from Thai chili sauce. Brighten buttery shrimp with the herbal zest of chimichurri.
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Consider versatility – Sauces like teriyaki, sweet chili and lemon butter work well on a variety of proteins. They make easy pantry staples to have on hand.
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Mix it up – Serve a few different sauces so guests can explore different flavors. Opt for ones with visual appeal like green chimichurri and orange teriyaki glaze.
Trust your tastebuds and have fun playing with sauces for shrimp. The possibilities are endless for fantastic flavor combinations. Any of these recipes are sure to impress your guests and have shrimp lovers begging for more.
Thai Sweet Chilli Lime Dipping Sauce
Because some people don’t like mayo-based dipping sauces! This tastes great with sweet, juicy prawns.
RecipeTin Family’s Prawn Dipping Sauce
It’s kind of like the love child of Marie Rose Sauce and Tartare Sauce. It has the sour and sweet flavors of Marie Rose Sauce mixed with the chopped vegetables and fresh dill from the Tartare side. At my mom’s Christmas party, we served this with the prawns, and everyone loved it, especially the fresh dill flavor. So I thought I should share it.
Creamy Garlic Butter Tuscan Shrimp
What sauce goes well with shrimp?
By adding Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and hot sauce, you’re able to create a tantalizing combination that will make your mouth water. When you prep a big batch of shrimp, make sure to keep this recipe on hand. You’ll love how well the shrimp and garlic butter sauce work together to create magic in your mouth. 7. Thai Dipping Sauce
What is the healthy substitute for oyster sauce?
Oyster sauce is a sweet and salty condiment made primarily from oyster juices, salt and sugar. It is commonly used in Asian, Chinese, Thai cuisines for stir-fries, meat marinades and dipping sauces. Healthy substitutes are fish sauce, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, worcester shire sauce with soy sauce, vegan mushroom sauce and teriyaki sauce. In this way there are also options for vegan, vegetarian or gluten free diets.
What is the best sauce for fried shrimp?
This lemon butter sauce, made with dry white wine and fresh dill, is the upgrade your shrimp dish craves! This Buffalo Wing Sauce recipe can be made mild, medium or hot to suit your taste preference. It’s the BEST Buffalo Sauce and made with only 4-ingredients and is SO good on breaded fried shrimp.
What is the best sauce for coconut shrimp?
Sweet chili sauce is one of the best sauces for shrimp, especially coconut shrimp! It’s tangy, garlicky, and sweet with just a little bit of spice, plus this simple but flavorful sauce is easy to make at home. Beyond having a fabulous flavor, this sauce also has a great consistency for dipping or drizzling.