Molly Makes Classic Shrimp Cocktail Recipe

This recipe features shell-on shrimp that are poached in a flavorful liquid made with salt, sugar, and lemons. Molly also demonstrates how to make a delicious homemade cocktail sauce using Heinz chili sauce, horseradish, lemon zest, Tabasco sauce, and black pepper. The shrimp are then chilled in an ice bath to stop the cooking process, and finally, they are served with lemon wedges and the prepared cocktail sauce. This shrimp cocktail recipe is a great appetizer for any occasion!

Ingredients:

  1. Shell-on shrimp
  2. Salt
  3. Sugar
  4. Lemons
  5. Heinz chili sauce
  6. Lemon zest
  7. Prepared horseradish
  8. Tabasco sauce
  9. Lemon juice
  10. Freshly ground black pepper

Cooking steps:

  • Begin by preparing the shrimp. Remove any vein that runs down the back of the shrimp using a paper towel. Keep the shells on to protect the flesh during cooking. Make a slit up until the part of the shell where the tail begins.
  • In a large pot, bring six cups of water to a boil. Add 1/4 cup of salt, 1/4 cup of sugar, and the juice of two lemons to the boiling water. Add the lemons to infuse more flavor into the poaching liquid.
  • Turn off the heat and add the shrimp to the poaching liquid. Set a timer for three and a half minutes.
  • After the cooking time, immediately plunge eight cups of ice into the pot to stop the cooking process. Let the shrimp chill in the poaching liquid.
  • In a bowl, mix 1 cup of Heinz chili sauce, 3/4 teaspoon of lemon zest, 2 tablespoons of prepared horseradish, 3/4 teaspoon of Tabasco sauce, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and 2 teaspoons of freshly ground black pepper to make the cocktail sauce.
  • Drain the shrimp and pat them dry with paper towels. Peel off the shells, leaving the tails intact. Place the peeled shrimp on a platter of ice.
  • Garnish with lemon wedges and serve with the homemade cocktail sauce.