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Shrimp Cocktail Sauce is a versatile condiment that adds flavor and moisture to shrimp and can be enjoyed as a dip or used as a marinade or basting sauce. It can also be used as a topping for sandwiches, burgers, or salads. Skip the premade stuff and make this delicious recipe at home!
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Shrimp cocktail sauce is a condiment often served with boiled or chilled shrimp as an appetizer. It is typically made with a combination of ketchup or chili sauce, horseradish, and lemon juice and may also include Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and other seasonings. The sauce is typically served cold and is used to add flavor and moisture to the shrimp.
The origins of Shrimp Cocktail Sauce can be traced back to the 19th century when it was served as a condiment for oysters. It wasn’t until the mid-20th century that it became popular as a sauce for shrimp. Today, it is a common appetizer at seafood restaurants and is often served at parties and other social gatherings.
There are many variations on the basic recipe, with each chef or home cook adding their own unique twist. This is our favorite version.
In addition to serving as a dip for shrimp, Shrimp Cocktail Sauce can also be used as a marinade or basting sauce for grilled or baked shrimp. It can also be used as a topping for sandwiches, burgers, or salads.
Shrimp Cocktail Sauce Recipe
This Shrimp Cocktail Sauce is incredibly simple and stems from another one of those moments when my family and I went out to eat. The mom that I am, I’m always trying to be economical and efficient, and the last time we all trekked out for seafood, I thought, ”Hey, wait a minute, I can make some of this at home, can’t I?!”
With just a smidge of experimenting, this sauce was born, and I dare say it’s just as good as the stuff at the store or at your favorite seafood joint!! Maybe, even better because you can easily adjust it to your taste!
Break it out any time you’re entertaining company or just want to crunch on some deliciously juicy shrimp. (I get cravings sometimes, too!) With a recipe as quick and easy (and delicious!!) as this one, you’ll want to use it often!
Plus, since YOU are making the sauce, you can adjust it to your taste. As I often say, “why buy it at the store when you can make it at home precisely the way you want it?!”
Shrimp Cocktail Sauce: Ingredients & Substitutions
For this Shrimp Cocktail Sauce recipe, you will need …
Ingredients
- ketchup, Worcestershire sauce – the base of your sauce, which provides savory-sweet flavor.
- chili sauce, prepared horseradish, lemon juice, Tabasco hot sauce – every good Shrimp Cocktail Sauce needs a bit of a kick, and these four ingredients provide it!
How to make Shrimp Cocktail Sauce
Making this Shrimp Cocktail Sauce is so easy. I don’t even need to list out all the steps, because there really aren’t any steps at all. This just may be one of the easiest recipes you have in your collection!
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To make shrimp sauce, simply combine all the ingredients listed above. Use a small bowl and a whisk, and serve it after chilling it in the fridge for an hour. That’s it!
Shrimp Cocktail Sauce: FAQs
This should produce about 12 servings (or uses). Of course, it’ll depend on how much you like Shrimp Cocktail Sauce. Maybe you reaaaaaally love it and end up using it all in one go.
Absolutely fresh lemon juice here. You’ll taste the difference, y’all!! While convenient, bottled stuff tends to be milder and more bitter. Freshly squeezed lemon juice, meanwhile, will contribute its full flavor to the Shrimp Cocktail Sauce.
About 5 minutes of whisking the ingredients together. I recommend throwing it in the fridge for an hour afterward to let the flavors mix, but you could technically use it right after that.
If you’ve never gone looking before, it should be in the seafood or condiment section or sometimes in the refrigerated section.
This is definitely a recipe where you can tweak things to your liking! If you like tangier sauce, use more lemon juice. If you want more “kick,” add a spicier hot sauce or more horseradish. And, of course, if you want a milder sauce all around, decrease those ingredients. (Don’t leave them out entirely, though. Each part of the sauce provides something it needs!!)
Any of your favorites, to be honest. I really like Texas Pete or Tabasco.
Honestly, any way you’d like!! Baked/roasted, fried, boiled, Shrimp Cocktail Sauce is delicious no matter how you enjoy your shrimp.
Other recipes you may enjoy
Shrimp Cocktail Sauce
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Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup ketchup
- ½ cup chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
- 1 tablespoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon Tabasco hot sauce
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together all ingredients until well combined.
- Serve immediately with cooked shrimp, or for best flavor, cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.
Notes
- This is definitely a recipe where you can tweak things to your liking! If you like tangier sauce, use more lemon juice. If you want more “kick,” add a spicier hot sauce or more horseradish. And, of course, if you want a milder sauce all around, decrease those ingredients. (Don’t leave them out entirely, though. Each part of the sauce provides something it needs!!)
- Try adding fresh herbs, such as dill or parsley, or other ingredients, like diced cucumber or diced avocado. Add a spoonful of honey or brown sugar if you like a sweeter sauce.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
