The origin of Shrimp Cocktail is a bit unclear. Some say it’s so named for the cocktail of condiments in the sauce, others say it’s because they are traditionally served in cocktail glasses–a clever repurposing of unused stemware during Prohibition. Whatever the case, Shrimp Cocktail is a quintessential retro American dish that’s undergone little innovation over the past century. At its best, Shrimp Cocktail is a titillating appetizer with plump juicy shrimp doused with lemon juice and dipped in a sweet spicy sauce that goes down kicking courtesy of the horseradish. Unfortunately, frozen precooked shrimp and jarred sauce make many experiences akin to dipping a spongy hockey stick into a vat of red corn syrup. I’ve updated the classic with Asian flavors, replacing the ketchup with a mixture of fresh tomatoes and tomato sauce, the Tabasco with Thai sweet chili sauce, and the horseradish with wasabi. To get the shrimp to fulfill their destiny, I gently poached them in a ginger, lime and cilantro broth which keeps them moist and tender. It’s not hard to do, and I think there are a lot of other interesting flavor combinations that could be employed here… plum with Sichuan peppercorns…. roasted red pepper with pimenton… Just make sure you use the best quality shrimp you can get; they are the centerpiece of the dish after all.
📖 Recipe
