Delicious Shrimp Cocktail Garnish
The delicious shrimp cocktail garnish recipe is the perfect quick and easy garnish for some added flair to your blood marys or to enjoy on its own as an appetizer or snack.
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What is shrimp cocktail garnish?
In this instance, the shrimp cocktail garnish is not what you think. Traditional shrimp cocktail is actually a thing! Shrimp cocktail consists of poaching shrimp and then serving it chilled, typically over ice with cocktail sauce. Great appetizers for parties and special occasions.
I actually have an amazing Bloody Mary Shrimp Cocktail Sauce you can grab HERE!
It pairs perfectly with my Deconstructed Bloody Mary Charcuterie Board as well and you can grab that HERE!
The delicious shrimp…….cocktail garnish is not shrimp cocktail. This recipe is meant for you to cook and season the shrimp and garnish a cocktail with. Following me on what the difference is?
What is the best cocktail to enjoy with the shrimp cocktail garnish?
The delicious shrimp cocktail garnish recipe is perfect for garnishing my favorite cocktail, the bloody mary! Bloody marys pair perfectly with shrimp because the mix mimics a lot of the same ingredients like lemon, tomato, and horseradish that can be found in cocktail sauce.
Here are some bloody mary recipes you can totally use this delicious shrimp cocktail garnish with……
Do I have to use this recipe for a cocktail?
No, in fact, you can enjoy the shrimp as an appetizer, on its own, or even if your favorite dishes like pasta. If you follow along with me you know I’m a no waste kind of gal so I always love to garnish my bloody marys with food I want to eat and that when made in batches can also serve as appetizers or treats at a gathering or party.
How do I make the shrimp cocktail garnish?
For the best results, purchase uncooked shrimp so when you simmer the shrimp in the seasonings, you don’t overcook or dry it out. Shrimp only takes a few minutes to cook so if you’re dealing with shrimp that’s already cooked, skip the simmering and marinate it in the seasonings and store it overnight in the refrigerator. I chose to start with uncooked shrimp so I could get a nice sautéed char on the shrimp. If the weather is right and you’re feeling up to it, you can also accomplish this recipe on the grill! I’d actually prefer that, but since I’m pregnant and only have a charcoal grill I don’t want to be breathing in all those toxins.
Once you have cooked the shrimp cocktail garnish, I suggest putting it in the fridge to chill for an hour or so uncovered. However, that is not necessary. You can garnish your bloody mary right away if you so choose!
Can I store the shrimp cocktail garnish?
Storage/keeping the shrimp cocktail garnish will depend on when you bought it/how old it is. If the shrimp has already been in your fridge for a few days then I would recommend making the garnish and serving it that day, next at the latest. For garnishing the bloody mary, you will be serving it cold, so you at least won’t have to reheat the shrimp. I try and try to enjoy reheated shrimp and I just can’t jive with it personally.
So long story short, yes you can keep it for a day or so after you make the recipe, but I wouldn’t hold onto it much longer after that. Also, I wouldn’t recommend freezing it after it has been cooked.
The ingredients and equipment you will need for the Shrimp Cocktail Garnish
Shrimp
Salt
Black pepper
Paprika
Chili pepper seasoning
Olive oil spray
Mixing bowl
Sautee pan
Colander
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Delicious Shrimp Cocktail Garnish
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb of shrimp, peeled and uncooked
- Few pinches of salt
- Few pinches of black pepper
- 2 dashes of paprika
- 2 dashes of chili pepper seasoning
- Olive oil spray
- Mixing bowl
- Sautee pan
- Colander
- Tongs
Instructions
- If the shrimp is frozen, thaw overnight in the refrigerator or run under cold water in a colander for 5 minutes, straight from the freezer. Once the shrimp is thawed peel all shells off of the shrimp but leave the tails. Rinse the shrimp under cold water to remove any excess shell
- Heat a small saute pan and lightly spray with olive oil spray. Add the shrimp to the pan
- Add seasonings to the pan and toss to coat evenly. Sautee the shrimp on each side until they are no longer transparent. This should only be about 5 minutes total on high heat
- Remove from heat and set aside on a plate, garnish on your bloody mary once the shrimp is cool enough to touch (about 5 minutes)
- Store up to 24 hours in your refrigerator. You can serve the shrimp cold as garnish on your bloody marys
Notes:
Store up to one day in the refrigerator. Garnish on your bloody marys shortly after cooking or the next day, garnishing cold works as well. Serve as a snack or appetizer if you don't want to enjoy it with a bloody mary. For best results, grill the shrimp over sauteeing, but to save time sautee is very quick and easy. You can also use any shrimp you want, cooked, peeled, raw, jumbo, whatever you choose
