I don’t think I’ve ever attended a wedding or other special event where there wasn’t an impressive shrimp cocktail display stationed front and center. And it’s never just for show: The area is generally swarmed with people loading up their first cocktail hour plateful of the chilled, plump crustaceans accompanied by a generous dollop of cocktail sauce and probably a lemon wedge or two. Shrimp cocktail is a classic for a reason. People love to love it! From cocktail or corporate parties, to Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, this fresh, bright, and delicious appetizer is the perfect addition for your holiday menu.
Ode To A Classic
Shrimp cocktail was one of the most popular appetizers from the 1960s to the 1980s. It was the epitome of good taste, fine dining, and elegance, and it’s still widely loved and served at events both small and large today. The iconic appetizer is traditionally served chilled, in a round vessel like a martini or coupe glass filled with cocktail sauce, with shrimp hanging around the perimeter of the rim. Simple and traditional, sophisticated and classic, it’s undeniable that shrimp cocktail is a delicious and timeless holiday classic. It never goes out of style. Learn how to make shrimp cocktail here.
Tips For Upgrading Shrimp Cocktail
- Line your glass with lettuce. Add a splash of color and contrast to shrimp cocktail by lining your coupe glass with a few large romaine or gem lettuce leaves.
- Place a lemon wedge on the rim. Many people love to squeeze a bit of fresh lemon juice on their shrimp. The acidity and flavor complements the meaty, briny flavor and pairs well with robust cocktail sauce, and the vibrant color of the lemons adds a beautiful touch of contrast to the presentation. In the spirit of style and convenience, cut lemons into wedges, make a small slice in the center of each wedge, and hang one or two on the rim of each shrimp cocktail serving glass. Try one of our favorite hacks for working with lemons here.
- Serve shrimp cocktail with some bubbles. Prosecco or Champagne and shrimp cocktail make such a lovely pair. Champagne, with its bubbly texture and crisp, fresh, fruity flavor, is a perfect match for the sweet and tangy flavors of shrimp cocktail with spicy cocktail sauce. They’re like a party when they come together! This is a fun, delicious, and festive way to get everyone in the holiday spirit. Discover eight shrimp cocktail recipes to rival your favorite restaurants here.
- Serve it in over ice to keep it chilled. By opting for a bowl instead of a traditional coupe glass style of serving, you can serve shrimp cocktail over a bed of crushed ice in order to keep it fresh and cold as people snack on it. You can also place lemon wedges on the ice for easy squeezing, and the bed of ice serves as a little landing strip for those leftover shrimp tail shells.
How To Make Homemade Cocktail Sauce
If you’ve never made cocktail sauce at home before, there’s no need to feel intimidated! Cocktail sauce is jam packed with flavor, but it’s actually incredibly simple to make. The easy, classic cocktail sauce recipe below only requires a handful of ingredients and a few minutes to prepare. Once you get the hang of making it, you can adjust and adapt ingredients to your preference. If you like more heat, add more hot sauce. If you want more tang, add a few additional drops of lemon juice. Once you get comfortable, have fun getting creative!
Get the recipe: Cocktail Sauce
+ There are no comments
Add yours