Crawfish or Shrimp Cocktail
Dive into the vibrant flavors of a classic Crawfish or Shrimp Cocktail, a show-stopping appetizer that's as easy to prepare as it is impressive. Featuring tender crawfish tails or shrimp, quickly poached in a aromatic bath of zesty lemon, bay leaves, and peppercorns, this recipe delivers perfectly cooked seafood with a burst of fresh flavor. The homemade cocktail sauce, a bold blend of ketchup, horseradish, Worcestershire, and a dash of hot sauce, adds just the right kick to every bite. Quick to whip up in under 20 minutes, this elegant dish is ideal for entertaining or starting a special meal. Serve it chilled, garnished with fresh parsley, for a refreshing and crowd-pleasing seafood delight. Perfect for seafood lovers and cocktail parties alike, this recipe is sure to become a go-to favorite.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 pound crawfish tails or shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 8 cups water
- 1 whole lemon (cut into wedges)
- 2 whole bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon peppercorns
- 0.5 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 0.5 teaspoon hot sauce
- 0.25 teaspoon salt (for cocktail sauce)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)
- 4 cups ice (for cooling seafood)
Instructions
In a large pot, bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Squeeze the juice from the lemon wedges into the pot, then drop the wedges in as well.
Add the bay leaves, 1 tablespoon of salt, and peppercorns to the pot. Stir to combine.
Once the water is boiling, add the crawfish tails or shrimp. Let them cook for 2-3 minutes, or until they just turn opaque and pink.
Prepare a large bowl of ice water. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked crawfish or shrimp into the ice water to quickly stop the cooking process. Let cool for 2-3 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
To make the cocktail sauce, combine the ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a small mixing bowl. Stir until well blended. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
Arrange the cooked, chilled crawfish or shrimp on a serving platter or cocktail glasses. Garnish with chopped parsley.
Serve the seafood alongside the cocktail sauce for dipping. Enjoy immediately!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
173 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 5.5 g | 7% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.9 g | 5% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2.7 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 157 mg | 52% | |
| Sodium | 1902 mg | 83% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 11.9 g | 4% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.9 g | 3% | |
| Total Sugars | 7.3 g | ||
| Protein | 19.2 g | 38% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 103 mg | 8% | |
| Iron | 0.9 mg | 5% | |
| Potassium | 346 mg | 7% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
