Shrimp Cocktail Bar Recipes

Steps:

• Stir water, onion, lemon, garlic, tarragon, seafood seasoning, peppercorns, and bay leaf together in a large pot; bring to a simmer and cook until flavors blend, about 15 minutes.
• Whisk ketchup, chili sauce, horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and salt together in a bowl; refrigerate until chilled, at least 15 minutes.
• Bring poaching liquid to a rapid boil. Cook the shrimp in the boiling liquid until they are bright pink on the outside and the meat is no longer transparent in the center, about 5 minutes. Transfer shrimp to a bowl of ice water and immerse in ice water until cold; drain. Arrange cold shrimp on a platter and serve with chilled sauce.

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, combine the first 8 ingredients; bring to a boil. Add shrimp. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until shrimp turn pink, 4-5 minutes. , Drain shrimp and immediately rinse in cold water. Refrigerate until cold, 2-3 hours. In a small bowl, combine the sauce ingredients. Refrigerate until serving. , Arrange shrimp on a serving platter; serve with sauce. If desired, serve with lemon wedges.

Steps:

• You can decide to go either the classic route or the oven-roasted route or do both. Either are delicious options!
• For the classic shrimp cocktail: Fill a large pot with 10 cups cold water. Add the carrots, celery, onion, garlic, lemon, parsley, thyme, bay leaves and salt. Bring to a boil and cook uncovered for 25 minutes. Add the shrimp, turn off the heat, and cook, stirring often, until they turn pink, about 3 minutes for jumbo shrimp. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the shrimp to an ice bath to cool completely. Serve over ice with your choice of sauce (recipes follow).
• For the roasted shrimp: Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Place the shrimp on the baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, garlic, thyme, crushed red pepper flakes, and lemon juice. Toss to evenly coat and then arrange in a single layer. Roast until pink and firm, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving.
• For the classic cocktail sauce: In a small bowl, combine the ketchup, chili sauce, lemon zest and juice, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Give it a taste and adjust seasoning accordingly, adding more of any of the ingredients to reach your preferred taste level. Chill until ready to serve. The sauce can be made a few days in advance and kept in the fridge until ready to eat.
• For the remoulade sauce: In a small bowl, combine the mayo, hot sauce, parsley, capers, Cajun seasoning, green onion, pepper, lemon zest and juice. Give it a taste and adjust seasoning accordingly, adding more of any of the ingredients to reach your preferred taste level. Chill until ready to serve. The sauce can be made a few days in advance and kept in the fridge until ready to eat.
• For the avocado crema: In a food processor, combine the sour cream, cilantro, peeled and pitted avocado, lime zest, lime juice, salt, milk, garlic and onion powder. Pulse until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and chill until ready to serve. The sauce can be made a few days in advance and kept in the fridge until ready to eat.