The Shrimp Cocktail

Alton Brown

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown

Show: Good EatsEpisode: Crustacean Nation

Picture of The Shrimp Cocktail Recipe 1 Video | Photo: The Shrimp Cocktail Recipe
Rated 5 stars out of 5
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  • Read 103 Reviews
Total Time:
--
Yield:
4 servings
Level:
Easy
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Ingredients

  • 32 shell-on (21 to 25 count) tiger shrimp

For the brine:

  • 1/4 cup kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 cups ice

For the cocktail sauce:

  • 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1/2 cup prepared chili sauce
  • 4 tablespoons prepared horseradish
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • Few grinds fresh black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Sprinkle Old Bay seasoning

Directions

Using a pair of scissors or a serrated knife, make an incision down the backside of the shrimp, following the intestinal track. Eviscerate shrimp and rinse under cool water leaving shells intact.

Place cleaned shrimp into a bowl with brine and refrigerate mixture for 20 to 25 minutes. While shrimp are brining, place tomatoes, chili sauce, horseradish, sugar, pepper, and salt in food processor and blend until smooth. Refrigerate cocktail sauce until ready to serve.

Place a baking sheet or broiler pan under oven broiler and preheat for 5 minutes. Remove shrimp from brine and drain thoroughly. Rinse the shrimp under cold water and dry on paper towels. In a large bowl, toss shrimp with olive oil and sprinkle with Old Bay seasoning, if desired.

Place shrimp onto a sizzling sheet pan and return to broiler immediately. After 2 minutes, turn the shrimp with a pair of tongs. Return the shrimp to broiler for 1 minute. Transfer to a cold cookie sheet. Refrigerate immediately.

Once shrimp have chilled, arrange with cocktail sauce in a martini glass or as desired.

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Wine Suggestion for This Recipe

Chardonnay

Chardonnay

Rich, buttery white wine

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Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 103 reviews

  • on November 24, 2011

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    Really tasty way to cook fresh shrimp, thanks Alton!

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  • on November 24, 2011

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    5 star on shrimp method only. used 10-15 count shrimp, tony's cajun spice for the shrimp, and cooked a minute longer. made my own cocktail sauce with ketchup, tomato sauce, chili powder, a bit o garlic and jalapeno "juice", some wostershire, lime, and lemon. spiked it with fresh horseradish and cayenne. best shrimp cocktail ever. alton da man

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  • on October 31, 2011

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    After making this recipe, I'll never boil shrimp again. Brined and broiled shrimp have so much more flavor. I skip the cocktail sauce and use them as the perfect garnish to a spicy Bloody Mary.

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