Emeril's Favorite Boiled Shrimp
- Level: Easy
- Yield: 1 pound boiled shrimp, serving 2 to 4 as an appetizer
- Total: 1 hr 30 min
- Prep: 15 min
- Inactive: 1 hr
- Cook: 15 min
Ingredients
1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 rib celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 sprig fresh tarragon
2 sprigs fresh thyme
3 sprigs fresh parsley
1 tablespoon Essence, recipe follows
2 tablespoons salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 lemon, squeezed (juice reserved) and the shell, plus 4 wedges for garnish
1/2 lemon, squeezed (juice reserved) and the shell, plus 4 wedges for garnish
1/4 cup white wine
4 cups water
2 bay leaves
1 pound medium (about 30) shrimp, peeled and deveined, tail segment left intact
Cocktail sauce, recipe follows
Essence (Emeril's Creole Seasoning):
2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme
Cocktail Sauce:
1 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 drops hot pepper sauce, optional
Directions
- In a large saucepan, combine the peppercorns, coriander seeds, celery, tarragon, thyme, parsley, Essence, salt, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, white wine, water and bay leaves and bring to a boil over high heat and cook for 5 minutes. Add the shrimp to the boiling water, stir, cover and remove from the heat. Let stand for 8 to 10 minutes, or until shrimp are just cooked through.
- Strain in a colander and transfer the shrimp to a large bowl. Discard the cooking liquid and seasonings. Refrigerate the shrimp until well chilled, about 1 hour. While the shrimp are chilling, make the Cocktail Sauce.
- When ready to serve, divide the shrimp among 4 small bowls, and hang them on the rim of each bowl. Divide the cocktail sauce into 4 equal portions and place in the bottom of each bowl. Garnish each bowl with a lemon wedge. Alternatively, you can arrange a layer of crushed ice in the bottom of 4 bowls, put a small ramekin of the cocktail sauce in the ice and arrange the shrimp on the ice around the sauce.
Essence (Emeril's Creole Seasoning):
- Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
- Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.
Cocktail Sauce:
- Combine all ingredients in a small non-reactive bowl and stir until thoroughly combined. Refrigerate until ready to serve.