A good shrimp cocktail has a combination of sweetness and spiciness and a balance of exquisiteness and ruggedness. This is why this appetizer can be seen in parties, dinners, and even in steakhouses. The heavenly taste of this bite-sized food and its dip will leave you wanting more. A good solution to your shrimp cocktail craving is to cook it up at home where you can enjoy it to your heart’s content. The good thing is there are many recipe ideas and resources you can find on the internet to make a great shrimp cocktail and we’ve some of them for you.

Deep-Fried Shrimp Cocktail

One good idea for your shrimp cocktail is to give it a crunchy and deeply seasoned taste. You usually see the shrimp cocktail presented as soft and succulent pieces, but a deep-fried twist gives it an exciting new look and flavor. Not only that, but you can also enjoy every bit of the shrimp because the tails are edible due to the deep frying. Just soak each shrimp (tail included) in buttermilk and dredge them through seasoned flour. Deep fry the shrimps for a couple of minutes until golden brown. Your shrimp cocktail recipe will not be complete without a sauce or dip. Make Your own homemade cocktail sauce/dip by mixing ketchup, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce or horseradish sauce.

Mexican Shrimp Cocktail

Give your cocktail a spicy twist by going Mexican! Mexicans pride themselves with lots of spices in their recipes, and your shrimp will be delightfully transformed into a mouthwatering appetizer. For the ingredients, you’ll need the following.

  • Medium shrimp, raw or cooked (½ kilo)
  • Salt
  • Red onion (chopped, 1 cup) 
  • Cucumber (peeled and diced, 1 cup)
  • Celery (chopped, 1/2 cup)
  • Jalapeno (minced, 1 piece)
  • Whole peeled tomatoes (1 15-ounce can, chopped)
  • Ketchup (1/2 cup)
  • Cilantro (chopped, 1/4 cup) 
  • Lime juice, (approx. 2 tbsp)
  • Hot sauce to taste (approx 1 tbsp to 1/4 cup of Crystal or Tabasco)
  • Avocado (cut into chunks, 1 piece)

If you are using raw shrimp, peel, devein and cook the shrimp. You can skip this step if you are using cooked shrimp. For a great presentation, cut half of the cooked shrimp into chunks. Put the chopped shrimp into a bowl and mix in tomatoes, ketchup, cilantro, chopped onions, cucumber, celery, jalapeño, lime juice, and hot sauce. Gently stir and chill then add some cooled shrimp cooking water and stir in salt, hot sauce, and avocado.

Grilled Shrimp Cocktail

If you want a natural, oil-free cooking method for your cocktail, try grilling your shrimp instead. It goes well with Sunday barbecues and it tastes awesome. The preparation is also so easy to do.

For the ingredients of the cocktail and sauce, you’ll need the following:

  • Large shrimp (1 pound, peeled and deveined)
  • Garlic (1 clove, minced)
  • Red pepper flakes (1/8 teaspoon, crushed)
  • Olive oil (2 tablespoons)
  • 1 lime (zested)
  • Pepper (1/4 teaspoon, freshly ground)
  • Special equipment: 10″ metal or wooden skewers

For cocktail sauce

  • Ketchup (2/3 cup)
  • Prepared horseradish (2 tablespoons)
  • Lemon juice (2 teaspoons)
  • Worcestershire sauce (2 teaspoons)
  • Hot sauce (optional, a few drops)

Place shrimp in a bowl and mix in olive oil, red pepper flakes, garlic, lime zest, and pepper and then toss to coat completely. Set for 15-20 minutes to marinate. While waiting for the marination to complete, combine ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce (if desired) in a small bowl to prepare the cocktail sauce. Stir to combine and adjust seasoning to taste. Skewer the marinated shrimp from the head end first going through the tail part for steady placement. Place the shrimp skewers on a medium-high heat grill and grill each side for 2-3 minutes until pink and firm. Your grilled shrimp cocktail is ready to serve with cocktail sauce.

Shrimp is surprisingly versatile when it comes to how you want to cook it. You can recreate or add a personal and homemade twist to your shrimp cocktail by taking inspiration from a lot of resources. It’s not just a great way of satisfying your shrimp craving, it also opens wonderful cooking ideas that you can’t wait to try out next.