Chef John's Classic Shrimp Cocktail
Chef John's Classic Shrimp Cocktail features sweet, snappy jumbo shrimp poached with lemon, tarragon, and spices, then paired with a bold, horseradish-forward cocktail sauce. It’s bright, briny, and perfectly balanced with heat and citrus, ideal for holidays, dinner parties, or a refreshing starter before a rich main course.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook20 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Classic Shrimp Cocktail, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 41 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 38 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 100 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 50
- Heart Health
- 45
- Metabolic
- 58
- Digestive
- 44
- Inflammatory
- 64
- Performance
- 58
- General Wellness
- 1
Assemble all the ingredients.
- 2
For the poaching liquid: Combine water, onion, lemon, garlic, tarragon, seafood seasoning, peppercorns, and bay leaf in a large pot; bring to a simmer and cook until the flavors meld, about 15 minutes.
- 3
For the cocktail sauce: Whisk together ketchup, chili sauce, horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and salt in a bowl; refrigerate until chilled, at least 15 minutes.
- 4
For the shrimp: Bring the poaching liquid to a rolling boil. Cook the shrimp in the boiling liquid until they turn bright pink on the outside and the meat is no longer translucent in the center, about 5 minutes.
- 5
Move the shrimp to a bowl of ice water and submerge until cold; drain.
- 6
Arrange the cold shrimp on a platter and serve with the chilled sauce.
- Calories 501.28 kcal High 25%
- Protein 47.64 g Good Source 95%
- Carbohydrate 60.77 g 22%
- Total Fat 6.03 g Moderate 8%
- Saturated Fat 0.32 g Low Source 2%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 326.07 mg High 109%
- Sodium 928.23 mg High 40%
- Dietary Fiber 16.2 g Good Source 58%
- Total Sugars 39.17 g --
- Added Sugars 40.02 g High 80%
- Calcium 204.74 mg Moderate 16%
- Iron 4.23 mg Good Source 24%
- Potassium 126.4 mg Low Source 3%
- Vitamin A 67.01 mcg Low Source 7%
- Vitamin C 20.96 mg Good Source 23%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Shellfish 🦐
- Fish 🐟
- Sulfites
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Chef John's Classic Shrimp Cocktail is made with 16 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 35 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Peppercorns, Chili Sauce, Dried Bay Leaves, and Dried Tarragon. Each serving provides about 501.28 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Classic Shrimp Cocktail made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Peppercorns, Chili Sauce, Dried Bay Leaves, Dried Tarragon, Garlic. The full list of 16 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Classic Shrimp Cocktail?
- About 35 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 501.28 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Classic Shrimp Cocktail easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 16 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is Chef John's Classic Shrimp Cocktail healthy?
- Chef John's Classic Shrimp Cocktail has an easyChef Pro health score of 56/100. Per serving, it provides 501.28 calories and 47.64 g of protein, or 95% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, iron and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 928.23 mg (40% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 40.02 g (80% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Shellfish, Fish, Sulfites, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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