Chef John's Classic Shrimp Cocktail

Name: Chef John's Classic Shrimp Cocktail
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 tsp Black Peppercorns; 0.25 cup Chili Sauce; 1 whole Dried Bay Leaves; 2 sprigs Dried Tarragon; 2 whole Garlic; 0.25 cup Horseradish; 3 dash Hot Sauce; 0.5 cup Ketchup; 0.5 whole Lemon; 1 tsp Lemon Juice; 0.25 whole Onion; 1 pinch Salt; 1 tbsp Seafood Seasoning; 2 lb Shell-On Jumbo Shrimp; 3 qt Water; 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce

Appetizer 🧄Snack 🍿 American High-Protein 💪Comfort-Food Pescatarian 🐟

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

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.