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OOOOOOOH buddy are these delicious! I’m such a shrimp cocktail fan but sometimes the sauce is too horseradishy or sweet when you use jarred sauce or at a restaurant. I can handle some horseradish (even though I’m a giant baby when it comes to wasabi and horseradish). To be honest I’d much rather get that spicy kick from a pepper – maybe that’s just the 50% of me that is Mexican that’s talking there.
I love shrimp cocktail because it’s so easy to make and it can go along with a casual event or an upscale dinner party. So versatile! And it’s healthy too. It’s so hard to find an appetizer that’s crowd pleasing but isn’t full of cheese, bread or a combination of both. That’s why I LOVE shrimp cocktail! You don’t feel so guilty after. Especially because when it comes to appetizers, I’m that weirdo that just hangs out by the app table and grazes until everything is gone. Who needs to be social when you can have food?
This dish takes only about 15 minutes in total to make, including the cocktail sauce! I prefer to bake the shrimp instead of boil/steam/etc. because it’s a lot easier AND the whole dish becomes a lot more flavorful when you roast these with a little salt, pepper, olive oil and lemon. I learned that trick from my Aunt Cheryl. She’s the queen of shrimp cocktail – yes there’s a queen.
This cocktail sauce is packed with flavor, the best part is the smoky jalapeno that adds the right amount of kick with a little extra umph that makes the whole dish. Try it and see. You’ll thank me later.
Ingredients
Shrimp:
- 1 1/2 pounds shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Cocktail Sauce:
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 1/2 tsp horseradish grated
- 1 jalapeno seeded and diced
- 1 tbsp lemon or lime juice
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 medium garlic clove minced
- 2 tbsp shallot or maui onion diced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- Rinse and dry shrimp and toss in bowl with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper
- Place shrimp in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with foil and roast in the oven approx. 10 minutes, or until cooked through (for smaller shrimp, check at 8 minutes)
- While shrimp is roasting, combine all cocktail sauce ingredients in blender or food processor and mix until incorporated
- Remove shrimp from oven and let cool. Once chilled serve with cocktail sauce!
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