Hello dear and dear followers of Paulina Kitchen! I hope they are very well and wanting something rich, as always! Today we want to bring you a recipe that comes direct from Mexico, to make us travel a little while to its beautiful beaches and feel a little of your flavors: shrimp cocktail . A delicious appetizer that is associated with outdoor events, beach bars or packages. But today we want to invite you to enjoy this delicacy at home, at any time, and to enjoy whoever they want.
In this note we will tell you all about this delight of shrimp, sauce and vegetables. Some tips to prepare it, and of course, an easy recipe to do at home and surprise everyone.
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About the shrimp cocktail
The shrimp cocktail or shrimp cocktail is a delicious and refreshing culinary preparation that combines the flavors of the sea with an explosion of fresh and vibrant ingredients. This dish, popular in several parts of the world, stands out for its exquisite flavor and color of its presentation.
It is a mixture of shellfish and vegetables , accompanied by a delicious sauce that enhances flavors and provides a touch of freshness. The shrimp cocktail is usually enjoyed very well as an entrance, as part of a fresh chopped or simply with a rich beer on the edge of the sea or a pool. In addition, being accompanied by vegetables is a light and balanced , which is going very well as a refreshing meal for the hottest days, without leaving us heavy.
What kind of shrimp is used in the Mexican shrimp cocktail
The shrimp that is used to prepare this dish, is usually called "cocktail shrimp" that is characterized by its size, usually small, and its sweet and soft taste. It is ideal to be used in this type of preparations, since it provides a juicy texture and a delicious marine flavor.
Does the shrimp cocktail have alcohol?
Surely the name of this dish leads to confusion. Thinking about a cocktail leads us to think of a drink with alcohol, but indeed the shrimp cocktail is a meal , a snack that is enjoyed as an entrance, which is often served with some alcoholic beverage.
What ingredients the shrimp cocktail recipe has to have
The Mexican shrimp cocktail is a popular version full of intense flavors , like almost all the delights of that beautiful country. The ingredients that usually have are: fresh shrimp, lemon juice, tomato sauce, onion, serrano chile, coriander, avocado (avocado) and salt. These elements are harmoniously combined to create an explosion of flavors characteristic of this Mexican recipe.
How to prepare shrimp for cocktail
Preparing a rich shrimp cocktail requires attention to details and a careful process in cleaning and preparation of shrimp. You can also choose to use already clean and cooked shrimp , but that is at the discretion of the person who makes the dish.
- Clean and peel the shrimp : the shells and shrimp veins begin removing. Then, wash them with cold water to remove any residue.
- Cook the shrimp : in a large pot, boil water with salt with a onion and garlic cloves. Add the shrimp and cook for 1 or 2 minutes, until they get pink and tender. Do not cook them in excess, since they could become hard.
- Reserve a cup of the broth that remained of cooking. It is used for sauce.
- Cool the shrimp: once the shrimp are cooked, strain them and place the strainer in a container with water and ice to stop cooking. This will also help shrimp maintain their juicy texture. Then let drain to eliminate excess fluid.
How is the sauce for the shrimp cocktail
The shrimp cocktail sauce is intended to enhance and complement the taste of the shrimp. While the characteristics of the sauce can vary depending on the specific recipe and personal preferences, in general it meets certain qualities, to a greater or lesser extent
- Spicy : The Mexican shrimp cocktail sauce usually has a spicy touch to highlight seafood flavors. Spicy sauce is used, such as tabasco sauce, chiles or chili sauce.
- Acid : acid is a key element in this sauce. Lemon juice is used to give it a citric and refreshing touch. The acid highlights the taste of shrimp and balances the intensity of other ingredients.
- Intense flavors: The Mexican shrimp cocktail sauce combines different intense flavors such as ketchup, English sauce (Worcestershire) and tomato sauce, to add wealth and depth to the taste.
How the shrimp cocktail is served
The shrimp cocktail is a dish that in addition to tasty is visually attractive. That is why it is customary to eat at events or parties. It is usually served in cups or high vessels, placing the shrimp and the sauce in the background and then the additional ingredients are added.
The cup can be decorated with avocado slices, lemon or lime slices, coriander leaves, or even a bit of spicy sauce for lovers of the most intense flavors.
If you like this preparation, I invite you to discover all my recipes with fish and shellfish !
Mexican shrimp cocktail recipe
- Yields : 2 large or 4 small portions
- Preparation time : 45 minutes (taking into account the rest of the mixture)
Ingredients
- 500 g of fresh shrimp or 400 g of cooked shrimp
- 1 cup of shrimp cooking broth (in case of using cooked shrimp replacing it with clamato juice or clams broth)
- 1/2 Cup of lemon juice
- 1/2 cup of tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon of ketchup
- 1 teaspoon of English sauce
- 1/2 finely chopped red onion
- Chile Serrano Picado (comfortable)
- 1/4 cup of chopped coriander
- Salt to taste
- Avocado slices, coriander, lemon (to decorate)
How to make step -by -step shrimp cocktail
- Clean, peel and cook the shrimp as we explain above (how to prepare shrimp for cocktail)
- In a bowl, mix the tomato sauce, the English sauce, the ketchup, the lemon juice, the shrimp or clamato broth, the chopped onion, the chopped serrano chili, the chopped coriander and salt to taste. This is going to be the cocktail sauce.
- Add the cooked shrimp to the prepared sauce (some can be reserved to put over the time of serving). Mix gently so that shrimp are permeated.
- Cover the bowl with film paper and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to mix.
- At the time of serving, place the mixture of shrimp in glasses or high vessels. Decorate with avocado slices, coriander leaf and lemon slices. Serve cold accompanied by Crackers type salty cookies.
