Show Notes On Harvest Eating

Shrimp cocktail is a wonderful appetizer that is slightly elegant and a bit luxurious too. It usually is found during special parties, holiday parties and for us, a Christmas eve treat!

Making it is not difficult but like many things, takes a bit of know-how. The first part is securing wild-caught shrimp. I personally place a "hard stop" on farm-raise seafood, especially shrimp. I can't fathom how this nasty industry has become so large when the product is produced in such horrid conditions.

Below is a video showing where your farm-raised shrimp comes from: warning..you will be alarmed!

For your convenience, I've added this link so you can purchase Wild American shrimp and have it shipped to your door. I have no relationship with these folks, FYI.

How I make shrimp cocktail, first the poaching or boiling liquid:

First, create the liquid they will be poached in by adding 1 gallon cold filtered water to a pot then add the juice of one lemon, with the lemon halves tossed in too, then add 3 tbs Worcestershire sauce, (Lea & Perrins please) 2 tsp salt, 2 bay leaves, 4-7 black peppercorns, 1/2 tsp clove powder or 3-4 whole cloves. If you like onion nad garlic can be added too; just crush a few garlic cloves and place a half of an onion in the water.

Bring this to a boil, then toss in the shrimp and cover, let it return to boil and remove shrimp after 2 minutes of boiling and place into a bowl of very cold ice and water. Add a bunch of ice to a bowl, then add water, this mixture will stop the cooking process. This cooked shrimp can be held a few hours by adding more ice.

Make cocktail sauce:

Add 2/3 cup good organic ketchup to a bowl, then add salt, pepper, lemon juice, Tabasco, 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce, and 2-3 tsp of prepared horseradish sauce. Play around with this to get it right. It should have very bright acidity, some heat and a bunch of umami from the ketchup and wooster sauce!

I like to serve shrimp on crushed ice with the cocktail sauce in the middle in a bowl for easy dipping.