Crawfish or Shrimp Cocktail

Dive into the vibrant flavors of a classic Crawfish or Shrimp Cocktail, a show-stopping appetizer that's as easy to prepare as it is impressive. Featuring tender crawfish tails or shrimp, quickly poached in a aromatic bath of zesty lemon, bay leaves, and peppercorns, this recipe delivers perfectly cooked seafood with a burst of fresh flavor. The homemade cocktail sauce, a bold blend of ketchup, horseradish, Worcestershire, and a dash of hot sauce, adds just the right kick to every bite. Quick to whip up in under 20 minutes, this elegant dish is ideal for entertaining or starting a special meal. Serve it chilled, garnished with fresh parsley, for a refreshing and crowd-pleasing seafood delight. Perfect for seafood lovers and cocktail parties alike, this recipe is sure to become a go-to favorite.

Nutriscore Rating: 69/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:5 mins

Total Time:15 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 pound crawfish tails or shrimp (peeled and deveined)
• 8 cups water
• 1 whole lemon (cut into wedges)
• 2 whole bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon peppercorns
• 0.5 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 0.5 teaspoon hot sauce
• 0.25 teaspoon salt (for cocktail sauce)
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)
• 4 cups ice (for cooling seafood)

Directions

Step 1

In a large pot, bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Squeeze the juice from the lemon wedges into the pot, then drop the wedges in as well.

Step 2

Add the bay leaves, 1 tablespoon of salt, and peppercorns to the pot. Stir to combine.

Step 3

Once the water is boiling, add the crawfish tails or shrimp. Let them cook for 2-3 minutes, or until they just turn opaque and pink.

Step 4

Prepare a large bowl of ice water. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked crawfish or shrimp into the ice water to quickly stop the cooking process. Let cool for 2-3 minutes, then drain and pat dry.

Step 5

To make the cocktail sauce, combine the ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a small mixing bowl. Stir until well blended. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.

Step 6

Arrange the cooked, chilled crawfish or shrimp on a serving platter or cocktail glasses. Garnish with chopped parsley.

Step 7

Serve the seafood alongside the cocktail sauce for dipping. Enjoy immediately!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(3773.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	730.3

Total Fat 22.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 3.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 9.3g
Cholesterol 629.7mg	0%
Sodium 8817.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 59.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 7.9g	0%
Total Sugars 31.3g
Protein 78.2g	0%

Vitamin D 2.6IU	0%
Calcium 368.0mg	0%
Iron 4.9mg	0%
Potassium 1537.1mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 27.0%

Protein: 41.6%

Carbs: 31.4%