Fresh shrimp is a special treat. Naturally low in fat and carbohydrates, this versatile seafood is a wonderful meat to grill, fry, bake or broil. But for the purest enjoyment of these delectable crustaceans, boiling is a must.
Shrimp can be an expensive investment, and chefs don't want to risk overcooking their hard-won bounty. It's easy to turn these tender ocean treats into unappealing pink nuggets with all the taste of a pencil eraser. Fortunately, it's not hard to boil shrimp perfectly every time by following these simple steps.
How to Boil Shrimp for Boiled Shrimp Recipes
This method can be used to cook 1- 5 pounds of shrimp.
- Bring a large pot of fresh water, to which several tablespoons of Old Bay seasoning has been added, to a gently rolling boil.
- While the water is coming to a boil, pinch the heads off the shrimp, but leave the shell and legs on.
- Add all of the shrimp to the pot.
- Cook uncovered for exactly 2 minutes for small to medium-sized shrimp and 2 and 1/2 minutes for large to jumbo-sized shrimp. A few of the shrimp will have returned to the top of the pot at the end of the cooking time, and that's just fine.
- Remove and drain shrimp and rinse with lots of cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Serve immediately with drawn butter, cut lemon and cocktail sauce.
The shrimp should peel easily by grasping the tail area with one hand and the top legs with the other. Pinch the top legs and peel off around the top body of the shrimp. The shell and legs should come off in one piece. Pinch the tail again and repeat the procedure with the bottom legs and shell.
Shrimp Cocktail Recipe with Two Dipping Sauces
For shrimp cocktail, the shrimp should be served chilled and peeled with their tails left on. Use a sharp knife to remove the black vein that runs down the back of each shrimp. This is actually the animal's intestinal tract.
Make a spicy homemade cocktail sauce by mixing ketchup, fresh horseradish, hot sauce and salt and pepper. Make a mellow remoulade sauce by mixing ketchup, mayonnaise, lemon juice, finely diced sour pickles, salt and pepper. Serve with the boiled shrimp.
Charleston Pickled Shrimp Recipe
This is an elegant way to serve fresh shrimp, but be sure to make a lot because once guests start eating this appetizer, they won't be able to stop until it's all gone. While not a hard dish to make, it is a genuine labor of love because all of the shrimp need to be cooked, cleaned and peeled.
Ingredients:
- 3 pounds of medium sized shrimp, boiled and peeled
- 1 pint of grape tomatoes
- 1 small purple onion, sliced into very thin rings and then quartered
- 1 red pepper, sliced into very thing rings and then quartered
- 2 bottles Italian dressing
- 1 lemon
Directions:
- Combine all of the ingredients and cover.
- Let marinate 24 - 48 hours in a refrigerator.
- Stir often.
For more great shrimp recipes, please read Quick Easy Seafood Casserole Recipes. To learn how to cook and clean fresh crab, read Cooking and Cleaning Live Blue Crab.
Janice Fahy - Janice Fahy is a freelance writer who is comfortable researching and writing on just about any topic under the sun.
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