Classic Shrimp w/ Paleo Cocktail Sauce

Here's a healthier and more economical version of a popular appetizer, Classic Shrimp Cocktail.

Reading the label on Heinz Ketchup (my favorite since childhood) was an eye opener: it contains BOTH high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup. The ingredient list on a relatively new product, PaleoChef Ketchup, looked as if it would go well with the shrimp, and the label says "no gluten, no refined sugars and no junk added." Case closed.

Ff you've always bought prepared shrimp for this dish ($26/lb.), buying shell-on shrimp, doing a little deveining, and soaking the shrimp in a poaching liquid brings the cost of the shrimp down half price ($13.00/lb.).

This makes a beautiful platter to serve yourself or your guests. You'd just need a cooler to make it portable.


My Paleo Marin Rating: 4.5 Persimmons

Ingredients:

For the Shrimp:

1 pound 16 20 shrimp, shell on, preferably fresh or frozen, deveined (about 20 shrimp)

6 cups water

2 lemons, zest and juice

1/4 cup kosher salt 

1/4 cup cane sugar (omit for no sugar)

1 5-pound bag of crushed ice

PaleoChef available here
or at Whole Foods

For the Cocktail Sauce:

1 cup PaleoChef Ketchup

2-3 tablespoons prepared horseradish (personal preference)

3/4 teaspoons lemon zest

2 tablespoons lemon juice 

Pinch of onion powder

Pinch of garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (omit for no sugar, or make here)

Frank's Hot Sauce or Tabasco Sauce to taste

3 lemons for garnish, cut in wedges

Directions:

For the Shrimp:

1. Devein the shrimp, leaving shell on. Bring water, lemons, salt and sugar to just under a boil (170 degrees F). Turn off heat, and drop in shrimp. Set timer for 3 1/2 minutes exactly. When timer goes off, Immediately add 8 cups of ice to create a water bath. Let sit for 10 minutes. Drain in a colander, and peel off the shells leaving the tails intact. Set aside. 

For the Cocktail Sauce:

1. Mix together the ketchup, horseradish, lemon zest and juice, onion and garlic powder, worcestershire sauce (optional) and hot sauce. Cool for 1 hour, and then taste and adjust for person preference.

To Serve:

Fill a large bowl with ice chips. Put the cocktail sauce in a bowl, and add to the center of the ice. Place the shrimp and lemon wedges around the sauce.

#paleo #shrimp #cocktail #seafood #appetizer #glutenfree #dairyfree  

Recipe adapted from Bon Appétit's video here.

My Paleo Marin Rating 1-5 Persimmons

I try out these recipes so you don't have to (and modify them for Paleo where possible). The rating will reflect my opinion of the final result in terms of taste, ease of preparation, nutrition, and sometimes, cost.