Jul 14 2026
Restaurants›O'Brien's Oyster Bar & Seafood Tavern›Shrimp Cocktail Recipe

Shrimp Cocktail Recipe

Inspired by O'Brien's Oyster Bar & Seafood Tavern
Time30m
Serves4

Large poached shrimp served with cocktail sauce and horseradish

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Ingredients

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Shrimp

Cocktail Sauce

Method

Preparing the Shrimp

  1. 1

    Boil the Water

    In a large pot, bring 4 cups of water to a boil over high heat. Add bay leaves, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and lemon wedges to the water.

  2. 2

    Poach the Shrimp

    Once the water is boiling, add the large shrimp to the pot. Reduce the heat to medium and let the shrimp cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until they turn pink and opaque.

  3. 3

    Drain and Chill

    Remove the shrimp from the pot and drain them in a colander. Immediately place the shrimp in an ice bath (a bowl of ice water) to stop the cooking process. Let them sit for 5 minutes, then drain again.

Making the Cocktail Sauce

  1. 4

    Combine Ingredients

    In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of ketchup, 2 tablespoons of prepared horseradish, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce.

  2. 5

    Mix Well

    Stir the ingredients together until well combined. Taste the sauce and add salt to taste if desired.

Serving the Shrimp Cocktail

  1. 6

    Plate the Shrimp

    Arrange the poached shrimp on a serving platter or individual plates.

  2. 7

    Serve with Sauce

    Serve the shrimp with the prepared cocktail sauce on the side for dipping.

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