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    Home > Appetizers and Beverages > How To Serve Shrimp Cocktail

    How To Serve Shrimp Cocktail

    Published: Aug 27, 2011 · Modified: Aug 3, 2022 by Lea Ann Brown · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Shrimp Cocktail served on a bed of arugula.

    Shrimp Cocktail is perhaps one of the most popular appetizer recipes ever. This post will provide you with a perfect shrimp cocktail sauce recipe, along with how to serve shrimp cocktail. A fun and easy presentation idea.

    How to serve shrimp cocktail on a bed of arugula lettuce.

    Nothing like a big ol’ platter of shrimp cocktail on the back deck on a Summer evening. And if you’re wondering how to serve shrimp cocktail to a group, check out my favorite serving presentation.

    • Simply dig out your favorite large serving platter. Oval, square, round, any large platter will work.
    • In a large bowl, place a fist full of arugula.
    • Drizzle the arugula with 1/4 cup of olive and juice of 1/2 lemon.
    • Add salt and plenty of fresh ground black pepper.
    • Using tongs toss the arugula to blend the oil, lemon juice and salt and pepper.
    • Arrange the peppery arugula on your serving plate. Top with cooked shrimp and additional lemon wedges for garnish and for squeezing.
    • Place the bowl of shrimp cocktail sauce to the side and serve.

    The crisp arugula seems perfect on the palate as a chaser for that bite of shrimp that’s been dipped in the flavor explosion of a great cocktail sauce. 

    Ingredients to make shrimp cocktail.

    I must say, I’m partial to my shrimp cocktail sauce recipe. For us, it’s the perfect combination. Sweet with catsup, tangy with a bite of horseradish and a little Snap-E-Tom Juice thrown in goes well with the horseradish. Every time I serve this, I’m asked for the recipe.

    • Arugula
    • Cooked Shrimp
    • Ketchup
    • Lemons
    • Snap-e-tom Juice, or Tomato Juice
    • Prepared Horseradish
    • Worcestershire Sauce

    How To Make Shrimp Cocktail Sauce – It’s Easy.

    How to make shrimp cocktail sauce.
    Shrimp cocktail sauce in a white bowl.
    • Step 1: Simply combine all ingredients into to small bowl.
    • Step 2: Use a whisk to combine well. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

    Shrimp Cocktail Recipe and Presentation

    Shrimp cocktail presentation using arugula.

    I hope you give this arugula salad shrimp cocktail presentation idea a try. It’s a great way to serve shrimp cocktail, adding some bulk to the appetizer. The flavors of the peppery arugula tossed with lemon and olive oil are a wonderful partner for sweet shrimp.

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    If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating in the recipe card below. And write a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback.

    How to serve shrimp cocktail on a bed of arugula lettuce.

    How to Serve Shrimp Cocktail and Shrimp Cocktail Sauce Recipe

    The flavors of the peppery arugula tossed with lemon and olive oil are a wonderful partner for sweet shrimp.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer Recipes
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 38kcal
    Author: Lea Ann Brown

    Ingredients

    • 1 1/2 pound Shrimp cooked, peeled, deveined, tails left on
    • For The Arugula Salad
    • 1 bunch Arugula 1 fist full
    • 1/4 cup olive oil good quality
    • 1/2 lemon for juice
    • Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper to taste
    • For the Cocktail Sauce
    • 1/2 Cup Catsup
    • 2 heaping teaspoons horseradish — prepared or more to taste.
    • 1 Tablespoon Lemon juice
    • 1/2 teaspoon lemon peel grated
    • 1/4 Cup Snap-E-Tom Juice
    • 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    • Pepper
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • For the shrimp: In a pot of water, add several stalks of fresh parsley. Cut a lemon in half, squeeze the juice into the water and then add the lemons. Toss in one bay leaf and a small stalk of celery with leaves. Salt the water and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
    • Turn up heat until boiling, add shrimp and boil until pink. That's 1 – 3 minutes depending on size of shrimp. With a slotted spoon, remove shrimp to a plate and pat dry. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Peel and devein.
    • For The Cocktail Sauce: Simply combine all ingredients into to small bowl and stir well to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
    • For The Arugula Salad Serving Base: In a large bowl, place 2 fist full of arugula. Drizzle the arugula with 1/4 cup of olive and juice of 1/2 lemon.Add salt and plenty of fresh ground black pepper.Using tongs toss the arugula to blend the oil, lemon juice and salt and pepper.
    • Arrange arugula salad on your favorite large serving platter.
    • Arrange cooked shrimp on the platter along with several wedges of lemon for garnish and squeezing.
    • Place bowl of shrimp cocktail sauce amongst the salad and shrimp.

    Notes

    This will serve 4 – 6 people as a light appetizer. Or a hearty dinner for two on the back deck. 
    Since I’ve published this recipe, Snap-e-Tom juice has become almost impossible to find. Replace it with tomato juice with a splash of fish sauce.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 38kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 279mg | Potassium: 129mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 222IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @lannisam or tag #CookingOnTheRanch!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Karen says

      September 09, 2011 at 2:43 pm

      I remember seeing this presentation on Vickie’s blog – it looks just perfect! I love the little serving dish with the birdies 🙂

      Reply
      • Lea Ann says

        September 10, 2011 at 1:46 pm

        I love that little serving dish with the birds too. Wish I would have bought 10 of them. They would have made great gifts.

        Reply
    2. Chris says

      August 31, 2011 at 6:57 pm

      Is that a society garlic flower?

      Two of my favorite movies (Blazing Saddles and Big Lebowski?)

      Reply
      • Lea Ann says

        September 01, 2011 at 5:50 am

        I’m a big Big Lebowski fan Chris.

        Reply
    3. Susan says

      August 31, 2011 at 8:30 am

      Wonderful idea of serving the shrimp over arugula and I love your serving plate!

      Reply
      • Lea Ann says

        September 01, 2011 at 6:08 am

        Thank you! I stopped by Hobby Lobby yesterday to see if they had more. GONE! Darnit. I’ve had so many compliments and it was so cheap I was hoping to find some for gifts.

        Reply
    4. Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen says

      August 29, 2011 at 6:27 am

      What a great idea to serve it over arugula. Now why would I think you of all people would like arugula (smile)? Beautiful presentation Lea Ann. Only problem is that I could eat the whole platter. We like cocktail sauce with a kick too.
      Sam

      Reply
    5. Cathy at Wives with Knives says

      August 28, 2011 at 9:15 am

      Yum, we love cocktail sauce with a good horseradish kick to it. I admired Vickie’s presentation too and will use a plate of arugula too the next time I serve shrimp this way. Your serving dish is very pretty, Lea Ann.

      Reply
      • Lea Ann says

        August 28, 2011 at 9:25 am

        Thanks Cathy!

        Reply
    6. Karen Harris says

      August 28, 2011 at 6:03 am

      This looks so good and I do love the idea of serving it over dressed arugula. Yum! We are headed up for a family picnic at Rocky Mountain Nat’l Forest today. I don’t think my food will be quite as elegant as yours but I’m sure that the scenery will make up for it.

      Reply
      • Lea Ann says

        August 28, 2011 at 6:44 am

        Have a fabulous day trip Karen. RMNP is so beautiful.

        Reply
    7. Vickie says

      August 27, 2011 at 8:42 pm

      Wow- not even sure where to start! Both of your flora photos are a.maz.ing! I had to go back up and enlarge that first one to see the little bee – frameable art! And that shrimp sauce sounds delicious – and your photos really captured the fresh deliciousness of the dish. And speaking of dish – you should probably hide that one when I come your way. Beyond cute. I’m still laughing at Nancy’s line. I’m going to use it and nobody will understand what the heck I’m talking about. (whatev)
      Really great post, LA!

      Reply
      • Vickie says

        August 27, 2011 at 8:44 pm

        And thank you so much for the shout out! 😉

        Reply
        • Lea Ann says

          August 28, 2011 at 7:01 am

          You’re welcome! 🙂

          And about that dish…I’m sure you saw my reply to Russ. Hobby Lobby, should have gotten 10 of them. Inexpensive and would make great gifts.

      • Lea Ann says

        August 28, 2011 at 7:00 am

        One of these days I’ll get a lens for my camera that will get a shot of that bee! Thanks for all the compliments Vickie. I’m so enjoying your idea of that shrimp and arugula. Had it again last night for dinner. Nice and summery and with all the heat we’ve had it sure was a nice no-cook meal.

        Reply
    8. Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide says

      August 27, 2011 at 3:07 pm

      You live in such a gorgeous place and make such beautiful things.

      Reply
      • Lea Ann says

        August 27, 2011 at 3:29 pm

        Thanks Greg!

        Reply
    9. Russ says

      August 27, 2011 at 12:32 pm

      I love that serving tray with the birds. Very cool.

      Reply
      • Lea Ann says

        August 27, 2011 at 3:40 pm

        Thanks Russ, I love that serving tray too. It’s quite large and they had a smaller one just like it with only one bird. Cheap at Hobby Lobby. I kick myself for not getting both. :/ It’s metal and a dark gray/brown.

        Reply
    10. Nancy says

      August 27, 2011 at 11:14 am

      LOL, Lea Ann!! Yes I was confused and it was hilarious! Thanks to my handy iPhone we were able to sort it all out. Yesterday some newscaster said “We don’t need no stinkin’ ” (can’t remember what we didn’t need as I was too busy laughing). You had to be there 😉
      You speak the truth – this cocktail sauce was amazing!!! I encourage everyone to give it a try. And, btw – the first picture here may be my favorite from the trip. 🙂 Those grasses were beautiful and love how you caught them with the flowers.

      Reply
      • Lea Ann says

        August 27, 2011 at 3:38 pm

        I laugh everytime I think about it. And with that priceless awkward pause of silence after you said it … and then Neal pointing out that you had confused two quotes … LOL. Best that husbands point out that kind of stuff. 🙂 And what’s really funny, I don’t even remember why you said it. I mean we were at the grocery store???!!

        I’m fond of that photo too. And with that little bee in the middle.

        Reply
        • Nancy says

          August 27, 2011 at 4:13 pm

          Ah- now that you said we were at the grocery store I think I remember – Had something to do with “We don’t need no stinkin’ aluminum foil” LOL!!

        • Lea Ann says

          August 27, 2011 at 4:18 pm

          LOL .. and we did NOT need no stinkin aluminum foil!

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    I'm Lea Ann, Welcome to my Colorado kitchen. I'm a Culinary School Grad with a passion to inspire you to cook as often as you can. Here you'll find Wild West Colorado inspired recipes along some Southwestern and Mexican food favorites. I also share some special recipes from school along pro cooking tips. If you're an adventurous cook looking to spice up your meal plans, you'll find plenty of reliable, approachable, easy to follow recipes.

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