Simple Shrimp Cocktail

Lauren Z's Note:

I played with different ways of cooking shrimp for a while and different seasonings to spice it up, but this really became the standard; good shrimp, seasoned just to highlight their flavor, and refreshing cocktail sauce to compliment them perfectly. This is a big hit at all of our family gatherings as an appetizer, snack, or even part of the meal. No more over-paying for those tiny, rubbery shrimp cocktail circles at the grocery store, only to dip them in mediocre cocktail sauce. Try this for easy and yummy shrimp cocktail!

• Total Time: 10 mins
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 lb raw shrimp
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons fresh ground pepper
• cooking spray or vegetable oil
• ¼ cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish (more or less depending on how spicy you want it)
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions:

1. Set oven to 400°F.
2. Spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray, or sparingly brush with vegetable oil, and spread shrimp out in a single layer. Sprinkle on salt and pepper and toss to coat evenly. Make sure to spread shrimp back into a single layer so that they do not overlap during cooking.
3. Cook on middle oven rack until shrimp turn pink (2-5 minutes) and then turn shrimp over and repeat. Be sure not to overcook the shrimp or they will end up very rubbery. You can also boil the shrimp for 4 minutes (on a constant rolling boil) but I think that baking them really allows their natural flavors to brighten.
4. Remove shrimp from oven and enjoy warm, or allow to cool to room temperature before moving shrimp to the fridge for chilled shrimp cocktail.
5. Make the sauce: blend all ingredients in a small bowl or ramican, adjusting ingredients to suite your taste. (At this point, I will sometimes add some chili sauce or Tobasco to give it a kick) If you accidentally add too much spice, just add more ketchup until it's just right.