Shrimp is a familiar ingredient that can be combined with many types of food to create nutritious and delicious dishes. This guide on how to make shrimp Cocktail salad in 2 ways will help diversify your family menu while still ensuring nutrition. Let’s get cooking and make this mixed salad right away.
1. Shrimp Cocktail Salad
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Preparation
15 minutes
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Cooking
25 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Shrimp Cocktail Salad Serves 4 people
Tiger shrimp 80 gr Strawberry 1 piece Grape 3 pieces Apple 1 piece Yellow orange 1 piece Cherry tomato 1 piece Spring onion 2 stalks Celery 2 stalks Green curly lettuce 20 gr Red cabbage 20 gr Lettuce 20 gr Ketchup 1 tablespoon Mayonnaise 1 tablespoon Tabasco red pepper sauce 1/2 teaspoon Grand Marier liqueur 1/2 teaspoon Cognac 1/2 teaspoon Salt 1 teaspoon
How to choose fresh ingredients
How to choose fresh tomatoes
- To choose good tomatoes, you need to observe their color; opt for those with a deep red color, a shiny surface, and no unusual black spots.
- Choose tomatoes that are elongated or round in shape, of small size; avoid overly large ones as they may have been injected with growth hormones, which are not good for health.
- When holding a tomato, it should not be too soft or have both soft and hard spots; such tomatoes may have been bruised and will not taste good or contain many nutrients.
How to choose fresh fruits
- Choose fruits with taut, shiny skins.
- Fresh fruits are those with surfaces that are not damaged and have no unusual tiny black spots.
- Do not choose fruits that are bruised or damaged, as these will contain fewer nutrients and will not taste good.
Where to buy Tabasco red hot sauce, Grand Marnier liqueur, and Cognac?
- Tabasco red hot sauce is a famous seasoning originating from Mexico or Central America. This sauce is made from Tabasco peppers aged with salt in oak barrels, then mixed with vinegar to bring a very distinctive flavor.
- Grand Marnier is a famous French liqueur brand. This orange liqueur is suitable for preparing various desserts or cocktails.
- Cognac is a type of grape brandy with a strong alcohol content, so when preparing this dish, you should adjust according to your taste and preference.
- You can find different types of wines and red hot sauce at imported food stores or reputable e-commerce sites.
How to prepare Shrimp Cocktail Salad
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Prepare the ingredients
Wash the strawberries clean, then cut them into small pieces shaped like wedges.
Separate the grapes from the stems, wash them well, cut them in half, and remove the seeds.
Wash the apples thoroughly with water, remove the stem and seeds, then slice them about 1/2 inch thick and dice them.
Wash the oranges, remove the orange peel. Then carefully separate the flesh from the skin, keeping the orange flesh.
After washing the cherry tomatoes, slice them thinly to your liking. Wash the celery and shallots, then slice them thinly.
Wash the types of lettuce, remove the stems, only take the leaves, and tear them into bite-sized pieces.
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Preparation of shrimp
To eliminate the fishy smell of shrimp, dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in 300ml of water, soak the shrimp for about 5 – 10 minutes, and rinse thoroughly with water. Then remove and let drain.
Place a pot on the stove, add 200ml of water, wait for the water to boil, then add the sliced celery and onion. After that, add the shrimp to boil.
Boil the shrimp for 5 minutes; when the shrimp gradually turns light orange, it is cooked, then remove the shrimp and immediately place it in cold water.
Peel off the head and shell of the shrimp in turn, keeping the tails for a more beautiful presentation of the dish.
Tip:
- Besides the method of eliminating the fishy smell of shrimp by soaking in diluted salt water, you can also replace it with a mixture of sugar and white wine and soak the shrimp for about 5 – 10 minutes. After that, remove and rinse with water and let drain.
- To eliminate the fishy smell of shrimp, you can boil the shrimp with a slice of ginger, cinnamon, and beer.
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Make the sauce
To make the sauce, add 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon of ketchup, 1/2 teaspoon of Tabasco red pepper sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of Grand Marier liqueur, and 1/2 teaspoon of Cognac into a bowl.
Stir well to completely dissolve the ingredients into a thick sauce mixture.
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Make the shrimp Cocktail salad
First, place the torn lettuce leaves on a plate, then add the cut fruits on top. Finally, add the peeled shrimp on top and drizzle the sauce over the surface.
Then, mix well so that the sauce is evenly absorbed into the vegetables, fruits, and shrimp.
Present the salad in a glass, arranging the shrimp around the rim of the glass with the tails facing outward. At the same time, use the remaining fruits to decorate the plate for a more appealing look. This dish can be served with various fruits to enhance the flavor and reduce the feeling of greasiness.
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Finished product
The shrimp cocktail salad is complete, not only visually appealing but also full of nutrients. When enjoyed, you will fully experience the sweet and rich taste of the shrimp and the creamy texture of the sauce combined with the sour and sweet flavors of the fruits, which will surely burst your taste buds.
2. Shrimp wonton cocktail salad
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Preparation
15 minutes
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Cooking
45 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Shrimp wonton cocktail salad For 4 people
Shrimp 200 gr Avocado 1 piece Lettuce 2 sprigs Cilantro 5 sprigs Lemon juice 2 tablespoons Wonton wrappers 20 pieces Cooking oil 100 ml Mayonnaise 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon Ketchup 2 tablespoons Korean chili sauce 2 tablespoons Salt 1 teaspoon
How to choose fresh and delicious ingredients
How to choose delicious and quality avocados
- On the market, there are usually two main types of avocados sold: butter avocado and water avocado, among which, butter avocado is usually tastier, fragrant, creamy, and fatty. The characteristic to recognize butter avocado is to observe the outer skin which has a dark green color with yellow specks.
- When choosing avocados, you should select those that feel firm in your hand, and when squeezed, they are not too soft, as overly soft avocados may be spoiled inside.
- You should not choose avocados with a wilted and fallen stem, or with a dented top, as these fruits are overripe, and the flesh will be soft and turn black.
- A ripe avocado will typically ripen from the stem downwards; the longer it is left, the more nutrients decrease, so when buying ripe avocados, they should be prepared within 1 – 2 days.
Where to buy Korean chili sauce and Worcestershire sauce?
- Korean chili sauce is made from red chili, sticky rice, fermented soybeans, salt, and is aged for many years. It stands out with a mild spiciness and distinctive sweetness, providing a rich flavor for dishes and is often used when preparing Korean dishes.
- Worcestershire sauce is a type of sauce mixture created by two English chemists, with a sour, spicy, and slightly sweet taste. This sauce has a dark brown color and is somewhat thick, often used in Western dishes or beverages.
Learn more: What is Worcestershire sauce?
You can buy Korean chili sauce and Worcestershire sauce at imported food stores, supermarkets, or e-commerce sites. When purchasing, be sure to check the expiration date and that the packaging is intact to ensure quality.
Where to buy wonton wrappers?
You can buy wonton wrappers at noodle shops in the market, or at supermarkets,… Additionally, you can also make wonton wrappers at home using the recipe shared by TasteVN.
Tools needed
How to prepare Shrimp Cocktail Wonton Salad
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Bake the wonton wrappers
Preheat the oven to 180°C for about 15 minutes.
While waiting for the oven to heat up, use a cup with a round diameter the same as the wonton wrapper to place on top of the wrapper and use a knife to cut off the excess dough.
Take a cupcake tray with about 20 holes, use a brush to coat the surface of each hole with a layer of cooking oil. Then, place each piece of wrapper into the holes one by one. Gently press the wrapper against the sides of the mold to create a more even and beautiful shape.
After 15 minutes, when the oven is hot, place the tray in the oven and wait for about 5 minutes until the wrappers turn golden and crispy. Carefully remove the tray from the oven and let it cool.
Tip: After the wonton wrappers cool, store them in a box and keep them in the refrigerator to last for 24 hours.
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Prepare the shrimp and make the sauce
To eliminate the fishy smell from the shrimp, you can soak the shrimp in a mixture of diluted salt water for 5 – 10 minutes. Then, rinse well with water and let them drain.
Place a pot on the stove and add about 200ml of water. After 5 minutes, when the water boils, add all the shrimp to cook. After about 10 minutes, when the shrimp gradually turns light orange, they are cooked. Remove the shrimp one by one, let them cool, and peel all the shrimp.
After removing the shells, cut the shrimp in half lengthwise along the back, gently remove the black vein on the back of the shrimp, and then dice them into bite-sized pieces.
To make the sauce, we add 1/2 tablespoon of mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons of ketchup, 2 tablespoons of Korean chili sauce, 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce, and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice into a bowl. Stir well until the ingredients are completely blended to create a thick red sauce with a mild spiciness.
Transfer the completed sauce into a zip bag.
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Prepare other ingredients and shrimp wonton cocktail
Cut the avocado in half, remove the seed and skin, then dice the flesh. Remove the roots and yellow leaves from the lettuce and cilantro, wash them clean, drain, and then chop finely.
Gently take 20 baked wonton shells out of the mold and place them on a plate, successively add finely chopped lettuce, then drizzle the dressing over the surface.
Continue adding a layer of shrimp, drizzle another layer of dressing, and then top with the diced avocado and chopped cilantro to finish. Repeat this process for the 20 wonton shells.
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Final Product
We have completed the visually appealing shrimp wonton cocktail that is irresistibly delicious, making you want to eat it continuously.
The preparation method is simple yet ensures great taste and nutritional value that will definitely attract all members of your family, even those with the most discerning palates.
How to Choose Fresh and Delicious Shrimp
- When buying shrimp, you should choose those with transparent shells, without many unusual white or black spots, or shells with inconsistent colors.
- Additionally, when you smell them, you should be able to detect the characteristic scent of the sea.
- When touching the shrimp, the shell should be firm, not soft, and not slimy. The bodies of fresh shrimp are usually straight, not curved like a C shape.
- Do not choose those that have a fishy smell when you sniff them, as they may have been stored for too long and started to spoil, or those shrimp whose heads and bodies are no longer tightly attached to each other.
See more
Above are 2 ways to prepare shrimp cocktail salad that are delicious and unique. The dish stands out thanks to the combination of shrimp and various other ingredients, creating an incredibly attractive and nutritious meal. Quickly make it right away for the family members to enjoy together. Wish you success in making this dish in the kitchen.
*Refer to the recipe and images from the YouTube channel Hướng Nghiệp Á Âu and Marion’s Kitchen.
