2000s Recipes + Menus

Bloody Mary Shrimp

Makesabout 50 hors d’oeuvres
  • Active time:35 min
  • Start to finish:1 hr
December 2007
Shrimp cocktail meets everyone’s favorite Sunday-morning drink. In other words, this is a vodka-infused shrimp cocktail in a spoon.

For shrimp

  • 1 lb medium shrimp in shell, peeled and deveined
  • 1 1/2 cups thinly sliced celery (3 to 4 ribs)
  • 1 cup thinly sliced scallions (about 6)

For sauce

  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup vodka (preferably Absolut Peppar)
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons bottled horseradish (not drained), or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Tabasco
  • Equipment:

    Chinese soupspoons
  • Garnish:

    diced avocado (optional)

Prepare shrimp:

  • Bring a large saucepan of salted water (2 tablespoons salt for 2 quarts water) to a boil. Add shrimp, then remove from heat and let stand in water until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Drain in a colander and cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Cut shrimp into thirds and transfer to a large bowl with celery and scallions.

Make sauce:

  • Whisk together all sauce ingredients, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 3/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste.
  • Just before serving, stir sauce into shrimp mixture. Spoon 2 shrimp pieces with vegetables and sauce into each soupspoon and arrange spoons on a platter.
Cooks’ note: Sauce can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.
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