Alternative Shrimp Cocktail Sauces

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JustJoel

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I’m kinda tired of conventional shrimp cocktail sauce. I love the horseradish, and the big sniff/inhale that you do when there’s lots of it, but occasionally, something that depended less on tomatoes, and had maybe a little sweet along with the spicy would be nice! And before you post that “any sauce you like can be a dipping sauce,” there are sauces that, if not crafted specifically for seafood, at least are recognized as a good pair with seafood.

I searched on google and found four recipes that looked good as written, but also looked like they were easily altered or improved, i.e. versatile:

Rice Vinegar dipping sauce
Mustard Lime Cocktail Sauce
Cucumber Dill Cocktail Sauce
The whimsically named Yum Yum Shrimp Sauce, aka Japanese Shrimp Sauce.

Are there any sauces you turn to for serving shrimp as an hours d’ouevres or a snack when conventional cocktail sauce just won’t do?
 
I've always just used shop bought. Only sauce? I've made along those lines was aioli. But now I use store bought.

Russ
 
I think Famous Daves (BBQ) catfish fingers dipping sauce would be good. They serve 2 sauces, one a remoulade and the one I'm referring to is called Sweet Soul Jalapeno dipping sauce. Took awhile to find out what they call it.

I could only find copycat recipes on line. It has crushed pineapple, along w/ onion, jalapenos, hot pepper flakes and more.


#2. I think this would be pretty good. Don't remember where I found this recipe. I've only ever used it with grilled chicken or chix strips. Knowing me, I've probably subbed canned whole berry cranberry sauce too, and add some snipped green onion.


Horseradish Marmalade Dipping or basting sauce

1/2 cup orange marmalade or apricot preserves

1 generous tsp horseradish

about 2 tsp stone ground mustard or creole mustard

dash of salt. Mix, let rest and serve.
 
I think Famous Daves (BBQ) catfish fingers dipping sauce would be good. They serve 2 sauces, one a remoulade and the one I'm referring to is called Sweet Soul Jalapeno dipping sauce. Took awhile to find out what they call it.

I could only find copycat recipes on line. It has crushed pineapple, along w/ onion, jalapenos, hot pepper flakes and more.


#2. I think this would be pretty good. Don't remember where I found this recipe. I've only ever used it with grilled chicken or chix strips. Knowing me, I've probably subbed canned whole berry cranberry sauce too, and add some snipped green onion.


Horseradish Marmalade Dipping or basting sauce

1/2 cup orange marmalade or apricot preserves

1 generous tsp horseradish

about 2 tsp stone ground mustard or creole mustard

dash of salt. Mix, let rest and serve.
I used to make this, or something very similar. I forgot all about it! I usually made it to accompany oven fried coconut shrimp. Thanks for reminding me!
 
Yeah, I guess it really is. Could be an interesting presentation, though. A "4 bite" shrimp, topped with a mignonette.

Tempus fugit, though.
 
I love to make tzatziki sauce as an alternate sauce.
I became fond of this sauce through my brother when he spent a year in Greece while in the Navy. I love it on seafood, chicken, dipping sauce for veggies. I even put it on roast beef sandwiches. I even love it a bread dipping sauce. Here is a recipe that is how my brother told he how they made it. I have use just sour cream instead of the yogurt and works just as good. I am posting a link how to make it - It is just like the way he told me to make it
https://kalynskitchen.com/worlds-best-tzatziki-sauce-recipe-greek/
 
I think I’ve found the perfect alternative to cocktail sauce for shrimp. I’m sure you’ve all heard of it, and probably have some on hand - Muhammara, a Middle Eastern dip/condiment made from roasted red peppers and toasted walnuts. Other ingredients are bread crumbs, pomegranate molasses (which is easy to make), Aleppo pepper flakes, lemon juice, garlic, cumin.

I haven’t made it yet; I bought a little tub of it at Smith’s. It is delicious, and the heat doesn’t hit your palate until the finish, so you can really taste the roasted peppers and creamy nutty walnuts. It’d be a real shame to limit this unusual condiment to the dip table. I ended up shunning the bottled bleu cheese dressing last night and dipped my store-bought rotisserie chicken in it. Magic!
 
I’m kinda tired of conventional shrimp cocktail sauce. I love the horseradish, and the big sniff/inhale that you do when there’s lots of it, but occasionally, something that depended less on tomatoes, and had maybe a little sweet along with the spicy would be nice! And before you post that “any sauce you like can be a dipping sauce,” there are sauces that, if not crafted specifically for seafood, at least are recognized as a good pair with seafood.

I searched on google and found four recipes that looked good as written, but also looked like they were easily altered or improved, i.e. versatile:

Rice Vinegar dipping sauce
Mustard Lime Cocktail Sauce
Cucumber Dill Cocktail Sauce
The whimsically named Yum Yum Shrimp Sauce, aka Japanese Shrimp Sauce.

Are there any sauces you turn to for serving shrimp as an hours d’ouevres or a snack when conventional cocktail sauce just won’t do?
Over here the standard dressing is "Marie Rose" sauce made with the following ingredients:-

½ lemon, juice only
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
5 tbsp tomato ketchup
few drops Tabasco sauce
2 pinches smoked paprika
½ tsp paprika
1 tbsp double cream
4 tbsp mayonnaise
1 pinch cayenne pepper
pinch salt
1 tsp cracked black pepper

I tend to go very lightly with the cayenne and tabasco as I have a bit of an adverse reaction to them but you can fiddle about with it until you get a mixture that appeals to you.
 
Over here the standard dressing is "Marie Rose" sauce made with the following ingredients:-

½ lemon, juice only
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
5 tbsp tomato ketchup
few drops Tabasco sauce
2 pinches smoked paprika
½ tsp paprika
1 tbsp double cream
4 tbsp mayonnaise
1 pinch cayenne pepper
pinch salt
1 tsp cracked black pepper

I tend to go very lightly with the cayenne and tabasco as I have a bit of an adverse reaction to them but you can fiddle about with it until you get a mixture that appeals to you.
That sounds very good. Kind of a tradional cocktail sauce, but dressed up a bit by the pimentos. I too would need to go easy on the hot sauce and cayenne. I’m gradually losing my tolerance for spicy, and Mark thinks bell peppers are spicy lol.
 
Over here the standard dressing is "Marie Rose" sauce made with the following ingredients:-

½ lemon, juice only
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
5 tbsp tomato ketchup
few drops Tabasco sauce
2 pinches smoked paprika
½ tsp paprika
1 tbsp double cream
4 tbsp mayonnaise
1 pinch cayenne pepper
pinch salt
1 tsp cracked black pepper

I tend to go very lightly with the cayenne and tabasco as I have a bit of an adverse reaction to them but you can fiddle about with it until you get a mixture that appeals to you.
PS, would “double cream” be heavy cream or whipping cream here across the Pond?
 
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