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Shrimp “Cocktail” with Basil Dipping Sauce

By: Nicole 7 Comments
Posted: 04/15/15

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Shrimp Cocktail with Basil Dipping Sauce

Back in the 60’s and 70’s shrimp cocktail used to be “it.” The end all be all hors-d’oeuvre you could find gracing fancy cocktail parties around the country. The before dinner snack you munch on with a bourbon, neat. The life of the party if you will.

I can just picture a bunch of Mad Men-esque Bettys smoking their cigarettes, sipping on their cocktails and huddled around a table full of the stuff – although now that I think about it, I hardly ever see anyone actually eat on the show. Maybe that’s why the world was so skinny then, people just subsisted on tobacco and liquor.

It’s since faded far away from the modern hors-d’oeuvre table and has even gotten itself attached with a sort of a negative connotation, only finding it’s way on to dive seafood restaurants and old-school steak houses set at ridiculously high prices.

I, however am bringing shrimp cocktail back.

Shrimp Cocktail with Basil Dipping Sauce

I love to entertain, and used to go all out, preparing extravagant menu items, spending weeks preparing and generally pulling all of my hair out in stress up until just seconds before the party. I’d inevitably be over stimulated and cranky by the time my guests arrived, and half of the time I wasn’t even my party attire yet. Not a good look on a hostess.

Sometime in the last five years, I learned the right way to throw a party.

Only make a few complicated dishes (I can’t resist), and always always prepare as much as you can ahead of time.

Shrimp Cocktail with Basil Dipping Sauce

I’ve come to find that people LOVE shrimp, and it just so happens that shrimp cocktail happens to be one of the easiest, yet elegant finger foods you can bring to a party as long as you do it right – aka do not buy it pre-packed in the frozen foods section.

I forgo the flavorless pre-cooked shrimp and instead, buy fresh peeled and deveined shrimp (a time saver totally worth the extra money), and roast them with plenty of salt, pepper and red pepper flakes so they have plenty of flavor unlike their 60’s counterpart.

Store-bought cocktail sauce is swapped out for an array of homemade sauces depending on the season and my mood, but this time I whipped up a quick basil dip made with Greek yogurt, a little bit of light mayo, garlic, lemon juice and plenty of chopped basil.

Shrimp Cocktail with Basil Dipping Sauce

Everything can be made a day in advance and when you’re ready to serve, just pull it all out of the fridge, arrange on a pretty platter, set it out and watch it be the first thing to disappear.

Even Betty Draper wouldn’t be able to resist these…

Shrimp Cocktail with Basil Dipping Sauce

 

Shrimp "Cocktail" with Basil Dipping Sauce
 
Print
Prep time
10 mins
Cook time
10 mins
Total time
20 mins
 
This "shrimp cocktail" is a modern take on a classic 60's appetizer!
Author: Nicole
Serves: 1 pound of shrimp
Ingredients
  • 1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Pepper
  • Red Pepper Flakes
  • ½ cup non-fat, plain Greek yogurt
  • 1½ tablespoons mayo
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1½ teaspoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons chopped basil
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Toss shrimp with olive, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Place on a rimmed baking sheet and baking until bright pink, about 10 minutes.
  3. In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients.
  4. Serve shrimp hot or room temperature with dipping sauce.
3.2.2925

Meet Nicole

Welcome! My lifelong passion for delicious food and cooking has evolved over time into an equal love of showing you an elevated meal can be easy, approachable and most importantly, tasty. Dive in and find something perfect for you and your family!

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  1. Stephanie says

    Posted on 4/15/15 at 10:09 pm

    I might just eat that dipping sauce straight with a spoon!

    Reply
  2. Senika @ Foodie Blog Stalker says

    Posted on 4/15/15 at 11:10 pm

    OMG! Roasted shrimp is the BEST. Why have I never thought to serve it with something other than cocktail sauce?! This basil dipping sauce is straight genius. Don Draper would be so proud! 😉 Pinned!

    Reply
  3. Kelley @ Chef Savvy says

    Posted on 4/15/15 at 11:21 pm

    These look mouthwatering! I love shrimp cocktail! The basil dipping sauce looks amazing!

    Reply
  4. [email protected] says

    Posted on 4/19/15 at 12:42 am

    I am so glad you are bringing the shrimp cocktail back! That Basil Dipping Sauce looks amazing!

    Reply
    • Nicole says

      Posted on 4/24/15 at 1:56 am

      Thanks Christin!

      Reply
  5. Alicia Figueroa says

    Posted on 11/2/16 at 11:38 pm

    How can prepare the shrimp if I bought the pre-cooked kind?

    Reply
    • Nicole says

      Posted on 11/3/16 at 4:36 am

      I would just serve them as is!

      Reply

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Meet Nicole

Welcome! My lifelong passion for delicious food and cooking has evolved into an equal love of showing you easy elevated meals can be approachable and most importantly, tasty.

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