Cold Poached Shrimp Recipes

POACHED SHRIMP

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with about a 1/2 gallon of water, add the salt and squeeze in the lemon juice; toss the halves in there too for extra flavor. Add the herbs and seafood seasoning. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and simmer for 5 minutes to infuse the water with the aromatics.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and add shrimp. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until the shrimp are bright pink and the tails curl. Using a slotted spoon, remove the shrimp from the poaching liquid and chill thoroughly before peeling. Serve with lemon wedges and Bloody Mary Cocktail Sauce as part of a raw shellfish bar.
• Combine the tomatoes, celery, and onion in a blender and puree to break the vegetables down. Add the remaining ingredients and puree until smooth. Chill before serving with a raw bar.

COLD POACHED SHRIMP WITH MARJORAM PESTO

Steps:

• Place shrimp in a saucepan with water to cover and a large pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, and turn off the heat; let shrimp sit in the water about 5 minutes, then rinse in cold water until cool. Peel (and devein if you like), then arrange on a platter.
• Combine marjoram and garlic in a blender or small food processor. Process until finely minced, scraping down sides with a rubber spatula once or twice if necessary. Add vinegar and most of the oil, and process until smooth.
• Add capers and anchovies, and pulse the machine on and off a few times so that the capers and anchovies are minced but not pureed.
• Stir in remaining oil, along with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with cold shrimp.

COLD POACHED SHRIMP

Steps:

• Put the shrimp in a saucepan with water to cover and a large pinch of salt. Bring to a boil and turn off the heat; let the shrimp cool in the water for about 5 minutes, then rinse in cold water until cool. Peel and devein if you like. Serve with sauce or chill until ready to serve.
• Almost all Shrimp are frozen before sale. So unless you're in a hurry, you might as well buy them frozen and defrost them yourself; this will guarantee you that they are defrosted just before you cook them, therefore retaining peak quality.
• There are no universal standards for shrimp size; large and medium don't mean much. Therefore, it pays to learn to judge shrimp size by the number per pound, as retailers do. Shrimp labeled 16/20, for example, contain sixteen to twenty per pound; those labeled U-20 require fewer (under) twenty to make a pound. Shrimp from fifteen to about thirty per pound usually give the best combination of flavor, ease (peeling tiny shrimp is a nuisance), and value (really big shrimp usually cost more than $15 a pound).
• On deveining: I don't. You can, if you like, but it's a thankless task, and there isn't one person in a hundred who could blind-taste the difference between shrimp that have and have not been deveined.

POACHED SHRIMP

Steps:

• Bring water, lemon, and bay leaf to a boil, covered, in a medium saucepan. Add 1 tablespoon salt. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Raise heat to high, and return water to a boil. Add shrimp; cook until bright pink and opaque, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Immediately transfer shrimp to a rimmed baking sheet using a slotted spoon; cover with ice, and let stand for 5 minutes.

NEW SHRIMP LOUIE (POACHED SHRIMP SALAD)

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add green beans and cook until bright green and just tender, 2 minutes or so. Remove from water and transfer to a plate to cool. (No need to use an ice bath, but if you want to, go for it.)
• Add shrimp and cook until bright pink and just cooked through, 2 to 4 minutes depending on the size of the shrimp. Transfer to a plate to cool. Once the shrimp are cool enough to handle, peel.
• Return the water to a boil and gently lower in eggs. Boil for 6 to 7 minutes (6 for runnier yolks, 7 for slightly firmer). Remove from heat and run under cold water for a minute or two. (Feel free to place them in an ice bath, if you wish, but I find very cold running water does the trick.)
• Combine shallot, tarragon and lemon juice in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• To assemble the salad, arrange the lettuce on a large serving platter or in a shallow bowl and scatter with radishes, avocado, green beans and shrimp. Spoon shallot mixture over everything and drizzle with olive oil. Peel and halve the eggs and nestle in the salad. Serve with aioli or mayonnaise alongside for individual dressing.