Savory spread
Layered shrimp cocktail will be hit of the appetizer hour
If you like shrimp cocktail, you’ll absolutely love this New Orleans inspired Layered Shrimp Cocktail Spread. It’s quick and easy to prepare and tastes as good as it looks/ ● It consists of spicy cocktail sauce and succulent shrimp on top of a savory cream cheese base. ● This layered shrimp cocktail spread is a perfect appetizer for your gatherings. The cocktail sauce, shrimp and cream cheese base can be made ahead of time and put together right before your guests arrive. ● It’ll be the first appetizer to disappear.
For the cocktail sauce, I used my standard recipe which included chili sauce, prepared horseradish, Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice.
With the word shrimp in the title, you shouldn’t be surprised that I used fresh boiled shrimp. However, if you can’t find fresh shrimp, frozen will do.
The cream cheese layer includes cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, onion and garlic.
For the garnish on the top, I used sliced green onion tops.
I serve this amazing appetizer with saltine crackers. However, feel free to use the cracker of your choice.
Chula King is the blogger behind Pudgefactor.com.
Layered shrimp cocktail spread
Serves 10 to 12
Cream cheese layer
12-ounces cream cheese, softened 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 Tablespoon grated onion
1 clove garlic, minced
Cocktail sauce
12-ounce bottle chili sauce 1 Tablespoon prepared horseradish 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Remaining ingredients
2 cups fresh boiled shrimp, chopped into 1⁄2-inch pieces
2 green onion tops, chopped for garnish chopped, for garnish
Cream cheese layer
Blend together cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, onion, and garlic. Spread mixture evenly in an 8-inch springform pan or shallow serving dish. Cover with foil and refrigerate a minimum of 12 hours.
Cocktail sauce
Combine chili sauce, prepared horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Remove the sides of the springform pan with the cream cheese layer. Spread half of the cocktail sauce evenly over the cream cheese layer.
Sprinkle chopped shrimp over cocktail sauce. Garnish with chopped green onion tops.
Serve with crackers.
Yield: 10-12 servings.
Chula’s tips
● For the cream cheese layer, I used full fat cream cheese, but you could also use reduced fat cream cheese.
● Do not substitute creamy horseradish sauce for the prepared horseradish when making the cocktail sauce. They’re not the same. Prepared horseradish which is sold in the refrigerated section of a grocery store is primarily made with the horseradish root. As such, it has a pungent and intense flavor. Creamy horseradish sauce which sold in the condiment section of a grocery store adds a creamy base to the prepared horseradish and is much less flavorful.
● Even though you can purchase cocktail sauce already prepared, the flavor of homemade cocktail sauce is so much better, and it’s so easy to make.
● You will only need to use about half of the cocktail sauce. Refrigerate the rest for a later use.