Shrimp is one of the popular seafood that is being served everywhere. Shrimp is actually one of the high priced ingredients to use in the kitchen as compared to your ordinary meats and poultry. It gives that delicious flavor to any dish. Shrimp is used for grilling, baking, frying, or even with sauces and soups. Shrimp can be used as the main ingredient or just to add that flavor to your dish. It can be used in vegetable dishes like the Chinese dish Chop Suey.

Shrimp is also used in fried rice, soups, and many more. It would also be great to cook the shrimp without removing the shells. By retaining the shell, it helps keep the shrimp from drying out. It also helps retain the juicy flavor the shrimp has. So going back, one of the ways to cook shrimp is to boil it. So here, let’s learn how to boil shrimp the right way.

Before we start cooking, prepare these ingredients ahead of time:

1. 2 bay leaves
2. 2 celery stalks, cut into 2-inch lengths
3. 1 small lemon, quartered
4. 1 medium onion, cut into eighths
5. 1/2 bunch fresh parsley
6. 8 black peppercorns
7. 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
8. 1 tablespoon salt
9. 10 cups water
10. 2 pounds shrimp
11. Dipping sauces like Cocktail Sauce, Sauce Remoulade, and Tartar Sauce

Now, it’s time to boil that shrimp. Prepare a large pot and boil the 10 cups water. At the same time, add the first eight ingredients: the bay leaves, celery stalks, lemon, onion, parsley, black peppercorns, ground red pepper, and salt. Mix all the ingredients, cover, and let it boil. When the mixture is already boiling, remove the cover. Then, lower the heat and simmer. Now, prepare a big bowl and strain the liquid there. Once strained, it’s time to put back the liquid into the pot. Now, it’s time to add the 2 pounds of shrimp into the pot. You can use any size of shrimp. You can also use fresh or frozen shrimp. Remember, it’s best to keep the shells to keep the meat of the shrimp moist and retain its flavor.

Now, stir the shrimp with the liquid and bring to a boil. Again, after boiling, uncover the pot. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Now, it’s time to drain the shrimp. Place the shrimp on a platter and let cool. You’re ready to serve your shrimp cocktails. Just pair them up with some dipping sauces like cocktail sauce, sauce remoulade, or tartar sauce.