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Smoked Shrimp Cocktail with Chipotle-Orange Cocktail Sauce

Smoked Shrimp Cocktail with Chipotle-Orange Cocktail Sauce

Here’s a Mexican twist on conventional shrimp cocktail, with smoke and fire coming at you from all directions. First from the shrimp, which you season with hot red pepper flakes and cumin and smoke over smoldering mesquite. Then from a cocktail sauce that features the sweet, smoky flavors of fresh orange juice and chipotle chiles. Add chiles to your liking—one or mildly spicy shrimp, two for pyromaniacs. Beats the traditional cold boiled shrimp cocktail hollow.

Smoked Shrimp Cocktail Recipe


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Smoked Shrimp Cocktail with Chipotle-Orange Cocktail Sauce

Recipe Notes

  • Advance Prep: 30 minutes
  • Grill Time: 30 to 60 minutes in a conventional smoker or 4 to 6 minutes on a grill
  • Yield: Serves 4 as a starter
  • Method: Smoke-roasting or grilling
  • Equipment: FUEL: I like to smoke the shrimp with mesquite, but any hardwood will work. You’ll need enough for 1 hour of smoking (see chart on page 6). GEAR: Medium-size bamboo skewers (8 to 10 inches)

Ingredients

For the Chipotle-Orange Cocktail Sauce

  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
  • 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 or 2 canned chipotle chiles, minced, plus 2 teaspoons adobo sauce
  • 2 tablespoons finely diced white onion
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro, plus 4 sprigs

For the Shrimp

  • 1-1/2 pounds jumbo shrimp, peeled with tails intact, and deveined
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 scallions, trimmed, white and green parts thinly sliced
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons hot red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • Coarse salt (sea or kosher) and freshly cracked black pepper
  • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for oiling the rack

Recipe Steps

1: Make the cocktail sauce: Place the ketchup, orange zest and juice, Worcestershire sauce, chipotles, adobo sauce, onion, and chopped cilantro in a bowl and whisk to mix. Divide the cocktail sauce among four small bowls. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Place a cilantro sprig in the center of each just before serving.

2: Rinse the shrimp, drain, and blot dry. Place the shrimp, cilantro, scallions, hot red pepper flakes, cumin, and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper in a large bowl and toss to mix. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the oil, cover, and marinate for 15 minutes. Thread the shrimp onto bamboo skewers, 2 to a skewer. Leave ¼ inch exposed skewer at the point end and the bottom half of the skewer shrimp-free. Place the skewers on a lightly oiled wire rack if smoking.

3: Smoker method: Set up your smoker following the manufacturer’s instructions and preheat to 225° to 250°F. Add the wood as specified by the manufacturer. Place the rack with the shrimp in the smoker and smoke until bronzed with smoke and firm to the touch, 30 to 60 minutes, or as needed. Baste with the remaining 2 tablespoons of the oil after 20 minutes.

Grill method: Set up your grill for direct grilling and preheat to high (450°F). Toss the wood chunks or chips on the coals. Direct grill the shrimp, turning them over once, until sizzling and brown on the outside and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Slide a folded strip of aluminum foil under the exposed parts of the skewers to keep them from burning. Baste with the remaining oil after you turn the shrimp.

4: Serve the shrimp on the skewers with the Chipotle-Orange Cocktail Sauce for dipping.

Recipe Tips

WHAT ELSE: There are two options for smoking: traditional low-and-slow smoking, which gives you great flavor but a slightly rubbery texture, and high-heat smoke-roasting on a grill, which gives you a little more sizzle and crust.

Smoked Shrimp Cocktail: Frequently Asked Questions

What makes this shrimp cocktail different from a classic shrimp cocktail?
This version adds smoke, grill flavor, and a spicy chipotle-orange cocktail sauce. Instead of chilled boiled shrimp, the shrimp are seasoned, skewered, and either smoked or grilled for a bolder appetizer.
Can I make smoked shrimp cocktail on a grill instead of in a smoker?
Yes. This recipe includes both smoker and grill methods. The grill method cooks the shrimp quickly over high heat and gives them more sizzle and crust, while the smoker method adds deeper smoke flavor.
What kind of wood works best for smoked shrimp?
Mesquite is the preferred wood in this recipe, but other hardwoods will work too. Since shrimp cook quickly, use wood that adds clean smoke without overwhelming the shellfish.
How spicy is the chipotle-orange cocktail sauce?
You can control the heat by using one or two chipotle chiles. One gives the sauce a milder smoky heat, while two make it noticeably spicier.
How do I know when the shrimp are done?
The shrimp are done when they are firm to the touch, opaque, and lightly browned on the outside. Be careful not to overcook them, or they can turn tough.

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