Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Peel and Eat Shrimp is a great shrimp appetizer especially when you have fresh Key West pink shrimp! Everyone loves boiled shrimp, and this make-ahead dish is so easy to make, it's going to become your new favorite.
Jump to:
- What is Peel 'n Eat Shrimp?
- My Special Ingredient
- What You Need
- How To Devein the Shrimp
- How To Cook Peel 'n Eat Shrimp
- What Do Key West Shrimp Taste Like?
- What To Serve with Peel 'n Eat Shrimp
- For a Quick Homemade co*cktail Sauce
- Top Tips:
- FAQ
- The Best Peel 'n Eat Shrimp Recipe!
- More Shrimp Recipes
- "📖 Recipe"
What is Peel 'n Eat Shrimp?
A popular Happy Hour appetizer in Florida restaurants and all over the USA, Peel 'n Eat Shrimp is a plateful of medium-sized shrimp that are often boiled in beer and Old Bay seasoning. The finger-food is served chilled with a side of co*cktail sauce.
This recipe is for Peel and Eat Shrimp with No Beer. I put a little optional apple cider vinegar in the water. It adds a little flavor and you cannot taste it--I promise!
This is one of my family's favorite warm-weather seafood recipes. The best shrimp are down here in the Florida Keys are we are lucky enough to be able to pick them up every day.
There are a lot of different ways to cook this dish, and it really is simple to make.
My Special Ingredient
My special ingredient is Key West Spice Company's Southernmost Blend, made by Tony Lazarus in Key West.
Like Old Bay seasoning, the blend is an all-purpose seasoning with a blend of spices including paprika, garlic, onion, salt, and pepper. It has a little kick to it if used in large amounts.
I use it on fish and shrimp. It's all-natural, gluten-free, and has no carbs, no fat, no sugar, and it tastes great! I highly recommend it!
You can get Key West Spice Company Southernmost Blend in Florida at Publix, Winn Dixie, Robert is Here in Homestead, and many Florida Keys gift shops. If you're not in The Keys, you can pick it up at the company website.
What You Need
This is an easy recipe to make. Because the shrimp are served in their shells, you can get size medium or large shrimp, cook them for two minutes, and chill for an hour. Each person at your table will peel his or her own, so it's virtually no work for the cook. One pound makes 3 or 4 appetizer servings.
- 1 pound medium or large shrimp, defrosted
- Seafood seasoning, such as Southernmost Blend from Key West Spice Company or you can use Old Bay, original flavor.
- Apple cider vinegar
- Garlic
- Lemons
- co*cktail sauce (optional)
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Devein the Shrimp
The dark vein you see running along the back of the shrimp is the shrimp's digestive tract. You might not see the vein on smaller shrimp and it's harmless to consume, according to the American Shrimp Processors Association.
For larger shrimp, Large, XL, or Jumbo, you can remove the vein by cutting the shell halfway down the back of each shrimp with pair of scissors, Then, make a shallow incision and pull out the vein with the tip of a paring knife.
Leave the rest of the shell intact so there's something to peel.
How To Cook Peel 'n Eat Shrimp
- Fill a large pot halfway with water. Add Southernmost Blend, apple cider vinegar, a few smashed garlic cloves, and squeeze in the juice of one lemon; throw the lemon in the pot. Over high heat, bring the water to a rolling boil.
- When boiling, add the shrimp. Bring water back to a rolling boil and cook about 2 minutes or until the shrimp are white and no longer translucent.
- Remove the shrimp with a slotted spoon, discard the garlic, and place in a covered bowl in the refrigerator to cool.
- When cool, place in a serving bowl. Dust with a teaspoon of the seasoning. Serve with lemon wedges and co*cktail sauce.
Serve hot or chill until ready to serve. The shrimp can be cooked a day before serving.
What Do Key West Shrimp Taste Like?
The shrimp from Key West is often called Key West Pinks. They are crisp and have a sweet and mild taste.
When buying shrimp, look for Wild shrimp. They come from the ocean, which is their natural environment, instead of a farm with an unnatural diet.
What To Serve with Peel 'n Eat Shrimp
Serve the shrimp with lemon wedges, co*cktail sauce, and/or melted butter.
These shrimp make great appetizers. As a main course, the shrimp would be great alongside Caesar Salad, clam chowder, lobster, or stone crabs.
For a Quick Homemade co*cktail Sauce
To whip together co*cktail sauce, try this:
- ½cupketchup
- 1-2tablespoonsprepared horseradish(found in the condiment aisle)
- 1dashWorcestershire sauce
- 2tablespoonslemon juice
- A few drops of hot sauce
Top Tips:
- Do not overcook the shrimp! Cook the shrimp for 2 minutes just until they turn white and are no longer translucent.
- If you can get a bottle of Southernmost Seasoning, it has great flavor, and you can season all of your seafood with it. It tastes great!
FAQ
How to eat peel and eat shrimp
Depending on how they're cooked, peel-and-eat shrimp are simple to eat. Make sure your hands are clean, peel the shrimp, and pop them in your mouth. This is a great dish for outdoor gatherings and casual meals.
Do you eat peel and eat shrimp cold or hot?
You can eat peel and eat shrimp hot right out of the pot or chilled overnight. Either way, they taste great with lemon wedges and co*cktail sauce.
How long does peel and eat shrimp last?
You can make the shrimp the day before serving them. When you serve them, season them with a little extra spice blend. Cooked shrimp should be good for another 2 days in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
How many carbs are in peel and eat shrimp?
Without the co*cktail sauce, there is under one gram of net carbs in each serving.
Is peel and eat shrimp cooked?
Yes, peel and eat shrimp is always cooked. The FDA advises against eating raw shrimp because they could be contaminated with bacteria and parasites.
Is frozen shrimp healthy?
When buying frozen shrimp, look for wild shrimp caught is the USA to ensure high quality. Farm-raised shrimp is an inferior product.
Do we need to add beer?
Cold beer is usually a staple ingredient for Peel 'n Eat Shrimp. I know we're in the Florida Keys, and beer is a big deal, but this dish, always a crowd-pleaser, is very good without the beer.
The Best Peel 'n Eat Shrimp Recipe!
- This dish makes restaurant-style peel-and-eat shrimp in 2-5 minutes.
- The cooking time will vary depending on how large your shrimp are.
- Get seafood seasoning from Key West Seasoning Co. or original Old Bay works too.
- Squeeze a lemon into the water as it comes to a boil, add the seasoning, and then the shrimp.
- Bring the shrimp back to a boil and in one to two minutes, they should be done.
- Eat hot or chill for up to 24 hours before serving.
More Shrimp Recipes
- Shrimp co*cktail
- Oven Baked Coconut Shrimp
- Blackened Shrimp with Butter Sauce
- Florida Keys Pink Shrimp Salad
"📖 Recipe"
Peel 'n Eat Shrimp
Felice Kaufman
This is a simple appetizer that everyone always loves. You boil shrimp, toss them with seafood seasoning, and chill for an hour. Serve with co*cktail sauce and lemon wedges.
10
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 3 minutes mins
Total Time 8 minutes mins
Course Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 71 kcal
Ingredients
FOR THE SHRIMP
- 1 pound uncooked shrimp, medium or large wild shrimp is recommended
- 1 tablespoon Key West Seasoning Company Southernmost Blend or use original flavor Old Bay
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 lemons
- 3 peeled and smashed garlic cloves
- 4 cups filtered water
- fresh parsley for garnish
FOR SERVING
- 1 teaspoon Key West Seasoning Company Southernmost Blend or use original flavor Old Bay
- 2 lemons sliced in wedges
Instructions
Fill a big pot with water. Add Southernmost Blend, apple cider vinegar, a few smashed garlic cloves, and squeeze in the juice of one lemon; throw the lemon in the pot. Bring the water to a boil.
When the water is boiling, add the shrimp. Bring water back to a boil and cook about 2 minutes or until the shrimp are white and no longer translucent.
Drain the shrimp, discard the garlic, and place in a covered bowl in the refrigerator to cool.
When cool, place in a serving bowl. Dust with a teaspoon of the seasoning. Serve with lemon wedges and co*cktail sauce.
Serve hot or chill until ready to serve.
Notes
How to Make co*cktail Sauce
- ½cupketchup
- 2tablespoonsprepared horseradish(found in condiment aisle)
- 1dashWorcestershire sauce
- 2tablespoonslemon juice
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce (such as Cholula)
Mix ingredients together in a small bowl. For two pounds of shrimp, double the recipe. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator up to one week.
Top Tips
- The shrimp can be cooked and chilled one day before serving.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for a day or two after cooking.
- Do not freeze.
The Best Seasoning for Peel and Eat Shrimp I highly recommend a local Key West product, Southernmost Blend, from Key West Spice Company. You can get Key West Spice Company Southernmost Blend in Florida at Publix, Winn Dixie, and many Florida Keys gift shops. If you're not in The Keys, you can pick it up at on their website.
Nutrition Facts
Peel 'n Eat Shrimp
Amount per Serving
Calories
71
% Daily Value*
Total Fat
0.9
g
Saturated Fat
0.1
g
1
%
Trans Fat
0.01
g
Cholesterol
100
mg
33
%
Sodium
463.1
mg
20
%
Potassium
150.4
mg
4
%
Carbohydrates
4.4
g
1
%
Fiber
0.9
g
4
%
Sugar
0.8
g
1
%
Protein
11.3
g
23
%
Net Carbohydrates
3.6
g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Calories
71
Net Carbohydrates
3.6
g
The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
Tried This Recipe?Leave a comment below and tag @cookinginthekeys on social!
