138 shrimp appetizer recipes

A retro Southern appetizer of boiled shrimp suspended in seasoned consommé aspic with lemon, green onion, and a kick of hot sauce. Unmold onto crackers for a showstopping starter.

Coconut shrimp De Jonghe: a tropical riff on the classic Chicago baked shrimp casserole, with garlic, paprika, sherry, parsley, and toasted coconut layered over plump shrimp. Bakes in one dish for an old-school dinner-party main.

Plump shrimp simmered in beer with onion, garlic, bay leaf, peppercorns, celery, and lemon, then chilled for a cold appetizer that's pure low-country flavor.

Microwave-poached sole fillets bathed in a creamy white-wine shrimp sauce. An elegant fish dinner from the 1980s microwave-cooking era, ready in 40 minutes without dirtying a stovetop pan.

Garlic shrimp crostini on toasted French bread rounds with a garlicky cream cheese spread, cherry tomato halves, and fresh parsley. Makes 24 bite-sized party appetizers.

Chilled shrimp cocktail with brandy-spiked lemon cream sauce, studded with crisp apple and fresh herbs. Elegant Italian appetizer.

Microwave lobster newburg: the classic creamy lobster and sherry sauce ready in 30 minutes from the microwave. Served over rice or toast points for a quick but elegant dinner.

Cajun crab in a rich Swiss cheese and cream sauce with mushrooms, scallions, and dry vermouth, spiked with cayenne. Serve in patty shells or scooped up with crusty French bread.

Peppered seafood sausage: fresh fish, shrimp, jalapeños, and cilantro ground together, stuffed into hog casings, and gently poached. A Southwestern take on fish sausage, bound with egg whites and brightened by cumin and lemon.

Lung Fung Shrimps with jumbo shrimp and three kinds of mushrooms deep-fried then wok-tossed in oyster sauce, soy, ginger, and sesame oil. A classic Cantonese banquet-style seafood dish.

Pan-fried shrimp and Monterey Jack gyozas with Chinese sausage, water chestnuts, and ginger, served in a silky lime cream sauce. East-West fusion dumplings that freeze beautifully.

Hand-formed shrimp balls with ginger and garlic, deep-fried until golden and drizzled with a savory celery, oyster sauce, and vodka pan sauce. A showstopping Chinese appetizer.

Shrimp cheese pate with tiny Danish shrimp, soft cheese, sherry, and black pepper beaten until smooth. A no-cook Scandinavian-style appetizer spread ready in 15 minutes.

Fun gwau: Cantonese steamed dumplings stuffed with pork, shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts, all wrapped in translucent wheat-starch wrappers. A dim sum classic.

Otak otak: Southeast Asian fish mousse with a lemongrass-galangal-chili spice paste and coconut milk, wrapped in banana leaves and grilled. Each packet holds a shrimp inside a fragrant, spiced fish paste.

Crispy on the outside, creamy, juicy and tasty in the inside. Serve these delicate bundles as an appetizer or a simply flavorful main dish.