Name: Lemon Poached Shrimp
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Other
Ingredients: 1 lb tail-on frozen shrimp; 3 cups water; 1 lemon; 10 peppercorns; 1 tsp kosher salt; 1 bay leaf

From the Cook

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Lemon Poached Shrimp

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Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Instructions

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Instructions

In a large saucepan, add water, peppercorns, salt and bay leaf. Cut lemon in half and squeeze juice into the pan before also adding lemon halves right into the mix.

Bring pan to a boil and reduce heat to medium, simmering for 10 minutes. Add frozen shrimp to the poaching liquid and return to a boil, cooking for about 6 minutes. If shrimp are thawed, reduce cooking time to 4 to 5 minutes.

Drain liquid and shrimp into a colander. Let shrimp cool, then serve with cocktail sauce. Shrimp can be made up to a day ahead and stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

For the Cocktail Sauce:

1 teaspoon prepared horseradish (read the label to ensure Whole30 compliance)

Mix together in a small bowl and serve with chilled shrimp. Can be made ahead and stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Nutrition

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Don't Thaw Before Poaching ❄️
Keep shrimp frozen until ready to poach—they cook more evenly and stay juicier, preventing the rubbery texture that comes from thawing first.
Master the Ice Bath Finish 🧊
Immediately transfer poached shrimp to an ice bath to stop the cooking process and lock in tender, succulent texture—this is the secret to perfectly cooked shrimp every time.
Toast Your Peppercorns 🌶️
Lightly toast the peppercorns in a dry pan before adding to the poaching liquid to deepen their flavor and create a more complex, sophisticated broth.
Use Lemon Quarters, Not Slices 🍋
Cut lemons into quarters instead of slices to maximize juice release and bitter oil extraction from the pith, creating a more balanced citrus-forward poaching liquid.
Reserve and Reduce the Poaching Liquid 🍶
Save the cooled poaching liquid, reduce it by half on the stovetop, and serve it alongside cocktail sauce for an elegant, briny dipping option that elevates the presentation.