Garlic Shrimp with Vodka Cocktail Sauce

When I host a cocktail party, this is one of my favorite hors d’oeuvres to serve. I like to add a small spoonful of the vodka cocktail sauce onto an Asian hors d’oeuvre spoon, topped with a shrimp and garnished with curly parsley. The spoons sit attractively on a tray to be passed around to guests.


1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, with tails left on
2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons butter, softened
2 tablespoons white wine
2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup cocktail sauce
2 tablespoons vodka
Zest of one lemon
1 tablespoon horseradish
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes


In a bowl, mix shrimp, garlic, butter, white wine, extra-virgin olive oil, parsley, salt, and pepper. Layer in a baking dish and bake, uncovered, in a preheated oven at 350°F for ten minutes. Allow to cool.
In a small bowl, mix cocktail sauce, vodka, lemon zest, horseradish, and red pepper flakes. Serve shrimps with cocktail sauce.