Food and Recipes Seafood Shrimp Recipes Pickled Shrimp 5.0 (2) 1 Review Pickled shrimp is a favorite Southern appetizer with plenty of herby, garlicky flavor. By Ann Taylor Pittman Ann Taylor Pittman For 20 years, Ann Taylor Pittman built a career of creating healthy recipes at Cooking Light magazine, where she most recently served as Executive Editor. She is the recipient of two James Beard Foundation Awards: a feature writing award and a cookbook award. She is now a freelancer specializing in recipe development, writing, and video. Follow her on Instagram. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on October 13, 2024 Save Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Active Time: 12 mins Total Time: 1 day 12 mins Servings: 8 Jump to recipe Along the Gulf and the shores of every Southern state, pickled shrimp is a must-serve appetizer nearly any time of the year. Vinegar provides the pickled flavor, while lemon adds brightness. The shrimp take on plenty of herby, garlicky, peppered flavor from their time in the brine. Because of the way we cook the shrimp—we add it to a large amount of boiling water and then remove the pan from the heat—they're guaranteed to be tender and nowhere near rubbery. But it’s crucial to cook the shrimp yourself. Do not opt for precooked shrimp, which always tends to be overcooked. Learn how to make pickled shrimp. It is great for picnics; place in a cute Weck jar and have a little pickle fork handy. Serve with crostini and Boursin for a crisp and creamy accompaniment. 10 Things To Pack In Your Picnic Basket Ingredients for Pickled Shrimp Tender, mild shrimp are livened up with a quick pickle brine full of aromatic ingredients. To make pickled shrimp, you'll need: Extra-large shrimp: The main component of the dish, shrimp offers a tender, meaty texture and mild flavor that holds up well to pickling.Cider vinegar: The base of the pickling liquid with an acidic, fruity flavor.Extra-virgin olive oil: Adds richness to the pickling liquid, balancing the acidity.Kosher salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the shrimp.Granulated sugar: Sweetness to balance the acidic flavor of the pickling liquid.Crushed red pepper flakes: For a subtle heat to give the shrimp a bit of a kick.Fresh dill and flat-leaf parsley: Adds a bright freshness and herbal flavor.Garlic cloves: A savory depth.Bay leaves: A subtle, earthy addition.Lemon: Adds a citrusy acidity to brighten the dish.Sweet onion: Mild oniony flavor and delicate sweetness. Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox How To Make Pickled Shrimp While the shrimp need to chill for 24 hours for the best flavor before serving, the active time to prepare this recipe is a mere 12 minutes. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started: Step 1. Cook shrimp: Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil in a Dutch oven. Add shrimp and remove from heat. Cover and let stand 3 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.Step 2. Make pickling liquid: Whisk together vinegar, oil, salt, sugar, and pepper in a large bowl.Step 3. Pickle shrimp: Add remaining ingredients and toss to combine. Cover and chill 24 hours or up to five days. Pickled Shrimp Variations To change up this recipe to suit your tastes or what you have on hand, consider these variation ideas: Shrimp: Feel free to use other sizes of shrimp as needed. If using frozen shrimp, thaw before using.Vinegar: Swap the vinegar with white wine vinegar, rice vinegar, or other types, as desired.Sweetener: Use honey, agave, brown sugar, or maple syrup if preferred.Spice: Add sliced chilis, fresh ginger, or a pinch of cayenne pepper, paprika or chipotle powder for additional warmth.Herbs: Swap either of the herbs with fresh tarragon, cilantro, basil, or thyme, as preferred.Additions: Replace the sweet onions with shallots, fennel, red onion, or leeks. What To Serve With Pickled Shrimp While pickled shrimp are a tasty snack all on their own, they also work well for a variety of occasions, including parties, weeknight meals, and more. Serve pickled shrimp as an appetizer with slices of lemon, fresh herbs, crusty French bread, crackers, or crostini for a delicious starter to any meal. You can also incorporate them into seafood platters, salads, grain bowls, tacos, or as part of a charcuterie board. Use to top deviled eggs, or as a garnish for Bloody Marys. How To Store and Serve Leftover Pickled Shrimp Pickled shrimp should be chilled for at least 24 hours to give the flavors time to meld and deepen, or stored for up to five days. Serve them cold, straight out of the fridge. More Southern Shrimp Recipes You'll Love Shrimp is a quick and easy protein that can be transformed into a variety of delicious dishes, from shrimp and grits to classic shrimp boils: Classic Shrimp and Grits The Best Shrimp Boil Southern Shrimp Pasta Salad Southern Fried Shrimp Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil Shrimp Cakes Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1 1/2 lbs. extra-large shrimp (21- to 25-count), peeled and deveined 2/3 cup cider vinegar 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 tsp. kosher salt 1 tsp. granulated sugar 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 4 large garlic cloves, sliced 3 bay leaves 1 lemon, thinly sliced 1/2 large sweet onion, thinly sliced vertically Directions Cook shrimp: Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil in a Dutch oven. Add shrimp to pan and immediately remove from heat. Cover and let stand for 3 minutes. Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Drain and rinse with cold water; drain well. Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Make pickling liquid: Whisk together vinegar, oil, salt, sugar, and pepper flakes in a large bowl until salt and sugar dissolve. Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Pickle shrimp: Add shrimp, dill, parsley, garlic, bay leaves, lemon, and onion; toss well to combine. Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours or up to 5 days. Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Frequently Asked Questions How long do pickled shrimp need to marinate? The shrimp should be wrapped and chilled for at least 24 hours for the best flavor, or up to five days, although they can also be enjoyed within a few hours if you just can't wait that long. What type of shrimp is best for pickled shrimp? We prefer extra-large shrimp for pickling—a great size for grabbing as a party appetizer. Choose fresh shrimp if you can for the best flavor and texture. Can I use frozen shrimp for pickling? You can use frozen shrimp if needed—just thaw and drain before using. What's the difference between pickled shrimp and ceviche? Pickled shrimp are typically prepared by starting with shrimp that have been cooked before the pickling liquid is added. Ceviche is made by "cooking" raw shrimp by marinating in citrus juice, which denatures the proteins without traditional cooking methods. Rate It Print