Shrimp Dip

Shrimp dip is seafood based savory dipping sauce which is high in protein and fat content. The dip often combines the main ingredient i.e. shrimp with mayonnaise and/or cream cheese to attain the required consistency like that of a dip. Skipping the use of mayonnaise and/or cream cheese may help in attaining a spread like consistency of the dip. A few recipes suggest the use of lemon juice as the flavoring agent. Tabasco sauce or Worcestershire sauce is used in a few variations to attain a spicy flavor. At times, shrimp is coupled with crabmeat, another seafood item, to prepare the dipping sauce. Shrimp dips serve as versatile appetizers, perfect to be served with assorted vegetables and crackers. The dip tastes best when served cold; however, a few recipe variations suggests serving the dip warm.

 

Shrimp Dips Recipe Overview

The most popular shrimp dip recipe suggests using shrimp, lemon juice, chopped onions, cream cheese, and mayonnaise as the vital ingredients.

 

The dip is prepared by mixing together all the ingredients properly. It is served chilled along with chips or raw vegetables.

 

Shrimp Dip Recipe Variations

Among several variations of shrimp dip, a few popular ones have been discussed hereunder:

 

  • Sour cream variant- cream cheese and sour cream are blended together before stirring in other ingredients which consist of dry onion soup mix, shrimp, green bell pepper, chopped pimiento, and sage. The dip is served chilled with crackers.

 

  • Spicy shrimp dip- the recipe for this dip suggests combining shrimp with cream cheese, followed by stirring in lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.  The dip can be used as a spread for sliced cucumbers and tomatoes. To attain a thinner consistency like that of a dipping sauce, sour cream or mayonnaise is used as an additional ingredient. It is the use of Worcestershire sauce, a hot sauce made with onions, garlic, tamarind extract, molasses, vinegar, and several spices and flavorings, which makes the dip spicier.

 

  • Garlic based dip- This dip combines together shredded shrimp, mayonnaise, and garlic powder, and is served chilled.

 

  • Cajun shrimp dip- cooked, crisp, and crumbled bacon is combined with sautéed mix of garlic and onions, and placed in Crockpot along with chopped shrimp, cheese, tomatoes, Tabasco sauce, and Cajun seasoning mix (salt, paprika, cumin, black pepper, and cayenne pepper). It is served warm with vegetable dippers.

 

  • Crabmeat variant- this recipe combines together shrimp and crab meat to prepare a delightful hot dip perfect to be served with crackers. Other ingredients used in the dip consist of mayonnaise, cheese, and artichoke hearts.

 

Serving Shrimp Dips

  • Shrimp dips pair well with chips.

 

  • They are perfect accompaniments to crudités (raw vegetables sticks like cucumbers and carrots).

 

  • Shrimp dip is popularly served with crackers.