Traveling offers a full sensory experience, which is why we love doing it so much. We see unique landscapes; hear new sounds, taste unusual dishes…

Traveling changes us, enriches us, and gives us back an improved version of ourselves.

Traveling will always be an amazing plan, but if you can’t get on a plane right now, you can still enjoy this piece of Las Vegas right in your kitchen. 

Shrimp cocktail became a classic in Sin City, although it isn’t native to the area. It arrived in Las Vegas with the Golden Gate Casino in 1959 and is still chosen by visitors for its simplicity and the mix of flavors and textures you can taste in just one glass. 

If you haven’t tried it yet, today is a great opportunity.

And if you’ve been lucky enough to have tasted it with friends and drinks in the casinos of this wonderful city, you can now relive the experience in your kitchen. 

Get to work (and start choosing your favorite people to share this delight with). 

Las Vegas-style Shrimp Cocktail

Ingredients (serves 2)

• ¾ lbs. cooked shrimp
• 3 tbsp. mayonnaise
• 3 tbsp. ketchup
• ½ tbsp. paprika (spicy as in the original recipe or sweet, if you prefer)
• 6 leaves of romaine lettuce
• 2 slices of pineapple (optional)

Instructions for making the shrimp cocktail:

The shrimp: 

Put 1 liter of water on the stove. Let it boil.

Once it boiled, add a spoonful of salt.

Wait for it to boil again and, at that moment, submerge the shrimps.

When you notice the third boil, wait for 1 minute, remove the shrimps and place them directly into a bowl with water and ice for 1 more minute.

Then put them on a platter and refrigerate until serving time.

The sauce:

This is the simplest step. You just have to mix the mayonnaise, ketchup, and half teaspoon of paprika (spicy or sweet) until you have a homogeneous mixture.

Then, keep the mixture cold until plating.

Plating:

Take a glass and put the lettuce and pineapple mixture at the bottom. Pour the sauce on top of this. It’s better to be abundant, so 3 or 4 tablespoons would be ideal.

Once done, arrange the shrimps hanging over the edge of the glass (otherwise, it wouldn’t be a cocktail).

And here’s the best part: share this shrimp cocktail with whoever you want, while travel anecdotes and future destination lists try to compete for attention.