~ Rock Shrimp

Appears in
Cooking One on One

By John Ash

Published 2004

  • About
These have become more available in recent years, especially in restaurants. They come from Florida and the Gulf Coast and, as the name suggests, have shells that are rock hard. This means they must be put through rollers that crush the shells so they can be removed. In the process, the shrimp meat gets a little roughed up, but don’t let this dissuade you from buying them—the flavor and texture are delicious. Sometimes described as “poor man’s lobster,” they do resemble lobster in both flavor and texture. They cook very quickly, so be careful not to overcook them. Rock shrimp are delicious made into cakes, quickly sautéed for pasta or salads, and in stuffings. They come peeled, so they are especially quick to use.