Looking for an easy seafood appetizer for your next party? Shrimp and Endive Cups are just what you need. If you are a fan of shrimp salad, these are sure to please.
Super easy to make. Great for entertaining. Pair them with these cucumber boats.
Sweet and spicy shrimp nestled in crisp endive leaves. Elegant, refreshing and so delicious. Low-carb, gluten-free, and a hit at any party.
When it comes to entertaining, I like it to be as stress-free as possible. Spending time with my guests is what it is all about.
Appetizers are a must at any party. Sometimes you can even make them the main event. I am not opposed to grazing on them instead of a huge meal. Cold or hot, they are always delicious.
We happen to love using shrimp in recipes. I always have bags of frozen shrimp waiting in the freezer. Super easy to work with. Quick to cook. Perfect in so many dishes. Have you tried this quick zoodles and shrimp stir fry? Great for any busy weeknight. Better than takeout too.
Shrimp And Endive Appetizer Ingredients
There are some unique flavours to these seafood appetizers.
- shrimp
- chipotle oil
- sweet chili sauce
- fig balsamic
- endive leaves
- enoki mushrooms
- sunflower shoots
As always I have included some substitutions below, these can be made so many ways.
Preparing These Shrimp Bites
They look fancy, but the effort is minimal. It’s always great when you can impress your guests with easy-to-make appetizer recipes.
Step One: Mix the sweet chili sauce with the fig balsamic and set aside.
Step Two: Wash the Belgian endive leaves, mushrooms, and pea shoots and set aside.
Step Three: Cook the shrimp.
Step Four: Assemble the shrimp stuffed endive leaves (see directions in recipe card) and serve.
Suggestions/Recipe Tips
Shrimp and be served hot or cold. I prefer to quickly cook mine, but cold shrimp appetizers are always delicious. The choice is yours. Be sure you use ready-cooked shrimp if you are serving them cold.
Mushrooms of any kind can be used. I think Enoki mushrooms are really elegant, but feel free to use whatever kind you like.
Sunflower shoots can be replaced with sprouts or even grated carrots.
Chipotle oil is used to cook the shrimp and adds a bit of heat. Any oil will work, and if you are serving cold shrimp you can skip this step.
Topping of sweet chili sauce and fig balsamic is so good. You can just use the sweet chili sauce on its own. You can also drizzle with a balsamic reduction if you prefer.
Serve these as soon as possible so the shrimp are still warm. If you are making them with cold shrimp, they can be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge until needed.
What Is Endive?
Is endive a lettuce? It is a bitter tasting salad green that happens to be part of the chicory family. Did you know there are actually 3 kinds of endive?
Belgian endive (which is used in this recipe) is a small cylindrical head of lettuce. The leaves can be easily separated, making it perefect for appetizers. It can be used in salads, braised or baked. It also comes in a red varitey known as radicchio.
Frisée is darker in colour with a curly almost lacy texture, and has a more pronouned bitter taste. Perfect for using in salads.
Escarole is broad leafed and the least bitter of all the varities. The inner leaves are good for salad. The outer leaves are best used in soups and cooked dishes.
Shrimp Boats
Ingredients
- 12 Medium shrimp (thawed if frozen)
- 2 teaspoons Chipotle flavoured olive oil (or any spicy oil you like)
For the drizzle:
- 1 tablespoon Thai Sweet Chili Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Fig balsamic vinegar
For the endive cups:
- 6 Belgian endive leaves
- 3-4 Enoki mushrooms (per individual endive cup)
- 3-4 Sunflower shoots (per individual endive cup)
Instructions
- Mix the chili sauce and fig balsamic and set aside.
- Prepare the endive cups. In each cup add some sunflower shoots and enoki mushrooms. Place on a serving tray and set aside.
- If you are using fresh shrimp, remove shell, clean, rinse and pat dry. If you are using frozen shrimp, rinse and pat dry.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the oil and sauté the shrimp until cooked. About 40 seconds per side (depending if you are using raw or pre cooked shrimp)
- Place 2 shrimp on each endive cup.
- Drizzle with the chili/fig sauce. Serve with and assortment of fresh veggies and dip.
Tanya@myforkinglife.com
These spicy sweet shrimp look delicious! I plan on eating more salads for the new year. Also, I plan on drinking 1 smoothie a day to help keep a healthy balance.
Homemade & Yummy
Balance is key. Tasty foods help with keeping us in check.
Sarah @ TheFitCookie
This is a great idea, Gloria! I love shrimp, I haven’t thought about serving it with endive before – love it!
Homemade & Yummy
They are the perfect little bites.
Veena
Endive makes such pretty presentations. Amazing how so simple yet so effect these little dishes are.. I love such appetizers. Thanks
Homemade & Yummy
This is the first time I have used endive….and it did work great.
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry
I love shrimps. This recipe looks so healthy and simple too. Perfect!
Homemade & Yummy
It is both…healthy and delicious!!
Lynne Curry
This is my kind of resolution. Shrimp always seem like a luxury item because I also don’t live on the coast with access to great seafood, but they do freeze well and are always available. The sauce for the shrimp sounds really intriguing! Would love to serve them up as an appetizer for guests.
Homemade & Yummy
Yes I have to use frozen seafood as well…but it works fine.
Heather @Boston Girl Bakes
Love this shrimp dish for dinner..I always have shrimp in the freezer for an easy healthy dinner idea so can’t wait to try!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes it is so easy and quick to prepare.
Sarah
These look like a wonderfully tasty and healthy appetizer… I could see us having them for dinner as well!
Homemade & Yummy
They work perfect for both.
Julia (@Imagelicious)
I am also in the balance category. I eat everything but try to balance bad with good. I don’t prepare veggies in advance, but I do wash and dry herbs, this way it’s easy to use them in any recipe. These endive cups look so delicious! I love shrimp!
Homemade & Yummy
Preparing my veggies in advance is such a time saver…and quick to grab a snack with some dip too.
Deborah
That looks so tasty. Bonus that it is healthy too! Yummy!
Homemade & Yummy
Perfect way to get back on the “healthy eating” kick.
Margot
This is such a beautiful dish. Would make great party food for special occasions.
Homemade & Yummy
Perfect party food for sure.
Katrin
This is exactly what I need right now. I am having a serious seafood craving here!
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you give it a try…and ENJOY!!
Elizabeth
Mmm I’m loving the look of these! A great low carb option for those of us trying to slim after the festive indulgences too!
Homemade & Yummy
It is great when healthy tastes this good.
April
I don’t eat shrimp but I’m sure shrimp lovers would devour these up in a second! The flavors sound delicious!
Homemade & Yummy
You could replace the protein if you like…it would still be good.
Amanda
This recipe sounds incredible. I’d love to have some of these in the fridge for a healthy snack. I’m trying to be even more health conscious this year than last. Pinned this for later.
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you give them a try. Thanks for stopping by.
Arlene Mobley
Endive is such a fun way to serve a healthy appetizer.
Homemade & Yummy
Yes it sure is.