A new take on shrimp for an ultimate party-friendly appetizer

If you're hosting a holiday cocktail party, you want something easy, elegant and finger-friendly to pair with that flute of bubbly. If you're serving dinner, a passed appetizer to hold guests until the main meal is in order.

In either case, it's tough to go wrong with a simple shrimp dish. Not only is a platter of the shellfish a party favorite — Americans gobbled up a record 4.6 pounds per person in 2018, according to the National Fisheries Institute — but it cooks up quickly and is easy to source.

This recipe from America's Test Kitchen is on the bold side, with a robust seasoning mixture of garlic, cumin, paprika and cayenne. It blooms in the same pan as the shrimp, with generous amounts of fresh cilantro and garlic and lemon adding freshness.

It can be served with toothpicks and cocktail napkins as an appetizer (leave the tails on for a prettier presentation), or be paired with rice as an entree.

When choosing shrimp, look for shellfish that smells clean and when thawed feels firm to the touch. If it smells like ammonia, it's spoiled. Shrimp is measured by the number of shrimp it takes to make up a pound.

Serves 4 to 6.

Note: Adapted from America's Test Kitchen's "More Mediterranean: 225 New Plant-Forward Recipes" by Gretchen McKay of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

• 1 tsp. kosher salt, divided

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• 1 tsp. ground cumin

• 1 tsp. smoked paprika

• Couple dashes of cayenne pepper, or more to taste

• 1/8 tsp. sugar

• 1/4 c. chopped fresh cilantro leaves and stems

• 1/4 c. chopped fresh parsley leaves and stems

• Juice and zest of 1/2 lemon

• 1/4 c. shelled pistachios, chopped

Toss shrimp with 1/2 teaspoon salt in bowl; set aside for 15 to 30 minutes. Combine garlic, cumin, paprika, cayenne and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in small bowl.

Pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Add 1 tablespoon oil and sugar to bowl with shrimp and toss to coat.

Add shrimp to a cold 12-inch nonstick skillet in a single layer and cook over high heat until undersides of shrimp are spotty brown and edges are pink, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove skillet from heat.

Use tongs to flip each shrimp, working speedily. Let sit until second side is opaque, about 2 minutes. Transfer shrimp to plate.

Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to now-empty skillet. Add spice mixture and cook over medium heat until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Off heat, return shrimp and any accumulated juices to skillet. Add cilantro, parsley and lemon juice and zest, and toss to combine.