What's The Meaning Behind The Name Popcorn Shrimp?

So who really invented popcorn shrimp?

Joe R. Lee served as the manager of the very first Red Lobster in Lakeland, Florida. He later rose to the position of chairman and CEO of Darden Restaurants, the parent company of Red Lobster until 2014. In a 1998 article from the Orlando Business Journal, he remarked, "We also invented popcorn shrimp and introduced snow crab and calamari to middle America." The original founder of Red Lobster, Bill Darden (after whom Darden Restaurants is named), aimed to provide fresh, affordable seafood to regions far from the coast. In 1974, he added bite-sized fried shrimp to the menu, branding it as "popcorn shrimp," which quickly became a sensation.

You may recognize Paul Prudhomme from his Magic Seasoning blend. Many attribute the creation of popcorn shrimp to him; however, what he actually developed was "Cajun popcorn," which consisted of deep-fried, bite-sized crawfish tails seasoned with Cajun spices, likely similar to his Magic Seasoning Blends Seafood Magic available on Amazon. Some assert that he also prepared a version with small shrimp in his Louisiana restaurants before Red Lobster popularized it. Yet, others argue that he didn't introduce his popcorn seafood until the 1980s, well after Red Lobster had already featured it on their menu.

The uncertainty surrounding the true origin of popcorn shrimp leaves its history somewhat ambiguous, but one fact remains clear: popcorn shrimp is intended to be a crispy, delightful snack, especially when paired with a zesty three-ingredient cocktail sauce. While we may not know exactly who to credit for this tasty treat, we can all agree that these scrumptious bites are irresistible, and like Ina Garten's beloved microwave popcorn, they tend to vanish all too quickly.