You can use either medium or large shrimp for the recipe. The medium will run about 30-40 shrimp per pound.I like to buy the frozen shrimp and allow it to thaw in the refrigerator. You can buy either raw or cooked shrimp. If you are using raw, follow the directions on the recipe card to make sure the shrimp is cooked through. For cooked shrimp, you really just want to heat it through, so you can add it near the end of the cooking time.