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Coctel de Camarones (or Mexican Shrimp Cocktail) – This dish reminds me of Ensenada and the Valle de Guadalupe.
Baja California is AMAZING! Beaches, wine, and the best seafood! If you ever visit, you must check out the fish market in Ensenada.
My favorite thing to get whenever I go is a big bowl of this DELICIOUSNESS. Refreshing, spicy, and SO YUMMY.
More Authentic Mexican Seafood Recipes:
Camarones a la Diabla
Ceviche de Camaron
Tortitas de Papa con Atun
These are all the ingredients you need to make this EASY Mexican appetizer.
Add more jalapeno and more hot sauce for a spicier dish.
Cucumber is also optional, but adds great texture.
What is the difference between ceviche and shrimp cocktail?
Ceviche is seafood (usually fish or shrimp) that is “cooked” in lime juice. It marinates for hours or overnight in the fridge before serving.
Shrimp cocktail is made of boiled shrimp. They are mixed with cucumber, jalapeno, and covered in a spicy tomato sauce. It is ready in minutes.
Pro Tip:
Find shrimp that are already cleaned and deveined. That’s is the easiest way to make this recipe. Or, you will need to remove the digestive tract before cooking.Yes, you can use frozen shrimp! Say what?! This dish is full of flavors that will mask the frozen yuckiness.
Optimal Shrimp Sizes:
Medium to Jumbo size shrimp. This all depends on how you are going to serve it and the size of your bowl or cup. The smaller the cup, the smaller size shrimp to use.How to thaw shrimp:
- Place shrimp in a large container of water. Let sit for 20 minutes, or until completely thawed.
- Or, leave in the fridge overnight. Use the next day.
More Mexican Seafood Recipes:
Shrimp Chile Rellenos
Shrimp Pozole
Ceviche de Pescado
Camarones Rancheros
- Boil the shrimp in water.
- Once the shrimp turn pink, discard the water.
- Let them cool completely.
To stop the cooking process, place them immediately in water. This will also prevent them from becoming tough.
The Name Game:
You might hear the names: Coctel de Camaron or Cocktail de Camarones.
Most people will use the name Coctel de Camarones, and that is what I call it.
All of these names are correct.
- Mix the tomato sauce, ketchup, and hot sauce.
- Pour this mixture over the shrimp, jalapeno, and cucumbers.
Ketchup adds sweetness, but some people will omit it for a lighter texture. That’s totally up to you.
The avocado goes last. Place it right on top when serving.
Or, you can also fold it in gently… Be gentle with the avocado, or it will fall apart on you.
How Long Does it Last?
Coctel de Camarones lasts 3-4 days in the fridge before it goes bad. Freezing is not recommended.
What to Serve with It?
To Make It a Meal: Serve with Refried Beans, Arroz Blanco, Ensalada de Nopales , and/ or a green salad.
To Make It an Appetizer: Serve with hot sauce, saltine crackers, tostadas.
Such a TASTY and FLAVORFUL recipe that’s so incredibly easy! Hope you enjoy.
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Coctel de Camarones, or Mexican Shrimp Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup onion finely chopped
- Juice of 3 limes about ¼ cup
- 1 lb cooked medium-sized shrimp - peeled deveined, and tails removed
- 2 roma tomatoes finely diced
- 1 cucumber finely diced
- 1-2 jalapeños pepper seeded and finely diced
- Salt and pepper
- 1 1/2 cups tomato juice such as Clamato
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 teaspoons Hot pepper sauce
- 1 bunch cilantro - discard stems and leaves chopped
- 2 avocados - peeled pitted, and diced
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix the onion with the lime juice.
- Let stand for 10 minutes.
- In a separate and much larger bowl, add the shrimp, tomatoes, cucumber, jalapeños, salt and pepper. Mix to combine and set aside.
- You can add more jalapeños, if you like it spicier.
- To the onions, add the tomato juice, ketchup, and hot pepper sauce.
- With a fork, whisk to combine.
- Then add the tomato-onion mixture to the shrimp bowl.
- Stir to combine.
- Add the cilantro and avocados.
- Gently mix everything.
- Note: You can also top off the serving with the avocado instead of adding it to the mixture.
- Cover and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Enjoy!
Oh yes, I love all the ingredients in this shrimp cocktail.
Thank you! This Coctel de Camarones (or Mexican Shrimp Cocktail) is the best. 🙂
This sounds so so refreshing! I love dishes like this, and you can’t go wrong with juicy shrimp.
I could eat this Coctel de Camarones (or Mexican Shrimp Cocktail) every day, all day. Thank you for your comment!
Omg I miss this version of shrimp cocktail so much! It’s so loaded with flavours, so excited I can make this at home now! 🙂
That’s awesome! Hope you enjoy your Coctel de Camarones (or Mexican Shrimp Cocktail). 🙂
I am the worst on haggling price! Lol- love your comment that they’re disappointed if you don’t. I will keep that in mind and go for it next time I am in Mexico.
My Mexican mom is impressive to watch. Her haggling skills are the best. I could tell you stories… Ha! Unfortunately, I did not inherit those skills. lol.
I’m jealous of your trip! But this recipe seems like a good way to capture the flavors of your south-of-the-border adventure! Yum!
Thank you. Living so close to the border has its advantages. I could eat this Coctel de Camarones (or Mexican Shrimp Cocktail) everyday!
Made this on a hot summer evening. My wife thanked me three times while she was eating it. Absolutely delicious. Thank you for the recipe!
So glad you and your wife enjoyed it! This recipe is really yummy.