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Coctel de Camarones (or Mexican Shrimp Cocktail) – This dish reminds me of Baja California.
Beaches, wine, and the best seafood! If you ever visit, you must check out the Mercado Negro fish market in Ensenada.
My favorite thing to get whenever I go is this DELICIOUSNESS. Refreshing, spicy, and so so yummy.
Table of Contents
More Mexican Shrimp Recipes
🦐 Ingredients
These are all the ingredients you need to make this EASY Mexican appetizer or light lunch.
Add more jalapeno and more hot sauce for a spicier dish. Or use serrano pepper instead.
Cucumber is also optional, but adds GREAT texture. Celery makes a great crunchy addition.
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 to eat after chilling.
- Start by covering the white onion with lime.
- Set aside.
You want to get that raw onion taste out right away. This will start the pickling process.
The Name Game
- You might hear the names: Coctel de Camarón 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.
- Boil the shrimp in water in a medium pot.
- Once the shrimp turn pink, discard the water. (or store for another dish)
- Let them cool completely.
- In a large bowl, mix with the tomato, cucumber, jalapeno, and salt and pepper.
To stop the cooking process, run cold water on the shrimp. This will also prevent them from becoming tough. Place in the refrigerator until ready to assemble.
👩🏼🍳 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
- Use medium or large 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.
- To the onions, add tomato juice, ketchup, and hot sauce.
- Whisk to combine.
- Add the mixture to the shrimp.
Ketchup adds sweetness, but some people will omit it. For a lighter texture, instead use shrimp broth mixed with a splash of tomato sauce.
Look for Clamato. That’s what everyone uses. Can’t find it? Mix 4 oz of tomato sauce and whisk with 1 cup water.
🐟 More Mexican Seafood Recipes
The cilantro and avocado go in last. Fold the avocado in gently.
Or, place it right on top when serving.
Storing Instructions
- Place any leftover Coctel de Camarones in an airtight container and store in the fridge. It lasts up to 2-3 days in the fridge before it goes bad.
- Freezing is not recommended.
Serve with hot sauce such as Cholula, Valentina, Tapatio
Also serve with saltine crackers, tortilla chips, tostadas, and lime.
Coctel de Camarones is such a tasty and delicious recipe. You’ll love every bite!
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Coctel de Camarones, or Mexican Shrimp Cocktail
Ingredients
- ¼ 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 ½ 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!
What could I serve with this?
Saltine crackers or chips. Your favorite hot sauce. We don’t really have a side dish for this. Some people serve it as an appetizer.
This is almost comfort food for us, but I make two changes. I add only 1/4 cup ketchup. Also add diced celery. Absolutely delicious, but like it less sweet. Had it for dinner tonight!
Those sound like great changes. I’ve added celery many times. Glad you enjoyed!
Add tomato juice and bottled Clam juice , but Clamato easy to find.
Clamato is easy to find in areas where there are Latinos, but there are readers who do not live near these areas. Thanks for recommending this combination. It’s a great substitution.
Made this yesterday afternoon Let it sit a couple hours.Did not use as much Ketchup only 1/4 cup added more Clamato juice will be making for Xmas eve with tamales and warm tortillas
That’s a great way to adjust the recipe. I’m sure it was delicious!
No Ketchup yes,,,,,, try adding some bottled Clam juice.
If you don’t have ketchup or prefer a lighter more seafood taste, by all means use clam juice.
Spicy V-8 for the Clamato for better taste.
Very good receipe.
That’s a great suggestion! Thank you for your comment.