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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!
Thank for the recipe Maggie! I am making this one soon!
Yay! You’re going to love this recipe.
Love this!!!
Yes! So so good.
Would love to try this!! Mexican cocktails are the best!!
Yes the are!
Mexcian shrimp cocktail looks delicous I would love to try it.
Looks and tastes even better! Hope you try it!
This was my first time making Shrimp Cocktail and this recipe knocked my socks off, it was perfect!
Thank you for sharing.
Yay! So glad you liked this recipe. It’s a favorite.
I love shrimp cocktail but have never tried it Mexican style. This is a must try for me.
It’s delicious! Hope you try it
I haven’t tried this recipe yet because I’m always trying to duplicate the ones served in Puero Penasco, Sonora, Mexico (Rocky Point). They don’t use cucumber or avocado but it’s the sauce that I haven’t been able to duplicate! It’s not Clamato (I hate it), it’s not V-8, it’s not catsup so it has to be tomato juice with herbs and spices! I WILL try this recipe!
Coctel de Camaron varies from region to region. I’ve had it without Clamato and just ketchup with hot sauce. Also had it with just tomato juice and hot sauce. I had it once with mango and jicama. All delicious! I suggest you ask them next time you’re there. It’s the only way to know for sure.
it could be they are using clam juice for the shrimp cocktail.
I make this all the time best recipe!! I like to go lighter on the ketchup and only use a 1/2 cup. I use red onion, large shrimp, and firm Avacados. Thanks for sharing:)
Glad you enjoyed this recipe. Thanks for your comment.
It looks amazing. Perfect for Cinco de Mayo or any day!!!
So glad you enjoyed this!
This looks delicious and perfect for the warmer weather that will be here soon.
So glad you enjoyed this Beth!
My friends are going to freak out over this recipe! Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed this!
Oh my goodness! This cocktail looks so fancy and delicious! Love it!
And it tastes even better than it looks!
I would definitely add some cucumber on it. Looks so delicious.
Thanks! Hope you try it!
I have never had a shrimp cocktail before. I always hear they’re amazing though. I’ll have to give it a try sometime.
It is amazing! Hope you try it
Spicy shrimp sounds delicious. I will have to get some shrimp to make this
Great. It’s a really yummy dish, hope you try it
That shrimp looks so amazing and added to all those great spices and sauces makes it a great appetizer. I kow my son will love this if I make it for him.
It’s amazing. hope you try it
Best recipe for shrimp cocktail!!!
Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed this.
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.
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!
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.
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). 🙂
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!
Oh yes, I love all the ingredients in this shrimp cocktail.
Thank you! This Coctel de Camarones (or Mexican Shrimp Cocktail) is the best. 🙂