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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!
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!
Spicy V-8 for the Clamato for better taste.
Very good receipe.
That’s a great suggestion! Thank you for your comment.
This is my go to appetizer when company is coming over. It’s so easy, so delish and looks fancy. I love that I can mix it up and pop it in the fridge while I am doing all the other things that need doing.
I serve it in a pretty glass bowl, garnished with more chopped cilantro, diced avacado and a lime wedge. I put the bowl in the center of a wicker platter and surround it with tortilla chips. Such a crowd pleaser!
I love how you serve this dish! I’m sure your guests love it too.
very nice recipe. I always add clam juice gives it a real boost of love have you ever seen Mexico cooking by Kennedy a killer book. look it up. you will love it.
I’ve had it made with clam juice, and yes, delicious!
Super good recipe! Love it so much
Thank you! So happy you loved it.
This was so delicious. A bit of work but so worth it!
So happy you loved it. Enjoy!
This was the first time I have made Coctel de Camarones. I LOVED it !!!! I had other recipes for this pinned but they got deleted. This is the only recipe for my future Shrimp cocktails. Thanks for a wonderful recipe. I will be sharing the recipe with friends.
So happy this is now your go-to recipe. Hope you enjoy!
Easy & Delicious Super Bowl LVIII my best 🍤Shrimp Cocktail 🍤
Perfect game day dish! Hope you make this recipe again soon.
How many does this recipe serve? I’m serving it to 5 people as an appetizer. Should I double it or not?
It serves 4. You can see all the measurements and info on the recipe card. If you’re serving 5 and don’t want leftover Coctel de Camaron, I’d add a little more of all ingredients. Taste it. Whenever you adjust a recipe, though, make sure you taste it. If it needs more Clamato, add a little more, etc.
Always a hit. I have served in a margarita glass with jumbo shrimp around the edge as well in other glasses. So good.
Serving your Coctel de Camarones in margarita glasses with those jumbo shrimp circling like party decorations? Genius move!
Made this over the weekend, and it was great.
I halved the recipe (roughly), using yellow onion, a couple of Persian (mini) cucumbers, Spicy V-8, 3/4 of a jalapeno. Nice, subtle heat.
Will definitely make again.
Thanks,
Joe
I’ll have to try this Coctel de Camaron recipe with mini cucumbers. Sounds delicious! Glad you enjoyed.
Have had this before but never made it.
This recipie is delicious & just like my Mexican friends at work make. Perfect for a warm spring or summer day
That’s wonderful to hear! Hope you make this recipe again soon.
This is just so good.
Thank you! Hope you enjoy this Coctel de Camarones recipe.
I’ve made it a restaurant the opened in calif where I use to live and it was in the 80s and know living back in Kansas I make it once a month in the summer it’s a great idea to hydrate
Beautiful food memories! This Coctel de camarones is so so good.
It turned out so good will make it a company appetizer!!
Yay! Thank you.
Real good and easy to make
Yes. The best combo. Good and easy! Enjoy. 🙂
One of my favorite recipes! The only thing I changed was i didn’t use quite as much cilantro. I grow my own and it tasted stronger I think.
You grow your own cilantro?! Wow! That’s the best.
This recipe is delicious. Everyone enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing!
So glad you liked it!
I make this a few times a month. My family can’t get enough. Thank you
That is so awesome to hear. I need to be adopted into your family! lol.
By far the best shrimp cocktail ive tasted! My husband loved it too. Im not a shrimp cocktail fan but i was asked to make it for a church event and boy it was a hit. Ive also made the crock pot birria with the recipe from this website. Delicious! Jotted both recipes in my recipe book and will be returning to look for more ☺️
That’s great to hear. This Coctel de Camaron recipe is so good. I’m glad you enjoy it!