Description
This Mexican shrimp cocktail recipe (Coctel de Camarones) is a refreshing, zesty, and flavorful seafood dish made with cooked shrimp, fresh vegetables, and a tangy tomato-based sauce. Unlike traditional shrimp cocktails, this Mexican version has a slightly spicy, citrusy kick and is served chilled in a glass or bowl. It’s perfect as an appetizer or a light meal, especially on warm days. Pair it with tostadas, saltine crackers, or tortilla chips for an authentic experience!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Shrimp Cocktail:
- 1 lb medium shrimp, cooked, peeled, and deveined
- 1 cup tomato juice (Clamato or V8)
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1–2 tsp hot sauce (adjust to taste)
- ½ cup red onion, finely diced
- ½ cup cucumber, peeled and diced
- ½ cup Roma tomatoes, diced
- ¼ cup celery, finely chopped
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 jalapeño, finely chopped (optional for extra spice)
- 1 avocado, diced
- Salt and pepper to taste
For Serving:
- Lime wedges
- Tostadas, saltine crackers, or tortilla chips
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Shrimp
- If using raw shrimp, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes, until they turn pink and opaque.
- Transfer the shrimp to an ice bath (a bowl of ice water) to stop the cooking. Drain and pat dry.
- Chop the shrimp into bite-sized pieces (or leave them whole if preferred).
Step 2: Make the Cocktail Sauce
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the tomato juice, ketchup, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Mix well.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 3: Assemble the Shrimp Cocktail
- Add the chopped shrimp, red onion, cucumber, tomatoes, celery, cilantro, and jalapeño to the sauce. Stir gently to combine.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.
Step 4: Serve & Enjoy
- Right before serving, gently fold in the diced avocado.
- Serve chilled in a glass or bowl, garnished with lime wedges and extra cilantro.
- Enjoy with tostadas, crackers, or tortilla chips for dipping!
Notes
- For extra spice, add more hot sauce or an extra jalapeño.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, reduce the amount of tomato juice slightly.
- Letting the shrimp cocktail chill longer (about an hour) will deepen the flavors.
- To make this low-carb/keto-friendly, skip the ketchup and use pureed tomatoes instead.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Category: Lunch
- Method: No-cook (except for shrimp boiling)
- Cuisine: Mexican
Keywords: Mexican shrimp cocktail recipe, Coctel de Camarones, seafood cocktail, spicy shrimp cocktail, shrimp appetizer, easy shrimp recipe