Coctel de Camarones ~ Mexican Shrimp Cocktail Recipe
We’ve been celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month on the blog, and today, I’m bringing you a fabulous seafood recipe from Mexico. It’s called Coctel de Camarones! It’s a little bit like a gazpacho, but with hearty chunks of shrimp and avocado. It’s typically eaten with saltine crackers, and it is truly out of this world! Even if you’re not typically a big seafood eater, please try this recipe; you won’t be disappointed.
I’ve been so excited to share some Hispanic foods, traditions, and games this month, and I hope you’ve been able to try some of the ideas I’ve shared. This authentically Mexican dish was one of the top recipes I knew I had to introduce! It’s completely different from an American shrimp cocktail, and in my opinion, it’s much more complex and delicious. The origins of the Cóctel de Camarónes dish are mysterious, but there was an early version that appeared in the 1961 cookbook by Maria A. de Carbia called Mexico Through My Kitchen Window.
You definitely do NOT drink a Cóctel de Camarónes, but it’s often served in a cup. This version is hearty and savory with some heat! Cilantro stars as a flavor, making its way throughout the whole dish. To me, it tastes like being on vacation, but also like home!
When you’re purchasing shrimp, make sure they’re fresh! If buying whole shrimp is new for you, take a quick look at some tips and tricks (there are even videos available) on how to ensure that you’re getting the best quality seafood. If you have access to a fishmonger or seafood market, that’s a fantastic choice.
Peeling, deveining, and cleaning shrimp can feel intimidating at first, but trust me, it’s worth the effort! Watch a quick tutorial if you feel the need! After your shrimp are ready, there’s just a bit of chopping of veggies before you combine everything. Make sure to allow enough time for the cooked shrimp to cool down, and a few hours in the fridge with all ingredients mixed to allow the flavors to meld.
This is such a great recipe to bring to a late summer barbeque or just enjoy on your own while you soak up the last bits of summer warmth. If you’re a fan of heat, you can easily adjust to increase the spice level, or decrease if you’re going to be serving it to the kiddos, too. I’m so excited for you to try it; let me know what you think!
Serves – 4
Ingredients
To cook the shrimps:
- 1-pound large or extra-large Shrimps, cleaned and deveined
- 2 large Garlic cloves, roughly chopped
- ½ an Onion, cut into chunks
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 2 cups Water
For the cocktail
- ¼ cup Ketchup
- ½ cup Tomato Juice with Clam, like Clamato
- ¼ cup Lime Juice (juice of 2 to 3 limes)
- 1 tablespoon Hot Sauce, like Cholula Hot Sauce
- 2 Tomatoes, diced
- 1 small (or ½ of a large) English Cucumber, peeled and diced
- ½ an Onion, minced
- 1 bunch Cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 Jalapeño or Serrano Chili, minced
- 1 Avocado, pitted and diced
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Clean, peel and devein the shrimps. Remove the tails, except for a few, to serve as garnishes on top.
2. In a saucepan, combine the shrimps, onion chunks, chopped garlic, salt and pepper.
3. Add water and bring it to a low boil over medium heat. Make sure the heat is gentle. Rolling boil will make the shrimp tough. Simmer for 2 minutes or until the shrimps are cooked.
4. Drain the water, discarding the onion and the garlic.
5. Let the shrimps cool down to room temperature.
6. In a large bowl, combine the ketchup, tomato-clam juice, lime juice, hot sauce, salt and pepper. Whisk it until the ketchup dissolves.
7. Add the cooled shrimps and mix.
8. Next add tomatoes, cucumber, onions, cilantro, jalapeno and avocado and mix well.
9. Taste the cocktail and add more salt or pepper or lime juice, if needed.
10. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to an hour for the flavors combine.
11. Serve in large, wide-rimmed glasses with a tail-on shrimp, on top.
12. Garnish with a lime wedge and cilantro sprig and serve with saltine crackers.
Ohh yes please, this sounds like it would be right up my street, I do love a good prawn cocktail.
This is something that I would enjoy. Thanks for the recipe.
This looks really amazing. I may need to make one for myself. Yum!
That looks absolutely delicious and tasty! I would really love to try this recipe!
I really have never had the coctel de-Camarones version of a shrimp cocktail but it really sounds delicious.
This looks delicious. I have to agree when you purchase your shrimp to make sure they are fresh. One time we purchased a bag of 32 shrimp only to find out they were bad when I was getting ready to make dinner and SMELL? It was terrible. Needless to say, the store offered to take them back and give us a new batch. But I will never forget the smell of all of those shrimp. I hope to try your recipe soon.
That looks like such a tasty combination. I am a fan of the jalapenos you added!
It looks like a good recipe for company. Smart to serve the side of crackers.
i’ve had this in Mexico and it is D I V I N E. I could eat this every day!
Love me some shrimps and that would be perfect to have on Valentine’s Day. Looks so good!
So yummy😍 I love shrimp ❤️ And this recipe looks super easy to follow, will try it surely!
Wow, I so love this recipe! I am very fond of shrimps and I really collect different ways how to prepare and cook them. Yum!
I find it interesting that it is served in a cup despite it being a food dish! Sounds like a great recipe for summer!
My kids and husband would love this. They are all about their shrimp. I wish I liked it!
These sound so delicious. I need to make them very soon.
Holy moly! That looks so good. I have to be honest, I’ve never seen a recipe like this before. I can’t wait to try it!
These look delicious. The only thing for me is that I sometimes have issues with very spicy ingredients. Otherwise, it looks so tempting.
I never had Coctel de Camarones before, looking forward to trying this recipe.
As a kid, I remember the Mexican Shrimp Cocktail my mom would make. and it eas only for the adults haha but now I can make my own. Thank you for this
My family’s recipe is pretty close to this one but I like yours better. It is delicious and authentic.
This looks really amazing. I’m going to have to give this a try. I’m sure it’s going to be delicious.
Oh my! This is such a really amazing recipe! It look so good! I know my family would love this so much!