Go Back

Authentic Mexican Shrimp Cocktail (Coctel de Camarones estilo Mexicano)

I prepare this refreshing shrimp cocktail for my family a lot during the hot summer days. Being a Mexican family, we always add Mexican hot sauce (such as Valentina® or Tapatio®) and serve with saltine crackers on the side. The trick is to start with well-chilled shrimp, ketchup, and tomato juice cocktail so it can be ready after only chilling 1 hour in the fridge. Top with additional hot sauce and avocado slices if desired. Enjoy!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 4 people
Calories 1582.6 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Cutting Board
  • 1 Chef's knife
  • 2 Mixing Bowls (small and medium)
  • 1 Whisk
  • 1 Rubber Spatula (for folding avocado)

Ingredients
  

Main

  • ⅓ cup Spanish onion chopped
  • ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1 pound chilled cooked medium shrimp - peeled deveined, and tails removed
  • 2 roma plum tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 cucumber finely chopped
  • 1 stalk celery finely chopped
  • 1 jalapeno pepper seeded and finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
  • 1 ½ cups chilled tomato and clam juice cocktail such as Clamato®
  • 1 cup chilled ketchup such as Heinz®
  • 1 bunch fresh cilantro - stems discarded and leaves chopped
  • 2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce such as Valentina®
  • 2 avocados - peeled pitted, and chopped

Instructions
 

  • Gather all ingredients. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Mix onion with lime juice in a small bowl and allow to stand for 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, toss shrimp, roma tomatoes, cucumber, celery, jalapeno, salt, and black pepper in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined.
  • Whisk tomato and clam juice cocktail, ketchup, cilantro, and hot pepper sauce in a separate bowl; stir dressing into shrimp mixture. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Gently fold in avocados. Stir in onion mixture. Cover and chill thoroughly, at least 1 hour. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Enjoy! Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Notes

Ensure all ingredients, especially the shrimp, tomato juice, and ketchup, are thoroughly chilled before mixing; this is crucial for the refreshing quality and minimizes chilling time. For a deeper flavor, lightly char the jalapeño before chopping. When adding avocado, fold gently to prevent it from becoming mushy. Taste and adjust hot sauce and lime juice for balance. Serve with crispy tostadas instead of just saltines for an elevated experience, and consider a garnish of finely diced red onion and extra cilantro.