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Mexican Shrimp Cocktail (Coctel de Camarones) Recipe

Daniel Gritzer

Mexican shrimp cocktail is even more flavor-packed than American shrimp cocktail, featuring plump shrimp in a bold tomato-and-citrus sauce. This recipe for Mexican shrimp cocktail strikes just the right balance of sweet and tart.

Mexican Shrimp Cocktail (Coctel de Camarones) Recipe

Poached shrimp in a tangy tomato-based sauce. [Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

Mexican shrimp cocktail, made from poached shrimp tossed in a flavorful sauce of ketchup, onion, cilantro, and citrus juice, is a wonderful cold summer dish. But it's often too sweet, thanks in large part to all that ketchup. This version strikes a slightly less saccharine note by replacing some of the ketchup with tomato puree, and it's spot-on perfect now.

Why It Works

  • Using a blend of ketchup and tomato puree preserves the dish's classic flavor, while cutting some of the sweetness for a more balanced result.
  • Starting the shrimp in cold water and then heating it to not more than 170°F produces the plumpest, juiciest shrimp.
  • A quick dry brine of salt and baking soda makes the shrimp even plumper and more tender.

Read more: Pass the Ketchup: How to Make Better Mexican-Style Shrimp Cocktail

  • Yield:Serves 4 to 6 as a snack or appetizer
  • Active time: 30 minutes
  • Total time:30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 pounds shrimp, shelled and deveined (see note)
  • 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided, plus more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 6 tablespoons fresh juice from about 8 limes, divided, plus more as needed
  • 1 cup diced white onion (about 1/2 large onion)
  • 3/4 cup tomato puree
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems
  • 2 tablespoons fresh juice from 1 orange
  • 1 jalapeño or serrano pepper, stemmed, seeded, and finely diced
  • Saltines, for serving
  • Diced avocado, for garnish
  • Mexican-style hot sauce, such as Tapatío, for serving

Directions

  1. 1.

    In a large bowl, toss shrimp with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and the baking soda until evenly coated. Transfer to the refrigerator for 15 minutes.

  2. 2.

    Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir together 4 tablespoons lime juice with onion, tomato puree, ketchup, cilantro, orange juice, and jalapeño.

  3. 3.

    In a medium pot, combine 2 quarts cold water with remaining 2 tablespoons lime juice and 2 tablespoons salt. Add shrimp, set over medium-high heat, and cook, stirring occasionally, until temperature reaches 170°F on an instant-read thermometer and shrimp are just cooked through; adjust heat to make sure temperature does not go over 170°F.

  4. 4.

    Drain shrimp carefully, rinse under cold running water, then drain well. Cut shrimp into 1/2-inch pieces. Add shrimp to bowl with sauce and toss to combine. Taste, then add more lime juice if desired. Top with avocado and serve immediately with saltines and hot sauce.

This Recipe Appears In
Pass the Ketchup: How to Make Better Mexican-Style Shrimp Cocktail

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