Authentic Mexican Shrimp Cocktail (Coctel de Camarones estilo Mexicano)

Name: Authentic Mexican Shrimp Cocktail (Coctel de Camarones)
Prep time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 0.33333334326744 cup Spanish onion, chopped; 0.25 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; 1.5 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

Authentic Mexican shrimp cocktail combines chilled cooked shrimp with tomato, cucumber, jalapeño, and Clamato juice in a bright lime dressing. It's a naturally spicy, refreshing appetizer that requires no cooking and comes together in under 20 minutes.

🌍Mexican 🥗Pescatarian 🏷️Publisher-tested

Authentic Mexican Shrimp Cocktail (Coctel de Camarones estilo Mexicano)

Total

1h 45m

Servings

4

Difficulty

Medium

Est. Cost

$26–$43

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From Allrecipes

Ingredients

0.33333334326744 cup Spanish onion, chopped
0.25 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
1.5 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

14 Ingredients

Delivery in as fast as one hour.^*

Powered by Instacart

Prices vary by store

^*Service fees apply. Instacart^® and the Instacart logo are registered trademarks of Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart.

Instructions

1
Gather all ingredients.
2
Mix onion with lime juice in a small bowl and allow to stand for 10 minutes.
3
Meanwhile, toss shrimp, roma tomatoes, cucumber, celery, jalapeno, salt, and black pepper in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined.
4
Whisk tomato and clam juice cocktail, ketchup, cilantro, and hot pepper sauce in a separate bowl; stir dressing into shrimp mixture.
5
Gently fold in avocados. Stir in onion mixture. Cover and chill thoroughly, at least 1 hour.
6
Enjoy!

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Use pre-cooked, chilled shrimp—do not cook shrimp yourself unless absolutely necessary, as overcooked shrimp becomes rubbery.
Finely chop all vegetables to uniform size for balanced flavor in each spoonful and better texture contrast.
Chill all components, including the Clamato juice and serving glasses, for 30 minutes before assembling to ensure the cocktail stays cold.
Add avocado in the last 2 minutes before serving to prevent browning; fold gently to avoid mashing.

Substitutions

Spanish onion → white onion or red onion (red adds color but sharper bite)
Clamato juice → tomato juice + clam juice mixed, or tomato juice alone (milder flavor)
Roma tomatoes → cherry tomatoes halved (same flavor, less chopping)
Jalapeño → serrano pepper (spicier) or bell pepper (no heat)

Storage & make-ahead

Store the prepared cocktail (without avocado) in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days; add fresh avocado and re-chill for 15 minutes before serving.

Common Questions

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes, chop all vegetables and store separately in the refrigerator. Mix everything together just before serving to keep the shrimp and avocado from becoming mushy.

What can I use instead of Clamato juice?

Substitute with equal parts tomato juice and clam juice mixed together, or use plain tomato juice for a less briny version.

Should the shrimp be hot or cold?

The shrimp must be chilled before mixing. Use pre-cooked frozen shrimp thawed and refrigerated, or cook fresh shrimp and chill for at least 30 minutes.

How spicy will this be?

Heat level depends on the jalapeño: remove seeds and white pith for mild, keep them for medium heat. Add more jalapeños or a pinch of hot sauce for extra spice.