Description
Spicy Mexican Shrimp Cocktail brings zesty ocean flavors straight to your table with a cool, refreshing twist that makes summer gatherings seriously delicious. Fresh shrimp swim in a tangy tomato sauce that delivers a perfect balance of heat and brightness for your next backyard celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound medium shrimp
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium-sized white onion
- 6 large garlic cloves
- 1 jicama
- 1 English cucumber
- 1 plum tomato
- 1 avocado
- 1 jalapeno
Liquid and Seasonings:
- 1 cup Clamato juice
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 dash Mexican hot sauce
- 4 shrimp tails (for garnish)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro (for garnish)
- 2 lime wedges (for garnish)
Instructions
- Slice 1 medium white onion into halves. Dice one half and rinse under cold water for 30 seconds to reduce sharp flavor. Set aside the other half for boiling shrimp.
- Fill a medium pot with water. Add 6 coarsely chopped garlic cloves, the reserved onion half, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a rolling boil at 212°F.
- Drop 1 pound of medium shrimp into boiling water. Remove pot from heat immediately. Let shrimp sit for 3-4 minutes until they turn completely pink.
- Drain shrimp in a colander. Spread on a plate to cool for 10 minutes at room temperature. Reserve 4 whole shrimp for garnish and slice remaining shrimp in half for easier eating.
- Whisk together 1 cup Clamato juice, 2 tablespoons ketchup, 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice, and hot sauce to your preferred spice level in a separate bowl.
- Chop ½ cup jicama, ½ English cucumber, and 1 plum tomato into small, uniform cubes. Mince 1 jalapeno and chop 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro.
- Combine chopped vegetables and sliced shrimp in a mixing bowl. Pour liquid mixture over the ingredients and gently toss to coat evenly.
- Divide the shrimp cocktail among 4 large margarita glasses. Top each with a whole shrimp, fresh cilantro sprig, and lime wedge for garnish.
Notes
- Rinse the diced onion to reduce its sharp bite and make the flavors more balanced in your Mexican Shrimp Cocktail.
- Avoid overcooking the shrimp by turning off the heat immediately after adding them to the boiling water, which keeps them tender and prevents rubbery texture.
- Save a few whole shrimp for garnish to make your presentation more attractive and give diners a preview of what’s inside the cocktail.
- Consider using fresh lime juice instead of bottled for a brighter, more authentic flavor that elevates the entire dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Shrimp
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 145 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg