Description
This vibrant Mexican Shrimp Cocktail Zesty is a refreshing and flavorful appetizer featuring tender cooked shrimp tossed in a zesty tomato-lime sauce with fresh vegetables and a hint of spice. Served chilled with creamy avocado and crispy tortilla chips or saltine crackers, this easy-to-make cocktail is perfect for summer gatherings or light meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp
- 1 lb cooked large shrimp, peeled and deveined
cocktail base and vegetables
- 1 cup tomato juice, no added sugar
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp hot sauce, Mexican-style
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- 1/4 cup white onion, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 cup cucumber, finely diced
- 1/2 cup firm ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
- 1 ripe avocado, diced
- 1/2 tsp sea salt, or to taste
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
To Serve
- Tortilla chips or saltine crackers for serving
Instructions
- Prepare shrimp: If your shrimp are not already cooked, bring a pot of salted water to a gentle boil. Add the shrimp and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until they are pink and opaque. Drain the shrimp, rinse with cool water, peel and devein them if necessary, then pat dry thoroughly.
- Make cocktail base: In a large bowl, whisk together the tomato juice, fresh lime juice, ketchup, Mexican-style hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce (if using), sea salt, and ground black pepper until the mixture is smooth and evenly colored. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Add vegetables: Fold in finely chopped white onion, fresh cilantro, diced cucumber, seeded and diced tomatoes, and finely chopped jalapeño. Stir gently to combine everything. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the vegetables to soften slightly while still remaining crisp.
- Combine shrimp and sauce: Add the cooked, cooled shrimp into the vegetable and sauce mixture. Gently stir to evenly coat the shrimp without breaking them apart.
- Chill mixture: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the shrimp cocktail for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours to deepen the flavor integration and serve well chilled.
- Serve with avocado and accompaniments: Just before serving, gently fold the diced ripe avocado into the shrimp cocktail to retain its creamy texture and bright flavor. Spoon the mixture into glasses or small bowls and serve alongside tortilla chips or saltine crackers for a perfect crunchy contrast.
Notes
- For best flavor, use fresh lime juice and fresh vegetables.
- If you prefer more heat, leave some seeds in the jalapeño or add extra hot sauce.
- Worcestershire sauce is optional, but it adds a nice depth of flavor.
- The dish can be prepared up to 2 hours in advance and kept chilled.
- Use peeled and deveined shrimp to save prep time if you prefer.
- This cocktail is delicious served as an appetizer or light meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes (if cooking shrimp)
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mexican
Keywords: Mexican shrimp cocktail, zesty shrimp appetizer, shrimp cocktail recipe, fresh shrimp cocktail, easy Mexican appetizer
