Mexican Crab Cocktail Recipes

MEXICAN SEAFOOD COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Stir together Clamato juice, ketchup, lime juice, hot sauce, salt, onion, and cilantro in a large bowl, then gently stir in avocado, crabmeat, and shrimp. Spoon into 6- or 8-ounce glasses or cups.

MEXICAN SEAFOOD COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Heat a stovetop grill or charcoal barbecue to high (or use broiler if desired). Place tomatoes and chiles on grill and allow to char, turning to black on all sides, about 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature; do not peel. Chop tomatoes in quarters and place in jar of a blender. Cut stems off chiles, then cut them lengthwise. Remove seeds if desired. Add chiles to blender jar, along with 1/2 teaspoon salt, the pimentón and 1 cup water. Blend to a rough purée, then pour into a bowl and let cool. You should have about 3 cups.
• Put the clams and 1 cup water in a wide skillet with lid. Set pan over high heat and bring to a boil. Cover and let cook until all clams have opened, about 5 minutes. Transfer clams and cooking juices to a large bowl and let cool. Repeat process with mussels, adding another 1 cup water to pan. Transfer to another bowl (separate from clams).
• Put shrimp in the wide skillet and cover with well-salted water. Place pan over high heat and bring to a simmer, then cook 1 minute. Remove shrimp with slotted spoon and let cool. Add squid to the same pan with simmering water and let cook just until firm, about 30 seconds. Drain squid and let cool.
• Pluck clams and mussels from their shells, reserving clam juice. Peel and devein shrimp and cut in half lengthwise.
• Thin tomato sauce with 1/2 cup clam juice. (Save mussel juice for another use; refrigerate for up to 2 days, or freeze it.) Add lime juice and adjust seasoning. Ladle a little sauce into 4 wide glasses or bowls. Add clams, mussels, shrimp, squid and crab meat to each glass. Add chopped onion and scallion to each glass, then top with remaining sauce. Gently stir with a teaspoon to distribute ingredients. Chill well. Just before serving, garnish with sliced serrano chile and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.

CAMPECHANA EXTRA (MEXICAN SEAFOOD COCKTAIL)

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium-high heat or preheat broiler. If broiling, place chiles on a rimmed baking sheet. Grill, broil, or roast chiles directly over flame on stovetop, turning occasionally, until very tender and blackened all over, 10-12 minutes. Poblanos might take a little longer, so test doneness with a paring knife.
• Transfer chiles to a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let steam 15 minutes. Peel chiles. Halve lengthwise, discard seeds, and chop into 1/4" pieces.
• Meanwhile, bring a medium pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook shrimp until just opaque and pink, 2-3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to an ice bath and let sit until cool, about 3 minutes. Drain and pat dry.
• Mix chiles, tomato, jalapeños, Clamato juice, ketchup, olives, cilantro, onion, oregano, garlic, lime juice, oil, and 1/4 tsp. salt in a large bowl. Carefully fold in shrimp, crab, and avocado.
• Transfer to a serving bowl or tall sundae glass and top with bay leaf, if using. Serve with tortilla chips alongside.
• Do Ahead
• Salsa base (without seafood and avocado) can be made 1 day ahead. Transfer to a resealable container and chill.
• This recipe and headnote have been updated as a part of our archive repair project.

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN SHRIMP COCKTAIL (COCTEL DE CAMARONES ESTILO MEXICANO)

Steps:

• 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 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. Gently fold in avocados. Cover and chill thoroughly, at least 1 hour.

SPICY SHRIMP & CRAB COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Mix the first 10 ingredients. Gently fold in shrimp, crab and avocados. Refrigerate, covered, at least 2 hours or until cold. Serve in martini glasses.

MEXICAN-STYLE SHRIMP COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Bring 1 quart (1L) of salted water to a boil. Add the shrimp and let the water return to a simmer and poach for an additional minute or two. Scoop the shrimp out and place onto a rimmed baking sheet and chill 30 minutes. The shrimp can be made a day in advance and chilled until ready to serve.
• For the sauce, stir together the ketchup, lime juice, the Mexican hot sauce, olive oil and cilantro in a large bowl. This step can be completed a day in advance, stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
• In a small strainer, rinse the onion under cold water, then shake off the excess liquid, and add to the sauce. Peel, dice and add the jicama; dice and add the cucumber. Stir in the chilled shrimp and the avocado right before serving.
• Garnish with lime and serve with tostadas, chips, or saltine crackers.

MEXICAN CRAB COCKTAIL

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine crab and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Let stand for 3 to 5 minutes.,
• Add tomatoes, onions, cucumber, jalapeno, and cilantro.
• Add ketchup and stir to combine.
• Add Clamato juice.
• Season with salt to taste. Gently stir to combine.
• Refrigerate for about 10 to 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

CRAB COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Put the fennel in a large bowl of ice-cold water with a squeeze of lemon juice. Leave for at least 30 mins to crisp up. Drizzle more lemon juice on the avocados to stop them browning. Whisk together all the ingredients for the Marie Rose sauce in a bowl with seasoning. Set aside to chill in the fridge.
• Just before serving, drain the fennel and toss with the remaining lemon juice, dill and some seasoning. Layer the lettuce, avocado, fennel and crab in 4 x half-pint glasses - or tumblers or jam jars. Add a spoonful of sauce to each, then repeat the layers until the glasses are full, finishing with the Marie Rose sauce. Sprinkle a pinch of cayenne pepper over each cocktail and serve with lemon wedges and toast, if you like.