Campechana Seafood Cocktail

Named for Mexico’s coastal state of Campeche, campechana is a lively seafood cocktail mixing shrimp and crab in a tangy Clamato-ketchup bath. Fresh lime, hot sauce, crisp vegetables, and creamy avocado keep every spoonful bright and refreshing.

Serves 4

Estimate for one serving

• 320 cal
• 28g protein
• 28g carbs
• 12g fat
• 6g fiber

Every recipe here is free to read.

Ingredients

• 1 lb cooked shrimp
• 8 oz imitation crab meat or cooked octopus
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup clamato juice
• 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
• 2 tbsp hot sauce (such as Cholula or Valentina)
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 cup white onion
• 2 Roma tomatoes
• 1 cucumber
• 2 avocado
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
• 1 jalapeño
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 8 tostadas

Instructions

1. 1Peel and devein the shrimp if not already done; cut larger shrimp into bite-size pieces. Chop the imitation crab or octopus into small chunks.
2. 2Finely mince the garlic cloves and dice the white onion into small pieces. Set aside in a large mixing bowl.
3. 3Dice the Roma tomatoes, cucumber, and jalapeño (remove seeds for less heat). Add to the bowl with the onion and garlic.
4. 4Chop the fresh cilantro leaves and add to the bowl.
5. 5Halve the avocados, remove the pits, and dice the flesh into small cubes. Gently fold into the vegetable mixture to avoid mashing.
6. 6In a separate bowl, whisk together the ketchup, Clamato juice, lime juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper until smooth. This creates the classic Campechana sauce.
7. 7Pour the sauce over the chopped seafood and vegetables. Stir gently until everything is evenly coated. Taste and adjust seasoning with more lime, hot sauce, or salt if needed.
8. 8Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours) to let the flavors meld and everything chill thoroughly.
9. 9To serve, divide the cocktail into 4 individual bowls. Garnish each with a few extra cilantro leaves and a lime wedge if desired.
10. 10Serve immediately with 2 crisp tostadas per person for scooping up the mixture. Enjoy cold.