Next time you’re in the mood for a shrimp cocktail appetizer, give this Mexican version a try. Campechana is an authentic Mexican seafood appetizer chock full of tomatoes, jalapeno, cucumber and more.
This recipe was published May of 2012 and updated June, 2024 with step by step instructions.
What is Campechana?
Campechana is a traditional tomato based Mexican shrimp cocktail recipe that contains fresh chopped vegetables. Campechana can also be made with baby octopus, oysters, mussels, scallops, or white fish, making it a Mexican mixed seafood cocktail. The idea for Campechana comes from Campeche, a Mexican State on the Yucatan peninsula where fresh seafood cocktails are served beach side. Also known as cocktail de camerones.
Campechana is a popular choice for seafood lovers looking for a fancy feel appetizer or a light Summer meal. It’s combination of fresh seafood, tangy sauce and crunchy texture make this a culinary treat.
Imagine a brothy tomato based citrus salsa, swimming with plump tender shrimp, creamy avocado, crunchy with celery and cucumber, and some spicy peppers.
Let’s throw in some briny olives for an extra kick. That describes this fresh Mexican seafood cocktail, and a recipe you’ll want to serve all Summer long.
A recipe I learned to make in Culinary School. Let’s take a look:
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Cooked Shrimp. Shells removed, tails removed and chopped. Save a couple of whole shrimp for garnish.
- Tomato Juice
- Hot Sauce: Your favorite brand
- Tomato
- Cucumber
- Lime Juice
- Old Bay Seasoning (used to cook shrimp)
- Green Bell Pepper
- Onion
- Celery
- Avocado
- Jalapeno Pepper
- Green Olives, bring a Spanish flair.
- Chile Powder: I prefer New Mexico Red Chile Powder, Cayenne will also work.
- Kosher Salt
Ingredient Notes
- Please don’t confuse Chili Seasoning with Chile Powder. Use a pure red chile powder to make Campechana. Chili seasoning (with an “i”) is a blend of seasonings used to make Tex-Mex style Chile Soups.
- Kosher salt is preferred by chefs for it’s pure salty flavor. Sea salt or table salt will work fine here.
- Mix it up and combine ½ pound of cooked shrimp with ½ pound lump crab meat. Crab meat by law has to be sold cooked, so no need to cook the crab.
- For a more savory briny flavor, substitute Clamato Juice for Tomato Juice.
Step by Step Instructions
- In a glass bowl, combine onions, lime juice and salt, stir and rest for 15-20 minutes as you chop the remaining ingredients.
- Add the minced tomato, cucumber, celery, bell pepper, jalapeno, and green olives.
- Mix all ingredients together with a large spoon.
- Add tomato juice, chopped or sliced shrimp and several dashes of hot sauce. Stir, cover and chill for 1-2 hours.
How To Serve and Devour
- Grab a couple of margarita glasses and spoon in the Shrimp Campechana. Garnish the rim of the margarita glass with a cooked shrimp, tail intact and a slice of avocado.
- Or serve in a glass bowl to show off the colorful mix of vegetables. Garnish with chopped avocado.
- The traditional way to serve Campechana is with Saltine crackers or sturdy Tortilla Chips. Use these to eat as if you were eating a Mexican dip.
- Provide a wedge of lime for squeezing, and chopped cilantro for garnish.
Questions You May Have
Either. This recipe makes enough for 6 people as an appetizer. It can also be served as a main course using larger portions for 4 people. So depending on how many you’re feeding, this is a wonderful light dinner recipe, or a beautiful shrimp cocktail appetizer to start a Mexican Dinner Menu.
Campechana is similar to ceviche, however with campechana, the seafood is cooked with heat, as opposed to brined in an acid (lime juice) like ceviche.
Storage
Campechana stores surprisingly well. And without losing flavor or compromised texture. Store in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to one day. Remove any avocado before storing.
Tips For Success:
- Spend the extra few dollars and purchase quality shrimp Shrimp that tastes like shrimp. It’s the secret to a really good Campechana. Seek out wild caught shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico. Look for it at stores like Whole Foods, who provide sustainable seafood products.
What to Serve It With
If you’re making this to serve guests as as a beginning to a beautiful to a Mexican themed dinner, MahiMahi Kabobs with Jalapeno Butter is one of my favorite seafood main course choices. Here are some more ideas.
Another good choice is Pollo Asado, Citrus juice and Mexican spices join forces to create bright and complex flavors for this easy Mexican Chicken Marinade to make Chicken Asado. A juicy Mexican grilled chicken dinner with sheer pizzaz.
And don’t forget a Mexican cocktail, like this recipe for Palomas.
Related Recipes
If you’re looking for fresh Summery shrimp recipes, don’t miss this one for Chimichurri Shrimp. An Argentinean shrimp recipe that’s easy and bursting with flavor. And this popular shrimp appetizer for Prosciutto Wrapped Shrimp. It’s a winner.
Looking for more Mexican Style appetizer recipes? I’ve got you covered:
And if you’re looking for a ton of appetizer recipes, don’t miss my Appetizer Category. You’ll find a ton of finger licking ideas. Including my recipe for Pear and Blue Cheese Crostini, the most popular appetizer recipe on my site.
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Campechana, Traditional Mexican Shrimp Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 pound shrimp medium or large, preferably American Wild Caught
- 1 Tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning add a wedge of lemon if you'd like.
- ½ cup sweet onion minced, or yellow onion.
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 Cup tomato finely chopped. One medium tomato.
- ½ Cup cucumber About ¼ of a medium cucumber. Peeled and minced.
- ½ Cup celery Minced. About 1 medium stalk.
- ¼ Cup green bell pepper minced
- ¼ Cup jalapeno pepper minced, about 1 medium pepper
- 3 tablespoons Green Olives chopped, pitted
- 2 cups Tomato Juice Or Clamato
- 2 dashes hot sauce to taste (I used lots)
- ¼ bunch cilantro chopped
- 1 avocado cut into small cubes
- ½ avocado sliced into wedges
- chile powder & black pepper I like Chimayo Chile Powder, or ancho
Instructions
- To Cook The Shrimp: Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. Add the Old Bay seasoning to water. Add shrimp and bring back to a boil. Remove from heat and rest for about 3 minutes – drain and chill shrimp. Reserve 4 – 8 of the shrimp for garnish. Remove tails from the rest of the shrimp and chop or slice.
- In a glass bowl, combine onions, lime juice and salt, stir and rest for 15-20 minutes as you chop the remaining ingredients.
- Add the minced tomato, cucumber, celery, bell pepper, jalapeno, and green olives. Stir well.
- Add tomato juice, chopped or sliced shrimp and several dashes of hot sauce – cover and chill for 1-2 hours.
- Just before serving, stir in cilantro and chopped avocado. Spoon into four margarita glasses and garnish with a lime wedge, a whole shrimp or a slice of avocado. Or all.
- Sprinkle with chile powder and freshly cracked black pepper. Serve with saltine crackers or tortilla chips and hot sauce on the side.
Video
Notes
- Spend the extra few dollars and purchase quality shrimp. Shrimp that tastes like shrimp. It’s the secret to a really good Campechana. Seek out wild caught shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico.
- Use good knife skills here. Evenly chopped vegetables results in pride in skill set and a professional appearance of this dish.
Nutrition
Shrimp Campechana Recipe …It’s What’s for Summer Dinner.
