Coctel de Camarón (Mexican Prawn Cocktail)
Poached prawns in a chilled tomato and lime broth with avocado, cucumber and coriander, a Mexican beach classic served in tall glasses.
Made with Tostadas and totopos (tortilla chips) and Ceviche lime marinade. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time30 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.95 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Make your ceviche lime marinade (see the base recipe) and chill it. Chill the tomato juice too.
- 2
Pat the cooked prawns dry and tip them into a large bowl. If using raw prawns, poach them in boiling water for 2 minutes, then cool in iced water.
2 min - 3
Stir 120 ml of the ready made ceviche lime marinade (see the base recipe) into the prawns and leave in the fridge for 10 minutes.
10 min - 4
Mix the tomato juice, ketchup and hot sauce and stir into the prawns with the cucumber and red onion.
- 5
Divide between tall glasses, top with avocado and coriander, and serve cold with your tostadas (see the base recipe) on the side.
Tips
- Use cooked cold water prawns for speed, or poach raw king prawns for 2 minutes. Chill them thoroughly before mixing.
- The sauce should be loose and soupy, so you can drink it from the glass. Add cold water or tomato juice if it is too thick.
- Hot sauce such as Valentina or Cholula is traditional. Use a gluten free one if cooking for coeliac guests.
- Serve with plain tostadas or totopos for scooping.
Storing and freezing
Eat straight away. Leftover sauce keeps 1 day in the fridge but throw away any that has been mixed with prawns and left for more than 2 hours.
Questions
Is a Mexican prawn cocktail the same as a British one?
No. The British one uses lettuce and a creamy Marie Rose sauce. The Mexican coctel de camarón is a chilled, juicy, tomato and lime broth with avocado, onion and coriander.
Can I use clamato?
Yes. Replace the tomato juice with clamato for a more traditional coastal flavour, but check the label for gluten or MSG if you are avoiding them.
Is it gluten free?
It is if your hot sauce and ketchup are gluten free, and the tostadas are made only from corn. It is also dairy free, egg free and nut free.
More made with tostadas and totopos (tortilla chips)
Tostadas de Birria (Crisp Tostadas with Birria Beef)
EFNFHPTostadas de Camarón y Pepino (Prawn and Cucumber Tostadas)
DFEFNFCeviche Verde de Pescado (Green Fish Ceviche)
GFDFEFChilaquiles de Barbacoa con Huevo (Beef Chilaquiles with Fried Egg)
GFNFSee every dish made with tostadas and totopos (tortilla chips)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.