Best Spanish Shrimp Cocktail Recipe

Make a great appetizer with this easy-to-follow Spanish shrimp cocktail recipe!

We know that other fantastic Spanish recipes usually take the spotlight, such as gambas pil pil or the Spanish octopus recipe.

However, in this article, we will present a seafood recipe that had its glory days and is going through its Renaissance era: the famous Spanish shrimp cocktail.

Keep scrolling down this article to read how to make cocktail shrimp, the right way of serving it, and changes that you can make to the ingredients of the recipe.

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Pssst…??!! You can’t get enough Spanish seafood recipes? Have a look at my other posts:

• Andalusian Spicy Gambas al Pil Pil
• Spanish Octopus Recipe
• Fried Mackerel Fish Recipe from Spain

Background of the Dish

There was a time when the Spanish shrimp cocktail was a symbol of luxury; in fact, only the most famous and rich people eat it in prestigious cocktails.

Shrimp cocktail Spanish is referred to as ‘cóctel de camarones’ or simply ‘cóctel de gambas.’ As cocktail Spanish is ‘cóctel.‘

Then, more people were able to access this saucer, but it was still prepared on special occasions such as weddings, Christmas, or important parties.

Over the years, this dish has lost its luxury status, but this is fantastic since now anyone can enjoy it.

It is still expensive in the bars or restaurants of Andalucia, so it is better if you prepare it homemade with the recipe in this article.

Shrimp cocktail in Spanish is cóctel de camarones; if you want to learn how to make this recipe along with the cocktail sauce in Spanish, feel free to translate the webpage.

Things You’ll Need for Spanish Shrimp Cocktail

To make this Spanish shrimp cocktail, you need shrimp, ketchup, tomato, and other vegetables.

The best glasses to serve the best shrimp cocktail are martini glasses, but you can use any you have at home.

If you prepare this recipe for a party, then we encourage you to use the classic martini glasses.

Ingredients

Making this cocktail shrimp in Spanish is easy, and you need to prepare the following:

• 750 gr shrimp (clean and deveined)
• 5 tomatoes
• 1 white onion
• 1 bell pepper
• Fresh cilantro
• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup (230g) ketchup
• 3/4 cup (175ml) lemon juice
• 1 avocado
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

How to Make Spanish Shrimp Cocktail – Step by Step Guide

To make this best shrimp cocktail recipe ever, read the instructions carefully:

1. To start making this shrimp cocktail recipe, you have to chop the tomatoes, onion, bell pepper (better if it is red, but it can be any color), and cilantro finely into small pieces.

2. After that, mix the ketchup sauce, salt, and lemon juice. Then, add the vegetables, stir well, cover them, and set them aside in the fridge.

3. Now you have to prepare the shrimp. For this, grab a pan, put a few tablespoons of oil, and heat over medium heat. Once the oil gets hot, cook the shrimp for 3 minutes on each side or until cooked.

4. Then, cut the avocado into slices and start to assemble the Spanish shrimp cocktail.

5. For the final step, grab cocktail glasses and pour the sauce. Then, put the shrimp in the glasses, distributing them evenly. Put the avocado slices on top, and the cocktail shrimp recipe is ready.

Substitution of Ingredients

Being the best shrimp cocktail recipe, there are several changes or substitutions that you can make in the ingredients; you could even change the shrimp for another seafood cocktail recipe.

An option is a shrimp and octopus cocktail. A shrimp octopus cocktail can be garnished with lemon wedges, parsley, or other herbs.

We do not recommend doing a full seafood cocktail because some foods, like mussels, do not go so well with the sauce used in this recipe (because of the ketchup).

You can make a Spanish prawn cocktail by following all the steps in this recipe for a shrimp cocktail.

The homemade shrimp cocktail sauce is easy to make, but you can change and remove any vegetables from the lists if you don’t like them.

If you think the ketchup has a strong flavor, you can add a few tablespoons of mayonnaise to make it milder.

You can also use Thousand Island sauce, like the American version of this Spanish shrimp cocktail.

Shrimp cocktail with avocado are very common, alternatively, consider using mango chunks, pineapple, cucumber, or a combination of these fruits.

Another similar recipe to the shrimp cocktail is the Spanish ceviche recipe, made with cod file and avocado, or the Spanish mackerel ceviche.

There are many variations of seafood cocktail recipes you would really like.

La Paella: Deliciously Authentic Rice Dishes from Spain’s Mediterranean CoastCarbon Steel Paella PanPaella Seasoning from SpainSpanish AioliOrganic Extra Virgin Olive OilForum – Spanish Cabranet Sauvignon Red Wine Vinegar – 500 mL

 

Tips on Serving Spanish Shrimp Cocktail

This is a shrimp cocktail appetizer, so you should serve it before lunch, dinner, or as a snack if you are the host of a party.

To serve this Spanish shrimp cocktail, the ideal is to have a Martini vessel (you will need 6 for the ingredients listed here).

Then, put the cocktail sauce for shrimp, the shrimp, and, lastly, the avocado slices.

You can also eat them with prawn cocktail crackers.

Then, with this Shrimp cocktail sauce recipe, you can add toasted bread with olive and garlic oil or salt crackers for a dip with the shrimp and the sauce.

You are now ready to serve your prawn cocktail in Spanish.

How to Store Spanish Shrimp Cocktail

When you finish doing this Spanish Shrimp Cocktail, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before serving.

Keep in mind that the recipe is simple and quick to do, so it is best to eat it right away to do it, since the shrimp can lose its freshness or harden, and some vegetables in the sauce can have a bitter taste.

Other shrimp appetizer recipes can be frozen or stored for a longer amount of time, like the gazpacho with shrimp or the Spanish shrimp soup.

You can try to make those if you want a meal that can be frozen.

Recipe Card: Spanish Shrimp Cocktail

FAQs on Spanish Shrimp Cocktail Recipe

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