SeafoodEasy

Prawn Cocktail

Name: Prawn Cocktail
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1 Avocado; 500 g Medium prawns; 0.5 White onion; 0.25 bunch Fresh coriander; 1 pack Salted crackers; 100 ml Lime juice; 250 ml Tomato juice; 1 tsp Salt; 200 ml Ketchup; 2 tbsp Hot sauce

30 min (20 prep + 10 cook) Easy 4 servings Costas de Mexico

Edmond Bojalil

Recetas Mexas

Published: 4 Feb 2026 · Updated: 10 Mar 2026

Prawns in a chilled tomato and ketchup broth with lime, onion and avocado.

About this recipe

The prawn cocktail Mexican-style is a classic beach dish. Cooked prawns are served in a chilled tomato broth with ketchup, lime juice, hot sauce, onion, coriander and avocado. Presented in glasses or sundae cups with salted crackers, it is perfect for a sweltering day.

History & Origin

Prawn cocktail is a classic of Mexican beaches and coastlines that became popular in the mid-twentieth century in the Pacific ports, especially Acapulco, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta. Although its name suggests American influence through the use of ketchup, the Mexican version is distinguished by incorporating lime juice, hot sauce, coriander and avocado — ingredients deeply rooted in the local gastronomy. It is served in tall glass cups or plastic tumblers at the street stalls and seafood carts that are iconic features of the Mexican urban landscape. The cocktail is considered a popular remedy for hangovers, known as 'vuelve a la vida' (return to life) when it includes oysters, octopus and other seafood. It is a Sunday tradition for many Mexican families to enjoy it as a lunch by the sea.

Estimated cost

£19.44

Total cost

£4.86

Per serving

* Approximate prices based on UK supermarkets

Nutritional information per serving

308

Calories

31g

Protein

30g

Carbohydrates

14g

Fat

Fibre

978mg

Sodium

* Approximate values. May vary depending on ingredients used.

Method

1
Hierve the prawns en a pot with water, salt y some ramas de coriander durante 3-4 minutes until esten rosados y firmes. No the cocines de mas. Escurre y deja enfriar.
💡 Puedes agregar a bay leaf y some slices de onion al water de coccion for darle mas flavour.
2
A time frios, corta the prawns in pieces de 2 cm si are grandes, o dejalos enteros si are medianos.
3
Finely chop the onion and coriander, and cut the avocado into cubes. Set the avocado aside separately.
4
In a large bowl, mix the ketchup, lime juice, tomato juice, hot sauce and salt. Stir well until combined.
5
Agrega the prawns, la onion chopped y el coriander al stock de coctel. Mezcla y refrigera al less 30 minutes.
💡 El coctel sabe mejor well frio. Preparalo with anticipacion y refrigera al less 1 hour.
6
Sirve en copas o vasos altos. Corona with cubes de avocado, some gotas de salsa spicy extra y mas coriander. Acompana with galletas saladas o tostadas.