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Home Appetizers and Party Fare

Mexican Crab Cocktail

20 mins
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By: LalainePosted: 08/31/2018Updated: 11/02/2020
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Mexican Crab Cocktail with imitation crab in a spicy tomato juice cocktail. This coctel de jaiva is loaded with fresh flavors and makes the perfect appetizer served with saltines or tostadas.

coctel de jaiva in a clear glass bowl
Mexican Crab Cocktail

Coctel de camaron is my favorite appetizer to make for Summer parties. It’s refreshing and delicious with loads of juicy shrimp, crispy veggies, and a spicy tomato juice cocktail.

Unfortunately, this Mexican cocktail is not always a smart option.

kani, Clamato, ketchup, onions, limes, cucumber, cilantro, jalapeno

It can get costly at $7.99 and up per pound for good-sized shrimp, especially when serving a large crowd. And of course, there’s the peeling and deveining. Who’s got time for that?

Enter: Mexican crab cocktail. Made of the more affordable imitation crab, you get all the seafood cocktail flavors you love at half the price and half the work!

shredded kani in a white bowl

Imitation crab meat

Imitation crab meat or kani is made of surimi, a gelatinous paste composed of white-fleshed fish (most often pollock), seafood extracts, and a starch binder.

Shaped and cured to resemble real crab meat in taste and texture, it is a popular and cheaper alternative for lump crab meat in many dishes such as sushi, salads, and soup.

diced tomatoes, chopped jalapenos, diced cucumbers, chopped onions, chopped cilantro in a clear bowl

The best part of using imitation crab in this Mexican cocktail recipe is that there’s no cooking involved. Kani is fully cooked, and the only prep it needs is to shred the large chunks into smaller strands coarsely.

However, I do like to generously drizzle the shredded crab meat with lemon or lime juice and let stand for a few minutes before adding the rest of the coctel ingredients to take off some of the fishy taste.

pouring Clamato juice to a bowl of Mexican-style crab cocktail

Serving suggestions

This seafood cocktail is delicious as an appetizer or a light Summer meal. Like the shrimp version, it’s best enjoyed with saltine crackers or tostadas.

I personally like to use it as a dip for crisp tortilla chips and then gulp down the refreshing tomato caldo when all the solid goodies are gone. So good!

Mexican Crab Cocktail in a white bowl with corn chips on the side

How to store

  • For food safety, do not leave the crab cocktail at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Store in a container with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
  • Do not freeze as the vegetables will lose their texture from the freezing and thawing.

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @OnionRingsAndThings on Facebook and Instagram!

Mexican Crab Cocktail in a white bowl with corn chips on the side

Mexican Crab Cocktail

Coctel de Jaiva loaded with fresh yet bold flavors you'll love with saltine crackers or tostadas. Made with imitation crab, tomatoes, cucumber and a refreshing tomato juice, this Mexican seafood cocktail is seriously addictive!
Prep Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 20 mins
Author: Lalaine
Course: Appetizer
Print Pin It Email Recipe
4 Servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound imitation crab, coarsely shredded
  • juice from 2 limes
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
  • 1 onion, peeled and diced
  • 1 large cucumber, peeled and diced
  • 2 Jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
  • 1/2 bundle cilantro, stemmed and chopped
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 2 cups Clamato juice
US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • In a bowl, combine crab and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Let stand for 3 to 5 minutes., 
  • Add tomatoes, onions, cucumber, jalapeno, and cilantro. 
  • Add ketchup and stir to combine.
  • Add Clamato juice.
  • Season with salt to taste. Gently stir to combine.
  • Refrigerate for about 10 to 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 201kcal, Carbohydrates: 39g, Protein: 8g, Cholesterol: 12mg, Sodium: 1123mg, Potassium: 597mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 17g, Vitamin A: 1665IU, Vitamin C: 56.2mg, Calcium: 46mg, Iron: 0.8mg

“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”

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About Lalaine

Welcome to Onion Rings and Things where you’ll find hundreds of comfort food recipes, crafts, and printables. Browse around and make something fun or tasty today! Read More

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