Mexican Shrimp Cocktail
Yield: Approx. 12 servings (½-cup each) | Prep: 30 mins. | Ready In: 3-4 hours
What you need:
1 tablespoon finely minced garlic ½ cup finely chopped red onion ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves 2 cups clam-tomato cocktail juice ¼ cup ketchup ¼ cup fresh lime juice 1 teaspoon hot sauce (or to taste) ¼ cup prepared horseradish (optional) Salt and pepper to taste 2 pounds cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined 2 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted and diced 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
What you do:
1. Combine garlic, onion, cilantro, tomato cocktail juice, ketchup, lime juice, hot sauce, horseradish, and salt and pepper (to taste); mix well.
2. Add shrimp, avocado and cucumber; stir gently to coat well.
3. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours. Serve in a large bowl or ladle into individual bowls.
Why we love it:
Over the years, shrimp has gotten heat for being high in cholesterol. But just as the egg’s reputation has been rehabilitated by a better understanding of cholesterol, so too have fears about the cholesterol in shrimp been better aligned with reality. Scientists now know that saturated fat, not cholesterol from food, is the primary driver of unhealthy cholesterol levels in the blood (serum LDL cholesterol).
Shrimp contains almost no saturated fat and is essentially trans-fat free. Like most seafood, shrimp is relatively low in calories and high in protein, delivering 24 grams of protein and just 112 calories in four ounces of steamed shrimp. It is also a good source of phosphorus, zinc, selenium, vitamin B12 and a fair source (though not as rich as some other fish) of omega-3 fats and is also low in mercury.
Some farmed varieties might contain antibiotics and chemicals, so you need to be cautious and check labels. Your best pick is cold-water shrimp that is wild-caught or farmed in a sustainable way. Check the Seafood Watch at montereybayaquarium.org for specific recommendations. This organization has worked to evaluate environmental issues and offers practical recommendations for making fish choices and purchases in light of these concerns.