Shrimp … in Avocados? Yes!
I love Shrimp Ceviche and this stuffed avocado recipe has lots of similarities, but it’s served in an avocado in addition to having avocado incorporated in the shrimp mixture. I’ve made beef Taco-Stuffed Avocados before and it was about time I did it with shrimp. My daughter adored these as much as I did. They’re naturally gluten-free, easy, and ready in 15 minutes. We definitely think these are a meal but for the really hearty eaters out there, you could have a half as an appetizer before another Mexican-inspired meal.
Shrimp-Stuffed Avocados Ingredients
The ingredients are simple, but the flavors work so incredibly well together. It feels like you should be eating these on the beach in Mexico with your toes in the sand with a margarita in hand. For this recipe you’ll need:
Shrimp Tomatoes Cucumber Red onion Cilantro Lime juice Salt and pepper Hot sauce, optional Avocados
What Kind of Shrimp to Use?
For this recipe I used 40-50 count shrimp that had already been cleaned, cooked, and chilled from the fish and seafood counter at my grocery store. I used 40-50 count shrimp, meaning there are 40 to 50 per pound. I did not want to clean 40 to 50 shrimp myself. No gracias. You can always use bigger shrimp but for this recipe, and it’s a rare situation where bigger is not better when it comes to shrimp, but for me it’s too much of a mouthful with bigger shrimp and the avocado and everything else. There’s no point in spending the money on big and beautiful shrimp only to halve or chop them. Save the big ones for homemade Coconut Shrimp.
Can I Use Frozen Shrimp?
I am sure you could use frozen shrimp that you cook according to the package directions but their texture is always a little funky for me so I don’t go that route.
How to Prep Raw Shrimp Yourself
If you are cooking fresh shrimp yourself rather than cheating from the butcher counter, I recommend boiling cleaned shrimp for 1 minute and immediately plunging them into an ice bath. Small shrimp cook incredibly fast and that’s all the time it’ll take to cook them. The time and effort is in the cleaning, not the cooking, of the shrimp.
What Kind of Avocado to Use?
I used two extra-large (jumbo) Hass avocados that I halved. So I had four halves and a serving for me is two halves, so this recipe serves two generously, but obviously doubles, etc. easily. Normally these are the avocados that in my grocery store are $2.99 each (for non-organic) because they’re so much bigger than regular-sized avocados. If you’re using a more normal sized avocado, I suggest three of them, or six halves. You want the avocados to be ripe, but not falling-apart ripe. Save those for guacamole.
How to Make Mexican Shrimp Stuffed Avocados
This shrimp stuffed avocado recipe is so quick and easy to prepare. If you buy pre-cooked shrimp, you can have dinner on the table in 15 minutes!
Recipe Variations to Try
Similar to its Shrimp Ceviche cousin, these stuffed avocados have lots of flexibility in regard to the ingredients. Substitution ideas include:
Scoop up any extra filling with tortilla chips I used Roma tomatoes but cherry or other varieties are fine I used an English cucumber but regular cucumber is okay Add bell peppers of any color Add diced fresh jalapeños Add a half can of fire-roasted green chiles I used Cholula hot sauce or try Huichol or any of the other of thousands of varieties. As written, even with two tablespoons Cholula I didn’t find this to be too spicy but omit or reduce to taste if you’re heat-sensitive. For those shrimp haters like my daughter, omit them and make it without. She loves it this way!
More Mexican Shrimp Recipes:
Mexican Shrimp Cocktail — Chilled shrimp, tomatoes, cucumber, onion, jalapeno, creamy avocado, and more are combined in a tomato-based sauce, along with a bit of Mexican hot sauce for some kick! Perfect for entertaining or as a no-cook lunch, snack, or dinner – especially when it’s too hot to cook! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Shrimp Ceviche – The EASIEST way to make traditional shrimp ceviche and it tastes the BEST!! Ready in 30 minutes, great as an appetizer, side, or as a healthy main course that everyone LOVES!! Avocado Mango Shrimp Salad — With tropical fruit, avocado, red onion, lime juice, cilantro, and plump JUICY shrimp, this EASY 15-minute recipe will become a new FAVORITE!! Healthy and light with an assortment of wonderful flavors in every bite!! Lime Cilantro Shrimp and Black Bean Salad – Tender juicy shrimp, black beans, avocado, cilantro, and more coated in a lime sauce that’s a FIESTA in your mouth!! An EASY and HEALTHY Mexican-inspired salad that’s ready in 10 minutes!! Beer Battered Shrimp Tacos with Lime Crema – Fast, easy, restaurant-quality tacos at home! Juicy beer-battered shrimp, avocado, cheese, and a zesty lime crema to top it off! Perfect for weeknight dinners and easy entertaining!
