Description
A bold and refreshing Mexican seafood appetizer, Agua Chile Shrimp Cucumber combines citrus-cured shrimp with a vibrant green chili-cilantro marinade, crisp cucumbers, and creamy avocado for the ultimate summer dish. Ready in under 30 minutes, this no-cook recipe delivers spicy, tangy, and cooling flavors in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/4 medium red onion
- 1 1/2 cups sliced English cucumber
- 1 cup packed fresh cilantro
- 2 jalapeño peppers
- 1 serrano chili (optional)
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 medium avocado
Instructions
- Slice shrimp lengthwise, place in shallow dish, cover with lime juice, add salt. Let cure 20-30 minutes until pink.
- Slice red onion paper-thin, salt generously, cover with water. Add white vinegar for color enhancement.
- Blend lime juice, garlic, cilantro, jalapeños, serrano, and salt until completely smooth, about 1 minute.
- Pour marinade over cured shrimp, add drained onions and cucumber. Toss gently to coat evenly.
- Refrigerate 30 minutes to 4 hours. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.
- Top with avocado slices, fresh cilantro, drizzle olive oil. Serve with tortilla chips.
Notes
- Use the freshest shrimp possible – frozen works but thaw completely and pat dry first
- Don’t over-cure the shrimp as it can become rubbery – 30 minutes maximum for small shrimp
- Blend the marinade for a full minute to achieve the signature smooth, bright green color
- Salt the onions to remove their harsh bite and create a more mellow flavor
- Serve immediately after adding avocado to prevent browning and maintain freshness
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Main
- Method: No-Cook, Curing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 145
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 140mg
Keywords: aguachile variations, citrus shrimp recipe, cucumber shrimp salad, spicy shrimp appetizer, shrimp ceviche alternative, low calorie shrimp dish