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Fish, Americas

Shrimp aguachile with tostadas

Shrimp aguachile is a cold Mexican dish for 4 people, ready in 30 minutes, easy to make, at a cost of €4.30 per serving. Raw shrimp marinate briefly in a lime and chile juice, then get topped with cucumber, red onion, and avocado, served on crisp tostadas. The key is keeping the marinating time short, otherwise the shrimp turn tough.

Here's a cool, fresh aguachile for you, lime and chile shrimp to pile onto crunchy tostadas.

Shrimp aguachile with tostadas
Total time
30 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€4.30
Calories per person
500 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Spring, Summer

Aguachile plays on the contrast between the cold, tangy juice and the heat of green chile. The shrimp, barely marinated, stay tender and juicy at the center while turning opaque on the outside. Cucumber and red onion add crunch, avocado smooths things out, and the crisp tostada scoops up every bite.

This is a dish for warm weather, perfect for a light lunch with friends or a summer dinner on the patio. It needs almost no actual cooking, just the tortillas crisping in the oven, and comes together in minutes once everything is prepped. Mon Chou suggests it as a change from the usual weeknight routine, something that feels special without hours at the stove.

The ingredients

4 people

Fish counter

  • Raw peeled shrimp 500 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Limes 6
  • Green chile 2
  • Cucumber 1
  • Red onion 1
  • Fresh cilantro 6 sprigs
  • Avocado 1

Pantry

  • Corn tortillas 8
  • Oiloften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Shellfish

The step by step recipe

  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C, brush the tortillas with oil, place them on a baking sheet, and bake until golden to make tostadas. 10 min

    Flip them once, they crisp up more as they cool.

  2. Split the shrimp in half lengthwise so they marinate evenly.

    Use a small knife and set the vein aside, it's gritty.

  3. Blend the lime juice with the chiles, half the cilantro, and salt to make a green juice.

    Remove the chile seeds if you want a milder heat.

  4. Toss the shrimp with the green juice and let them marinate in the fridge. 10 min

    They're ready once the outside turns white while the center stays pink.

  5. Add the sliced cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, and cilantro, then serve over the tostadas with sliced avocado.

    Soak the red onion in cold water for 10 minutes to mellow its bite.

Our tips to get it right

  • Use very fresh shrimp, or good quality frozen ones fully thawed and patted dry before splitting them, since the lime juice is the only thing that cooks them.
  • Taste the green juice before pouring it over the shrimp, you can control the heat by blending just one chile first and adding more if you want it spicier.
  • Serve the aguachile right after the shrimp finish marinating, this dish doesn't hold well on the table, it loses its crunch and freshness within minutes.

The variations

  • Swap the shrimp for diced very fresh white fish like sea bass or snapper, the method stays the same.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the shrimp with diced cucumber and mango marinated in the same lime juice.
  • For kids, serve the green juice on the side as a mild dip and set out plain shrimp and avocado tostadas instead.

What to serve it with

  • An ice cold Mexican beer
  • Sparkling limeade
  • Extra corn chips on the side

Storage

Aguachile is best eaten the same day, ideally within an hour of marinating. The tostadas keep for 2 days in an airtight container at room temperature. Don't freeze shrimp that have already marinated, they'll lose their texture.

Questions about this dish

Can you make aguachile with cooked shrimp?

No, aguachile relies on raw shrimp that marinate in lime juice. With already cooked shrimp, the texture turns too soft and the dish loses its point.

How do you know when the shrimp have marinated enough?

They're ready when the outside turns opaque white while the center stays slightly pink. About 10 minutes is enough, any longer and they get tough.

Can you make the green juice ahead of time?

Yes, blend the lime juice, chiles, and cilantro a few hours ahead and keep it chilled. Pour it over the shrimp only right before serving.

Which chile should you use if you don't like too much heat?

Use just one green chile instead of two and remove the seeds before blending. You can also swap in a green bell pepper for a version with no heat at all.

How long does it take to make a shrimp aguachile with tostadas?

Count 30 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a shrimp aguachile with tostadas?

About 500 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a shrimp aguachile with tostadas cost?

About €4.30 per serving, or €17.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains shellfish. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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