Seafood Avocado Cocktail
This could very well be the ultimate seafood cocktail, served with a light-bodied sauce instead of the typical red glop. With lots of vegetables to balance the chunks of shrimp and crab, it can be served as a salad as well as a palate- and eye-pleasing appetizer. Toss the ingredients together right before serving because marinating doesn’t really improve this cocktail.
MAKES 6 SERVINGS
Shrimp
1 lb. or 455 g extra-jumbo (16 to 20 count) shrimp
1 tsp celery salt
Sauce
1/2 cup or 120 ml Shrimp Stock (see below)
1/3 cup or 75 ml ketchup
1/4 cup or 60 ml tomato-clam juice, such as Clamato
1 tsp fresh lime juice
1 tsp green jalapeño sauce, such as Tabasco Green Pepper
1/2 tsp red pepper sauce, such as Tabasco
1/2 tsp Spike herbal seasoning
1/4 tsp granulated onion
1/4 tsp granulated garlic
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 English cucumber, cut into 1/2-in. / 12-mm dice
1/2 cup or 50 g finely chopped yellow onion
2 Roma (plum) tomatoes, seeded and cut into 1/2-in. / 12-mm dice
2 tsp finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 ripe Hass avocado, peeled, pitted, and cut into 1/2-in. / 12-mm dice
8 oz. or 225 g lump crabmeat, picked over for cartilage
6 sprigs fresh cilantro, for serving
6 lime wedges, for serving
Tortilla chips, preferably strip style, for serving
Shells and tails from 1 lb. or 455 g shrimp
1 cup or 240 ml bottled clam juice
1/4 cup or 60 ml dry white wine or dry vermouth (optional)
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1 small celery stalk with leaves, chopped
6 black peppercorns
1/2 small bay leaf
Pinch of dried thyme