Craving a zesty seafood fix? This Mexican Crab Ceviche recipe combines sweet imitation crab meat, citrus, fresh veggies, and fiesta vibes- no fancy seafood market trip required!
This was so light and fresh! It's perfect for a warm afternoon on the patio. I served it with some extra crunchy tortilla chips and it was gone in minutes.
★★★★★- Amy
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🔍 Quick Look: Mexican Crab Ceviche with Imitation Crab
🦀 Ingredients: Imitation crab meat, lime juice, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, cilantro, and jalapeños
⏱️ Prep Time: 15 minutes
🕒 Total Time: 15 minutes (plus optional chilling time)
👥 Servings: 6
📊 Calories: 97 per serving
🌶️ Flavor Profile: Bright, citrusy, fresh, and mildly spicy
🧑🍳 Method: Chop, mix, chill, and serve cold
🌮 Best Served With: Tortilla chips, crackers, or piled onto tostadas with avocado and hot sauce
⭐ Difficulty: Easy
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A note to my reader
Crab ceviche was served on a salsa bar at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants, and I would pile liberally in a bowl, and eat it with chips.
Because it is served cold, I love to eat at home during the warm months. It makes a delicious appetizer for parties, snack by the pool, or a healthy light lunch. It is also great to take on the boat or eat at the beach.
This easy crab ceviche recipe uses imitation crab meat. That is the way it is served at the Mexican restaurants, and I love it that way. No need to change a good thing! If you want to use real crab meat; you do you!
Make my homemade tortilla chips to go with it! I hope you love it as much as I do. Enjoy! Xoxo~Katie.
Ingredient notes and substitutions
You will need the following ingredients to make traditional Mexican crab ceviche (aka ceviche de jaiba).
- imitation crab meat- Traditionally, imitation crab meat is used to make Mexican crab ceviche. It is inexpensive and easy to find in the grocery store. However, you can substitute with real crab. I suggest canned lump crab meat if you substitute with real crab meat.
- fresh lime juice- I always use lime juice, but some people use lemon juice.
- Roma tomatoes- You can substitute with any of your favorite fresh garden tomatoes.
- red onion- You can substitute with white onion.
- fresh cilantro
- jalapeño pepper- If you want a hotter pepper, use Serrano peppers.
- Clamato juice-This is optional. It adds a nice flavor and is traditional in most Mexican seafood ceviches. You can substitute with V8 Tomato Juice. If you do not like the added tomato flavor, you can omit this.
- cucumber- I use the English cucumber because the seeds are so small that you do not need to remove them and it does not need to be peeled. If you use garden cucumbers, peel the skin before dicing and remove the seeds from the center.
- salt and pepper
*The full recipe is located at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.
Watch how to make
Add-Ins
You can add in cooked shrimp, diced avocado, corn, and shredded carrots. For flavor and spice enhancements, top with your favorite Mexican hot sauce; I suggest Tapatio. Some variations also add a couple teaspoons of ketchup. For a little sweetness, add diced mango or pineapple.
Steps
Follow these simple steps to make crab ceviche.
- Slice a cucumber down the middle length wise and scoop out the seeds. Finely dice cucumber, tomatoes, onion, and jalapeño peppers. Finely chop cilantro. Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl.
- Shred crab meat, and cut into small pieces. Add the crab meat to the vegetables.
- Add lime juice, salt, pepper, and Clamato juice. Mix well. You can serve immediately, but it is best to refrigerate 30 minutes or more before serving.
How to serve?
Serve Mexican ceviche with tortilla chips or crackers.Or try it my favorite way! Spread avocado or guacamole on a tostada, top with the crab ceviche, and then drizzle Tapatio hot sauce for the finish. It is amazing- trust me! You're welcome.
Can you make ceviche with imitation crab?
It is actually very common to use imitation crab instead of real crab meat for ceviche. Fresh crab meat can be very expensive, therefore, imitation crab is a popular alternative because it is affordable and easy to find in all grocery stores.
Imitation crab is also fully cooked, making it safe to use. Traditional ceviche is made with raw seafood. If you cure the raw seafood wrong, you can make someone sick. Imitation crab is ready right out of the package.
The soft, flaky texture of the imitation crab absorbs the citrus and seasonings well, making it perfect for ceviche. It is an easy, budget friendly way to enjoy the bright taste of Mexican-style ceviche at home.
How did your crab ceviche turn out? Please leave me a comment below if you make this and tell me what you thought about it. I would love to hear back, and so would my readers.
Also post a picture of your crab ceviche salad on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!
📖 Recipe
How to make Mexican Crab Ceviche with Imitation Crab
Ingredients
- 16 ounces imitation crab meat
- 1 cup Roma tomatoes
- ½ cup red onion
- ½ cup cilantro
- 2 jalapeno
- 2 limes juiced
- ½ cup cucumber
- ½ cup Clamato juice optional
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Slice a cucumber down the middle length wise and scoop out the seeds. Finely dice cucumber, tomatoes, onion, and jalapeño peppers. Finely chop cilantro. Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl.1 cup Roma tomatoes, ½ cup red onion , 2 jalapeno , ½ cup cucumber, ½ cup cilantro
- Shred crab meat, and cut into small pieces. Add the crab meat to the vegetables.16 ounces imitation crab meat
- Add lime juice, salt, pepper, and Clamato juice. Mix well. You can serve immediately, but it is best to refrigerate 30 minutes or more before serving.2 limes, ½ cup Clamato juice, salt and pepper to taste
Video
Notes
- Traditionally, imitation crab meat is used to make Mexican crab ceviche. It is inexpensive and easy to find in the grocery store. However, you can substitute with real crab. I suggest canned lump crab meat if you substitute with real crab meat.
Lora says
This was so fresh and zesty, and I loved how easy it was to put together. Such a fun warm weather recipe with all those bright ceviche flavors!
Amy says
This was so light and fresh! It’s perfect for a warm afternoon on the patio. I served it with some extra crunchy tortilla chips and it was gone in minutes.
Terri says
This is such a great idea. It's so much easier and more affordable to use imitation crab, and the flavors are great!