Came Back for You
You can—and you should!—turn a mariscos classic into a salad.
Vuelve a la vida means "return to life," so basically ME after the last three months when I decided to move real quick to Oaxaca to take a month-long photography course, walked away from one of my most significant client projects, and embarked on a journey to fulfill a lifelong dream. Can you guess what it is?!
Vuelve a la vida is also a seafood cocktail that seems to take on its literal meaning when you’re surviving the relentless summer heat. You may also know it as campechano, made with a combo of seafood like shrimp, scallops, crab meat, and octopus. But really, vuelve a la vida is a brothy seafood cocktail for those seeking a hangover cure to come back to life.
I can confirm this meaning.
An excellent Vuelve a la vida has a broth so complex that you can taste the shrimp shells, vegetables, and aromatics. My mom’s version is, of course, the best version. But hey, she takes the extra step of charring the vegetables to build an umami-filled broth, and that extra step to build flavor makes hers, err, the best. Add buttery avocado, and it’s a feast.
I renounce the Mexican madness of having piping-hot caldos (broths/stews/soups) amid summer and turn vuelve a la vida into a cooling, refreshing salad. It has all of the elements you love, but you can eat it like a damn salad at a picnic or bring it to your next potluck. The sweet and sour sauce that makes this classic absolutely addictive is still there. However, I forgo the traditional ketchup (!) and keep its deep tomato spirit alive by relying on tomato paste spiked with a bit of magic that you’ll only get to see in the recipe if you’re a paid subscriber because you’re the best!
Because salads deserve our utmost respect for being able to stand on their own, each element is carefully seasoned and prepared: the bell peppers, red onions, and shrimp are grilled. Use only really good tomatoes, such as homegrown or heirlooms, and season them generously with salt to amplify their flavor. The cucumbers and scallops get the same undivided attention. It all comes together in the most wildly delicious way.
Eat this with tostadas or saltine crackers for the complete experience.
I missed you!
Fresca is back in stock!