The infallible dishes for this season are seafood, as they are a delicious, healthy, and accessible option across the country, especially in beach destinations like those in Nayarit. While some of the most popular delicacies in the region are oysters, fish, and octopus, there are others just as exquisite that everyone should try.

Shrimp a la Cora 

Easy to make, delicious, and economical. There’s nothing better to start this list than an exquisite dish from the Mexican Pacific. Shrimp a la Cora or Nayarit style is one of the must-try dishes this holy season, but the best part is that it requires few ingredients to prepare. 

The recipe for three people includes ½ kilo of shrimp (preferably with heads), 2 cloves of garlic, 10 limes, chicken broth, butter, cora chili (also known as tequilita or cascabel chili, very aromatic and spicy), salt, and pepper to taste. After having everything on hand, heat a little oil in a skillet, add the shrimp, garlic, and a bit of pepper. 

In another pot, toast the chiles for a short time before grinding them. When the shrimp are slightly cooked, add the butter, a little broth, and the ground chili. Also, add the juice of the limes to give it a tangy touch, mix everything, and it’s ready to serve!

These seafood are easy to find in restaurants, palapas, and seafood markets along the Nayarit coast, in the Magical Town of Amatlán de Cañas, and other spots throughout the state.

You can also read: 6 tips to identify fresh fish and seafood

Botete Ceviche

Craving ceviche? There’s a special recipe for this popular coastal dish that includes an “exotic” fish. It’s the botete, a colorful species from the pufferfish family, but without the poison or health risks that it poses to those who consume it. It inhabits rivers and coastal lagoons, especially in mangroves and shallow waters.

To prepare it, whether in restaurants or at home, the people of Nayarit prefer to buy it already cleaned and filleted at local markets, where they also acquire the necessary ingredients: green limes, tomatoes, white and purple onions, cucumber, carrot, cilantro, and serrano chiles.

Once everything is on the table, chop the fish into small cubes as finely as possible and place it in a deep bowl with water and coarse salt. Stir very well and let it rest so that the meat gets a salty touch. After a while, strain the water and add the juice of the limes (approximately 10 to 15) to cure the meat.

Next, chop the tomatoes, onions, cilantro, chiles, and cucumber, which should have its skin and seeds removed, while the carrot should be grated. Put everything together in a large container, add the cured botete, and then mix everything uniformly.

The best way to serve it is in a glass or with tostadas. For those who enjoy spice, more sauce or even ketchup can be added. One of the most famous places to try it is the restaurant Mr. Botete, located in Tepic, the capital of Nayarit.

See more: The best places to eat seafood in CDMX

Grilled Fish

To close the recommendations, there’s grilled fish, a typical dish from Riviera Nayarit. Its origin dates back to pre-Hispanic times, mainly to the Island of Mexcaltitán, a colorful and tranquil fishing village located in the middle of the Santiago River, in the municipality of Ixcuintla. 

Nowadays, this fish is easy to find in almost any community, restaurant, or palapa by the sea. It’s called that because of the way it’s cooked; the fish, usually huauchinango, snook, snapper, or catfish, is marinated with a sauce made of dried chiles with lime or orange juice, soy sauce, and garlic, and then placed in the middle of a metal grill to cook over coals and be easily “shaken” (turned). 

Thanks to this, the meat acquires a smoky flavor that captivates diners. Once it’s finished cooking, it’s customary to serve it accompanied by cucumber, chopped tomato, and onion, as well as beans, hot sauce, and comal tortillas.

These three dishes are part of the “25 reasons why Nayarit is the destination to visit in 2025”, however, you should know that in Nayarit, the cuisine is an experience that conquers all the senses. From a botete ceviche prepared with fresh ingredients to the traditional grilled fish cooked over the heat of the coals; each dish is a showcase of the talent, creativity, and natural richness of the state. If you’re craving seafood, this is the ideal place to savor unique recipes by the sea, in the middle of a mangrove, or in a colorful palapa.

Continue reading: Where to buy fresh seafood in CDMX?