A traditional Baja California dish — Camarones a la Diabla are shrimp swimming in a fiery sauce of guajillo and árbol chiles, garlic, and tomato that Baja seafood houses serve with a warning label. The devil, or diablo, is in the chiles — the sauce is meant to make you sweat and reach for another tortilla. It is bold, buttery shrimp for those who like their mariscos with attitude.
Camarones a la Diabla
A traditional Baja California dish — Camarones a la Diabla are shrimp swimming in a fiery sauce of guajillo and árbol chiles, garlic, and tomato that Baja seafood houses serve with a warning label.

Step by stepInstructions
- Soak the chiles in hot water for fifteen minutes until soft.
- Blend the chiles with the roasted tomatoes, garlic, onion, oregano, salt, and a little soaking water into a smooth salsa.
- Strain the salsa through a sieve for a silky sauce.
- Heat the butter and oil in a wide skillet; sear the shrimp for one minute per side and remove them.
- Pour the salsa into the skillet with the broth and simmer until thickened, about eight minutes.
- Return the shrimp to the sauce and cook just until they are coated and heated through, about two minutes.
- Serve with cilantro, lime wedges, and plenty of tortillas or rice.
💡 Chef tips & storage
For a milder diablo, halve the árbol chiles and seed them — the heat lives in the seeds and ribs. The sauce keeps for a week refrigerated and is fantastic on eggs.

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