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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.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 15 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 Baja KitchenCategory
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Camarones a la Diabla - shrimp in fiery chile sauce

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.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Soak the chiles in hot water for fifteen minutes until soft.
  2. Blend the chiles with the roasted tomatoes, garlic, onion, oregano, salt, and a little soaking water into a smooth salsa.
  3. Strain the salsa through a sieve for a silky sauce.
  4. Heat the butter and oil in a wide skillet; sear the shrimp for one minute per side and remove them.
  5. Pour the salsa into the skillet with the broth and simmer until thickened, about eight minutes.
  6. Return the shrimp to the sauce and cook just until they are coated and heated through, about two minutes.
  7. 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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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook15 min
Servings4
CategoryBaja Kitchen
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →