Quarter the heirloom tomatoes and place them in a blender with 3 tbs fresh lime juice, minced garlic, kosher salt, and black pepper. Blend until smooth. Taste and, if too thick, add up to 2 tbs cold water to reach a slightly saucy yet drinkable consistency. Chill in the refrigerator while preparing other components.

Shrimp & Marinade

Season shrimp

If shrimp are raw, poach them in simmering salted water with a halved lime for 2–3 minutes until just opaque, then cool in an ice bath. If pre-cooked, simply rinse and pat dry. Toss 12 shrimp with 1 tbs lime juice, 0.5 tsp sea salt and 0.5 tsp hot sauce (optional). Let sit 5–10 minutes to absorb flavors.

Vegetable Mix-Ins

Prepare vegetables

Dice 1/2 avocado, 1/2 small red bell pepper, 1/2 cup seeded cucumber, and 1/4 cup finely diced red onion. Seed and finely mince 1/2 jalapeño (leave seeds in if you want more heat). Combine vegetables in a bowl with 2 tbs chopped cilantro. Gently toss with 1 tsp olive oil, 0.25 tsp ground cumin and 0.5 tsp agave or honey (optional) to balance acidity. Adjust salt to taste.

Combine with shrimp

Fold the marinated shrimp into the vegetable mixture, coating gently so avocado doesn’t mash. Chill briefly (5–10 minutes) so flavors marry, but serve within 20 minutes to keep avocado fresh.

Assembly & Finishing

Assemble cocktail

Divide the chilled tomato-lime juice among 4 small cocktail glasses or bowls (about 3–4 oz / 90–120 ml each). Spoon an equal portion of the shrimp-vegetable mixture into each, allowing some shrimp to sit atop for presentation. Garnish with a small cilantro sprig and a lime wedge. Finish with a light grind of black pepper and a pinch of sea salt if needed.

House-Made Tortilla Chips

Prepare and cook chips

Stack the corn tortillas and cut each into 6 wedges. Heat 1/2 cup vegetable oil in a heavy skillet to 350°F (175°C) or preheat oven to 400°F (204°C) if baking. For frying: fry tortilla wedges in batches 30–45 seconds per side until crisp and lightly golden. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with 1/2 tsp sea salt. For baking: brush or spray wedges lightly with oil, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet, and bake 7–10 minutes, flipping once, until crisp; season with salt immediately.

Serve

Serve warm chips alongside each shrimp cocktail so guests can scoop. Alternatively, place chips on a shared plate.