This submit could comprise affiliate hyperlinks. Learn my disclosure coverage.
These simple Shrimp Tacos come collectively in half-hour utilizing charred corn tortillas, spicy shrimp, and recent toppings—crisp cabbage, avocado, cilantro, feta, and jalapeño. Drizzle with the perfect shrimp taco sauce comprised of scratch with Greek yogurt, mayo, cilantro, jalapeño, and lime.
Straightforward Shrimp Tacos with Cilantro-Lime Crema
I season the shrimp with an genuine Mexican-style spice mix, then prepare dinner them in olive oil and butter, ending with lime and garlic. I shortly char my corn tortillas over an open flame for that smoky, street-style taste you discover in genuine Mexican tacos. My cilantro-lime crema is the magic ingredient that takes tacos from good to superb. This home made shrimp taco sauce retains every chew juicy (not dry or rubbery), ties collectively all of the spicy, tangy, herby, and smoky flavors, and helps maintain the toppings in place—making each shrimp taco much less messy, extra restaurant-quality, and ideal for entertaining. Serve with Mexican corn dip, a aspect of cilantro-lime black bean rice, and Mexican avenue corn pasta salad.
Each the sauce and shrimp have adjustable spice ranges, so you’ll be able to amp it up or hold it delicate. This recipe is naturally gluten-free and ideal for weeknight dinners, summer time meals, yard hangouts, Cinco de Mayo, or any mini fiesta identical to my shrimp fajita bowls and cilantro-lime black bean shrimp rice. Planning a taco social gathering? Add my rooster tacos and salmon tacos to your menu!
Shrimp Taco Elements & Substitutions
- Shrimp — I used 1 lb uncooked medium shrimp (about 26–30 depend)— peeled and deveined, tails eliminated. You too can use giant (about 20–25 depend) or small shrimp (31–35 depend). Use wild-caught for greatest taste. Frozen shrimp works; thaw utterly and pat very dry (utilizing paper towels).
- Cooking fat — Use 1 tablespoon of olive oil (or avocado oil, grapeseed oil, or canola oil) + 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter (or ghee for dairy-free).
- Garlic — I used 1 recent clove, minced. You too can use ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Lime juice — I used 1 tablespoon of recent squeezed. You too can use lemon juice.
- Corn Tortillas — Road taco-size (about 6 inches) white or yellow corn tortillas are conventional for genuine Mexican tacos. For gluten-free alternate options, almond flour tortillas, cassava flour tortillas, or Siete model grain-free tortillas are nice choices. Flour tortillas can be utilized, however they’re not conventional and never gluten-free.
Mexican Seasoning for Shrimp
To make an genuine Mexican-style shrimp seasoning, I mix paprika (candy, smoked, or scorching), cumin (or floor coriander), chili powder (or ancho chili posder for delicate warmth), pink pepper flakes (elective, for extra warmth; can use cayenne powder), salt, and black pepper (or white pepper). You’ll be able to simply modify the spice stage to style. For a shortcut, swap all of it for 1 ½ teaspoons of Tajín to get that traditional chili-lime Mexican taste.
Shrimp Taco Sauce Elements & Swaps
- Plain Greek yogurt — I like full-fat for creaminess, you may also use 2% for lighter texture. Bitter cream is a direct swap; dairy-free yogurt works for vegan/dairy-free.
- Mayonnaise — full-fat or gentle; generally I exploit avocado mayo or simply exchange it with extra yogurt for a lighter sauce.
- Contemporary lime juice — you may also use lemon juice.
- Cilantro — Contemporary cilantro is conventional in genuine Mexican cooking. For those who’re not a fan, recent parsley, basil, or mint can be utilized, however the taste can be much less conventional.
- Jalapeño — I take away the seeds and membranes for delicate warmth. Hold the seeds for extra spice. Serrano makes it spicier, poblano retains it delicate however nonetheless genuine.
Toppings
I like to recommend utilizing shredded inexperienced cabbage, napa cabbage, pink cabbage, or perhaps a bagged coleslaw combine. For cheese, I like feta, however you’ll be able to swap in milder, extra genuine Mexican choices like cotija or queso fresco. I often add recent cilantro and sliced jalapeño, although parsley and pickled jalapeños make nice substitutes. Diced avocado is my go-to, however you may also high shrimp tacos with roasted tomato salsa (salsa roja), recent pico de gallo, creamy guacamole, or my Mexican avenue corn dip.
The way to Make Shrimp Tacos
- Make the Creamy Taco Sauce — Mix all sauce substances (plain Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, recent lime juice, cilantro leaves, jalapeño (seeded and membrane eliminated), salt, and pepper) till clean. Skinny with water if wanted; put aside.
- Season the Shrimp — Combine paprika, cumin, chili powder, pink pepper flakes, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Pat shrimp dry, place in a bowl, and toss with the spice combine till evenly coated.
- Prepare dinner the Shrimp — Warmth olive oil in a big skillet over medium warmth. Add shrimp in a single layer (prepare dinner in batches if wanted) and sear 2–3 minutes per aspect till pink and opaque. Add butter and garlic, prepare dinner briefly till aromatic, then take away from warmth and drizzle with lime juice.
- Assemble the Shrimp Tacos — Char tortillas over an open flame, fill with shrimp and toppings, drizzle with sauce, and add a squeeze of lime.
The way to Toast Corn Tortillas
Toasting corn tortillas is a fast, important step for genuine Mexican-style shrimp tacos and a assured strategy to make them style restaurant-quality. This creates completely charred edges. Don’t skip it—this one step immediately improves style, texture, and presentation. Right here is how you can do it:
- Range-top: Warmth a cast-iron or different giant skillet over medium-high warmth. Place tortillas in a single layer and toast about 30 seconds per aspect till golden brown in spots on each side.
- Open-flame: For probably the most genuine taste, char corn tortillas instantly over an open flame utilizing tongs, flipping as quickly as the sides begin to blacken. Watch carefully and modify the flame to keep away from burning. That is NOT the time to go away your range unattended.
Shrimp Tacos
These simple Shrimp Tacos come collectively in half-hour utilizing charred corn tortillas, spicy shrimp, and recent toppings—crisp cabbage, avocado, cilantro, feta, and jalapeño. Drizzle with the perfect shrimp taco sauce comprised of scratch with Greek yogurt, mayo, cilantro, jalapeño, and lime.
Elements
For the Shrimp Taco Sauce:
- ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ cup cilantro leaves tightly packed
- ½ medium jalapeno deseeded and with the membrane eliminated
- salt to style
- pepper to style
- 1-2 tablespoons water elective, to skinny the sauce
For the Shrimp:
- 1 pound shrimp thawed, peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon floor cumin
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly floor black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed pink pepper flakes elective
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
For the Shrimp Tacos:
- 8 corn tortillas
- 3 cups inexperienced cabbage shredded
- 1 cup feta cheese crumbled
- ¼ cup recent cilantro finely chopped
- 1 medium jalapeno thinly sliced
- 1 medium avocado finely diced
- 1 giant lime reduce into wedges
Forestall your display from going darkish
Directions
Put together the Creamy Shrimp Taco Sauce:
Prepare dinner the Shrimp:
-
In a small bowl, combine collectively paprika, floor cumin, chili powder, pink pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
-
Pat dry shrimp utilizing paper towels and switch to a bowl. Sprinkle blended spices over shrimp and toss to coat evenly.
-
Warmth 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a big skillet over medium warmth. Add shrimp in a single layer. Don’t overcrowd the skillet. Prepare dinner in batches, if wanted. Prepare dinner for about 2-3 minutes on both sides or till pink in shade and cooked via. Add butter and minced garlic. Stir collectively and let it prepare dinner for an extra 30-60 seconds or till aromatic. Take away from the skillet and put aside. Drizzle with lime juice.
Assemble the Tacos:
-
Place a tortilla over a medium fuel range flame utilizing metal kitchen tongs. Let it char for 10-20 seconds, then flip and char the opposite aspect.
-
Assemble the tacos by inserting cooked shrimp and toppings on a charred corn tortilla. Drizzle with creamy taco sauce, and squeeze lime juice if desired.
Notes
- Grilling possibility: These Shrimp Tacos will also be cooked on the grill for an additional smoky taste – you’ll be able to observe my directions for grilled shrimp right here.
- Double the sauce: If you’d like extra juicy filling and creamier texture, you’ll be able to double the quantity of creamy taco sauce. Combine within the half of the cilantro-lime crema with the shredded cabbage (nearly like a coleslaw) and hold the opposite half to drizzle excessive of the tacos.
- Don’t overcrowd the skillet with shrimp: Prepare them in a single layer for even cooking. Prepare dinner in batches, if wanted.
- Don’t overcook shrimp: in any other case they may have a tricky texture. Prepare dinner for about 2-3 minutes on both sides or till pink in shade and cooked via.
- Meeting tip: I choose to put shredded cabbage on the tortilla first, so it doesn’t get soggy from the juicy shrimp or creamy taco sauce.
Storage, Reheating, and Make-Forward Suggestions
- Make forward: You’ll be able to put together the Creamy Taco Sauce a day or two forward and retailer within the fridge.
- The way to retailer leftover taco fillings, toppings, or sauce: Place them in separate hermetic containers and retailer within the fridge for as much as 2-3 days. You too can make a salad utilizing leftovers.
- The way to retailer leftover cooked shrimp: Retailer in an hermetic container for as much as 2-3 days within the fridge. Pour all of the liquid from the skillet into the container with leftover shrimp to maintain them moist.
- The way to reheat leftover shrimp: Warmth a skillet over low warmth, add leftover shrimp and prepare dinner for 1-2 minutes or till heated via. Don’t reheat them for greater than 2 minutes to stop shrimp from being too powerful and rubbery.
Diet
Diet Info
Shrimp Tacos
Quantity per Serving
% Day by day Worth*
* P.c Day by day Values are primarily based on a 2000 calorie eating regimen.
Diet Disclaimer:
The dietary info on this web site is barely an estimate and is supplied for comfort and as a courtesy solely. The accuracy of the dietary info for any recipe on this website is just not assured. It shouldn't be used as an alternative to knowledgeable nutritionist’s recommendation.
Extra Mexican Recipes
