Shrimp Tacos Recipe
Two flour tacos stuffed with grilled shrimp, shredded lettuce, tomato, onion.
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Ingredients
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Shrimp & Marinade
Taco Assembly & Vegetables
Sauce / Finish
Method
Shrimp & Marinade
- 1
Prepare shrimp and marinade
Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels and place in a medium bowl. Add olive oil, fresh lime juice, minced garlic, chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, and optional hot sauce. Toss thoroughly to coat all shrimp evenly.
- 2
Marinate
Cover the bowl and let the shrimp marinate in the refrigerator for 10–20 minutes. Do not marinate much longer than 30 minutes, or the acid will begin to change the shrimp texture.
- 3
Grill or pan-sear shrimp
Heat a grill or a large skillet over medium-high heat. If using a skillet, add 1 teaspoon olive oil and let it heat until shimmering. Arrange shrimp in a single layer and cook about 1.5–2 minutes per side, until pink and opaque and slightly charred at the edges. Total cooking time should be 3–4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
Sauce / Finish
- 4
Make crema sauce
In a small bowl combine Mexican crema (or sour cream), mayonnaise, lime zest, optional hot sauce, salt, and black pepper. Whisk until smooth and taste; adjust salt or hot sauce as desired. If the sauce is too thick, thin with 1–2 teaspoons of water or lime juice.
Taco Assembly & Vegetables
- 5
Prep tortillas and vegetables
Warm the two flour tortillas on a dry skillet or directly over a low gas flame for 10–20 seconds per side until pliable and slightly toasted. Place each warmed tortilla on a plate. Distribute shredded lettuce evenly between the two tortillas. Top each with diced tomato and a tablespoon of finely diced red onion.
- 6
Assemble tacos
Divide the cooked shrimp evenly between the two tortillas (6 shrimp per taco). Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the crema sauce over the shrimp on each taco. Sprinkle chopped cilantro if using.
- 7
Serve
Garnish with a lime wedge per taco and serve immediately while shrimp are hot. Encourage squeezing lime over tacos before eating.