Craving shrimp tacos packed with flavor? You will want to make my Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Cilantro Crema! A warm blend of zesty spices coats juicy sautéed shrimp for a kick of heat, while a cool and creamy cilantro crema provides the perfect cooling contrast.
Piled high with crisp cabbage, creamy avocado, a squeeze of fresh lime juice and crumbled cotija cheese, these tacos deliver an explosion of tastes and textures in every bite. Even better, they come together in less than 15 minutes!
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Spicy Shrimp Tacos Recipe Ingredients:
Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.
Spicy Shrimp Tacos Recipe Ingredients:
Shrimp Taco Ingredients:
- Shrimp - peeled and deveined ( see note below about size and type)
- Spices - chili powder, cumin, onion powder, black pepper, paprika, cayenne pepper flakes
- Cooking oil - vegetable oil or olive oil, your choice
Crema
- Sour cream or full fat greek yogurt
- Spices: garlic, salt, cilantro leaves, salt
Taco Toppings
- Tortillas (yellow corn, white corn or flour)
- Purple cabbage - shredded
- Avocado, red onion, lime wedge
- Cotija Cheese
- Cilantro leaves
How to cook shrimp for tacos?
To cook the shrimp, toss the peeled and deveined shrimp with the spice blend, then sauté them in a bit of oil, I start with 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil or olive oil for 1-2 minutes per side until just cooked through. The shrimp should be opaque white on the insides with some pink color on the outside when fully cooked.
Yes, you can absolutely use frozen shrimp for this recipe. Just make sure to thaw the shrimp completely before cooking by placing them in a colander and running cold water over them for 5-10 minutes. Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels before seasoning and sautéing.
Large or Extra-Large Shrimp Sizes like 16/20 or 21/25 count per pound are ideal. These medium-large sized shrimp hold up well to the sautéing without overcooking too quickly.
Their bigger size also makes them easier to handle on the tacos. Look for shrimp that are already deveined to save time on prep work. The dark vein running along the back contains grit that you'll want removed.
Peeled shrimp will be easier, but peel-on can work too if you prefer to leave some of the peel on for more flavor during cooking. Just make sure to peel them after cooking and before assembling the tacos.
How to make shrimp tacos:
- Toss shrimp with spices.
- In a medium saute pan heat 2 tablespoons of oil and cook the shrimp for 1-2 minutes on each side until just done. (shrimp will be white on the inside, with some pink on the outside).
- Transfer to a serving bowl or platter, and set aside.
- Meanwhile, blend crema ingredients together.
- Assemble your tacos and garnish with your favorite toppings for shrimp tacos. Don't forget to serve your crema with the tacos.
Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Crema
Ingredients
For the shrimp:
- 1 lb shrimp peeled, and deveined
- ¾ teaspoon chili powder
- ¾ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper flakes
- 1 Tablespoon cooking oil
For the Crema:
- 2 tablespoon Water
- ½ cup cilantro
- 2 cloves garlic
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- juice of 2 limes
- ½ cup sour cream or full fat greek yogurt
For the tacos:
- 8 6" tortillas
- 2 cups purple cabbage shredded
- 1 large avocado
- ½ Red Onion diced
- 4 oz. cotija cheese
- 1 lime cut into wedges
Instructions
- Toss shrimp with spices and sauté in oil 1-2 minutes on each side until just done. (shrimp will be white on the inside, with some pink on the outside).1 lb shrimp, ¾ teaspoon chili powder, ¾ teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon Onion Powder, ½ teaspoon Black Pepper, ½ teaspoon Paprika, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper flakes, 1 Tablespoon cooking oil
- Transfer to a serving bowl or platter, and set aside.
- Meanwhile, blend crema ingredients together.2 tablespoon Water, ½ cup cilantro, 2 cloves garlic, ½ teaspoon Salt, juice of 2 limes, ½ cup sour cream or full fat greek yogurt
- Serve shrimp and crema together with tortillas and toppings (listed above)8 6" tortillas
Nutrition
Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
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