Description
Sizzling Mexican-inspired Easy Grilled Shrimp Tacos bring coastal flavors to your summer table. Crisp tortillas, perfectly charred shrimp, and zesty toppings create a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 8 small corn or flour tortillas
- 2 cups shredded cabbage or slaw mix
- 1 avocado, sliced
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
- Lime wedges
- ¼ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce or sriracha
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Marinade Preparation: Whisk olive oil, lime juice, garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl. Immerse shrimp in the mixture, ensuring complete coating. Allow flavors to meld for 10-15 minutes while preparing accompaniments and heating cooking surface.
- Grilling Process: Ignite grill or grill pan to medium-high temperature. Carefully arrange shrimp on skewers or directly onto heated grates. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, watching for pink coloration and translucent transformation, indicating perfect doneness.
- Tortilla Warming: Briefly toast tortillas on grill for 20-30 seconds per side, developing slight char and enhancing flexibility and flavor profile.
- Taco Assembly: Layer each warm tortilla with creamy sauce as foundation. Stack with crisp cabbage/slaw, perfectly grilled shrimp, creamy avocado slices, fresh cilantro sprigs, and finish with zesty lime juice squeeze.
- Serving Suggestion: Present immediately, accompanied by additional sauce and lime wedges to enhance individual taste preferences.
Notes
- Don’t exceed 15 minutes when marinating shrimp, as acidic lime juice can start breaking down delicate proteins and make them tough if left too long.
- Maintain medium-high heat to prevent overcooking shrimp, which turns rubbery and loses its sweet, tender texture when exposed to excessive heat.
- Choose plump, fresh shrimp with a mild sea scent; avoid any with ammonia-like odors indicating spoilage, ensuring the best flavor and food safety.
- Swap corn tortillas with lettuce wraps for low-carb versions, or use gluten-free tortillas to accommodate different dietary restrictions without compromising taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg