Description
These Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Garlic Cilantro Lime Slaw combine tender, flavorful shrimp with a creamy, zesty slaw, creating a perfectly balanced and vibrant meal. Ready in just 30 minutes, this recipe features a homemade spicy sauce, sautéed shrimp coated with a smoky spice blend, and fresh toppings like avocado and Cotija cheese, all wrapped in warm tortillas.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 1/4 cup oil
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions
- 1/2 cup cilantro leaves
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Juice of 2 limes
- 1/2 cup sour cream or full-fat Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup water (if needed, to thin sauce)
Spice Mix
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (more or less to taste)
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed
- 2–3 cups shredded green cabbage
- 8 small tortillas (corn or flour)
- 2 avocados
- 1/4 cup Cotija cheese
- Lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Make the Sauce: Pulse the oil, chopped green onions, cilantro leaves, garlic, salt, lime juice, and sour cream or Greek yogurt in a food processor or blender until the mixture is mostly smooth. Add water if the sauce is too thick to achieve a creamy, pourable consistency.
- Prepare the Slaw: Toss 2 to 3 cups of shredded green cabbage with a portion of the prepared sauce to coat evenly. Reserve the remaining sauce to use as a topping later.
- Season the Shrimp: Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. Combine all the spice mix ingredients in a bowl and evenly coat the shrimp with this spice blend.
- Sauté the Shrimp: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the spiced shrimp and sauté until cooked through, about 2-3 minutes per side, or until opaque and firm to the touch. Remove from heat.
- Assemble the Tacos: Warm the tortillas briefly on a skillet or microwave. Smash slices of avocado onto each tortilla, then layer with the slaw, cooked shrimp, and a sprinkle of Cotija cheese. Drizzle extra sauce on top and serve with lime wedges on the side.
Notes
- You can adjust the cayenne pepper quantity to control the heat level of the spice mix.
- Use corn tortillas for a gluten-free option or flour tortillas for a softer texture.
- For a lighter sauce, substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream.
- If you don’t have Cotija cheese, feta can be a good substitute.
- This recipe can be doubled easily to accommodate more servings.
- Ensure shrimp are dry before seasoning to get a nice sear when sautéing.
