Blackened Shrimp Tacos – The Almond Eater

June 10, 2023

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Taco Tuesday is additional thrilling with these Blackened Shrimp Tacos on the desk! Cajun-spiced and completely seared shrimp are wrapped in tortillas and topped with cabbage slaw, chipotle aioli, avocado, and cilantro. Prepared in half-hour!

three blackened shrimp tacos with chipotle aioli on top

The most effective elements of Taco Tuesday is experimenting with completely different flavors, proteins, and toppings week after week. There aren’t any guidelines… you possibly can stuff tortillas with seasoned rooster, pork, or salmon, or go for plant-based fillings as a substitute, like chickpeas, tofu, and even walnuts.

However while you’re craving a daring mix of flavors and textures, these Blackened Shrimp Tacos with cabbage slaw are the place it’s at!

They’re fast and simple to make with nothing greater than blackened-seasoned and seared shrimp. As soon as they’re loaded into tortillas, the boldly-flavored shrimp is taken up a notch with zesty and creamy toppings, like cabbage slaw, sliced avocado, cilantro, and creamy chipotle aioli.

Recipe options

Like these fajitas with blackened shrimp, the shrimp for the tacos are coated in Cajun seasonings, then seared till calmly charred and crisp.
The smoky shrimp is cooled down with refreshing, creamy toppings. Use what’s listed within the components or experiment together with your favourite taco toppings as a substitute.
They’re fast and simple to make for Taco Tuesday, weeknight dinners, or dinner events. No matter while you serve them, they’ll all the time ‘wow’ your dinner friends!

Components

Shrimp – Medium, giant, or extra-large shrimp will work for this shrimp taco recipe. Once you’re buying, search for contemporary, high-quality shrimp which can be agency and have a light oceany aroma. Buy pre-peeled and deveined shrimp or do it your self.

Blackening seasoning – I make home made blackening seasoning with smoked paprika, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and oregano, however you possibly can simply modify these spices to fit your style buds. Different widespread blackening spices are cayenne, thyme, onion powder, and black pepper. Retailer-bought blackening, Cajun, or Creole seasoning additionally works.

Tortillas – Each flour and corn tortillas work, so use your favourite.

Toppings – I really like topping shrimp tacos with zesty cabbage slaw, avocado, cilantro, and chipotle aioli, however the choices are infinite! Discover extra shrimp taco topping concepts within the Ideas under.

Step-by-step directions

Step 1: Season the shrimp. Place the peeled and deveined shrimp in a big bowl. Sprinkle the seasonings excessive, then toss to coat.

a bowl of raw shrimp with seasonings on top

Step 2: Prepare dinner the shrimp. Warmth the oil in a big forged iron skillet. As soon as it’s scorching, add the shrimp in a single layer and prepare dinner till they’re now not translucent.

a close-up of shrimp cooking on a cast iron skillet

Step 3: Heat the tortillas. In the meantime, warmth the tortillas in a scorching skillet or straight on a fuel burner. Additionally, make the chipotle aioli for those who haven’t performed so already – it solely takes 5 minutes!

Step 4: Assemble the tacos. Fill every tortilla with a number of items of shrimp, then your favourite taco toppings. Drizzle with the chipotle aioli, and revel in!

Ideas and FAQs

Pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel to assist the seasonings stick.
Don’t be shy with the seasoning! Blackened meals are identified for pronounced, fiery taste, so coat your shrimp with a fair, beneficiant layer of spices.
For additional flavorful shrimp, marinate the shrimp within the blackening seasoning for 10 minutes earlier than searing. It’s the identical technique I exploit in my Cajun shrimp alfredo, which yields daring, fiery shrimp each time.
Warming the tortillas in a scorching skillet makes them tender and extra pliable. In different phrases, you’ll have mess-free tacos and tender, heat bites.
Prepare dinner the shrimp shortly over excessive warmth. I like searing them in a smoking scorching cast-iron skillet, however grilling, air frying, or broiling till they’re pink and opaque with properly charred edges additionally works. Be very cautious to not overcook!
Extra shrimp taco toppings: Pico de gallo, contemporary jalapenos, pickled crimson onions, thinly sliced radishes, lime wedges, corn salsa, pineapple salsa, and guacamole are all the time a good suggestion. You can also’t go improper with a dollop of creamy sauce, like bitter cream or spicy avocado dressing.

What’s the perfect sort of shrimp to make use of for tacos?

There is no such thing as a one kind of shrimp that’s finest for shrimp tacos. Nevertheless, white shrimp (AKA gulf shrimp or Pacific shrimp) are straightforward to search out and comparatively inexpensive. Rock shrimp and black tiger shrimp additionally work.

What’s most essential is that the shrimp you utilize are contemporary, ideally sustainably sourced, and correctly cleaned and deveined earlier than cooking.

What else can you utilize to season shrimp for tacos?

Blackening, Creole, and Cajun seasoning blends are all daring, spicy, and smoky, and go nicely with shrimp. Be at liberty to regulate the ratio of a number of the spices if the seasoning blends are too spicy or smoky in your style buds.

Should you like your shrimp tacos on the spicier aspect, strive Mexican-style taco seasoning, fajita seasoning, or a chili lime seasoning mix as a substitute.

If spicy meals isn’t your factor, toss the shrimp with freshly minced garlic, contemporary oregano, thyme, or parsley, and a pinch of coarse salt.

What goes nicely with blackened shrimp tacos?

You may’t go improper pairing these shrimp tacos with Mexican-inspired sides, like cilantro lime rice or Spanish rice, black beans or refried beans, char-grilled veggies, and tortilla chips with salsa and guacamole.

Storing

Fridge: As soon as the leftover blackened shrimp is cool to room temperature, retailer them in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Maintain the remainder of the taco toppings and tortillas in separate containers within the fridge as nicely.

Freezing: You may freeze the leftover blackened shrimp for as much as 3 months. Thaw within the fridge earlier than reheating.

Extra taco recipes to strive

Should you made this recipe, be sure you go away a remark and star score under. Thanks!