Spicy Shrimp Tacos Garlic Slaw (Printer-Friendly)
Seasoned shrimp with creamy garlic cilantro lime slaw in warm tortillas. A quick 30-minute Mexican-inspired meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Spiced Shrimp
01 - 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
05 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - ½ teaspoon ground cumin
07 - ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
08 - ½ teaspoon kosher salt
09 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
10 - Juice of 1 lime
→ Garlic Cilantro Lime Slaw
11 - 3 cups shredded green and red cabbage blend
12 - ½ cup carrots, shredded
13 - ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
14 - ¼ cup mayonnaise
15 - 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
16 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
17 - 1 clove garlic, minced
18 - 1 teaspoon honey
19 - Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Assembly
20 - 8 small corn or flour tortillas, warmed
21 - 1 ripe avocado, sliced
22 - Fresh cilantro and lime wedges, for garnish
# How to Make It:
01 - In a medium bowl, combine the shrimp, olive oil, minced garlic, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, kosher salt, black pepper, and lime juice. Toss thoroughly until every shrimp is evenly coated. Let marinate while preparing the slaw.
02 - In a large bowl, combine the shredded cabbage, carrots, and chopped cilantro. In a separate smaller bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, fresh lime juice, minced garlic, honey, salt, and pepper until smooth. Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss until evenly coated. Refrigerate until ready to assemble.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Arrange the seasoned shrimp in an even layer and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until they turn pink and opaque throughout. Remove from heat immediately to prevent overcooking.
04 - Warm the tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 30 seconds per side, or wrap in a damp paper towel and microwave for 20 to 30 seconds until pliable.
05 - Layer a generous portion of garlic cilantro lime slaw onto each warm tortilla. Top with the spicy shrimp and sliced avocado. Garnish with additional cilantro and serve with lime wedges alongside.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The slaw is the real star here, cool and creamy with a lime punch that makes everything taste alive.
- Start to finish in thirty minutes, which means this beats takeout on speed alone.
- The spice blend on the shrimp is bold but balanced, never overwhelming, just deeply satisfying.
02 -
- Overcooked shrimp turn rubbery and sad, pull them from the heat the second they are fully pink because carryover cooking will finish the job.
- Letting the slaw chill even briefly makes a huge difference in flavor development and texture.
03 -
- Pat the shrimp bone dry with paper towels before seasoning or the oil will spit and the spices will slide right off.
- The slaw actually tastes better on day two, so make a double batch of just that part and eat it with everything from sandwiches to grilled chicken.