Olive Jude

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Dinner Recipes

Baja-style Spicy Shrimp Tacos

Grilled Baja-style shrimp tacos couldn’t be any quicker and any easier to prepare using mostly kitchen staples.Shrimp TacosI am a planner. I have lists in my office and in my kitchen. I love completing a task and crossing it off. I love it so much that sometimes I even add something that I’ve already done to the list just so I can cross it off. I bet I’m not alone!

But, no matter how much I plan, stuff just happens. Schedules change. Crazy weather hits us. Kiddies get sick. Grocery store visits are missed.Shrimp TacosSo, if I combine my planning tendencies, with my love of cooking, and my crazy, sometimes total hot mess of a mom life, it is crucial that I have a well-stocked kitchen. In my kitchen, my freezer real-estate is highly treasured! I only put into my freezer what I know will come out prized! There is nothing in the back hiding away gathering some freezer burn and being forgotten about. I value every nook in that space.

For quick weeknight family dinners or unexpected schedules, like the one I am experiencing tonight, my freezer is invaluable for making meals in a jiffy.

One of my freezer must-haves is shrimp. Frozen shrimp is like a dinner safety net for me. With just a few pantry items and hopefully some lingering fresh ingredients, I can always make an enjoyable dinner with frozen shrimp. Its versatility can take you in many different directions.

I usually purchase easy-peel and deveined shrimp, but most likely I stock whatever was on sale at the time. And I am a sucker for jumbo shrimp so I almost always go for this size.

Tonight, after I pulled my reliable bag of jumbo shrimp out of the freezer and let them thaw and then scanned my fridge and pantry for some goodies, I have decided some Southern California cuisine is a menu-must-do.Shrimp Tacos I’m making Tacos and it’s not even Tuesday!

Traditional Baja tacos include fried fish, shredded cabbage, and a creamy white sauce. So, you can imagine how excited I was when I spied some leftover cabbage AND tortillas in my fridge.Shrimp TacosI’m tossing the thawed and peeled shrimp with some cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper and a squeeze of lime and letting them sit for just a few minutes. (I don’t want them sitting too long in the lime juice because the lime will start to “cook” the shrimp and ceviche is not on the menu tonight).Shrimp TacosWhile the shrimp hang out, I grab some other kitchen must-haves. I mix some mayonnaise, a little sour cream, apple cider vinegar and honey in a bowl. And because we love the heat, I add a dash of cayenne. I toss this slaw sauce with the cabbage that I have sliced into thin ribbons. The color is spectacular!!!!
Shrimp TacosFor this Baja-style taco, I’m mixing up this killer, fiery, creamy sauce with mayo, sour cream, lime, chili powder, and chilpotle powder. I prefer the tang of Greek yogurt for a healthier option, but I’m using what’s on hand here. Shrimp Tacos

Shrimp TacosOh, yeah! I spy a tomato, jalepeno, one lonely avocado and even some cilantro leaves in the kitchen too! Taco necessities. Shrimp TacosMy grill pan is hot and my shrimp are ready to be seared!Shrimp TacosPlump, grilled sweet shrimp are the easiest and quickest filling for tacos and that is why you will always find that shrimp in my freezer.Shrimp TacosI even have time to saute and season up some frozen corn (freezer must-have) and black beans (pantry must-have) for a side dish.Shrimp TacosIn just 20 minutes, I am serving my family a flavor-packed dinner!Shrimp TacosThe creamy sauce gives the perfect kick!Shrimp TacosThe warm tortillas hug and hold these fresh (and frozen) ingredients perfectly! And a few sparse leftover cilantro leaves take the whole taco to the next level! Shrimp Tacos

Shrimp TacosTotal spontaneous dinner winner!!

What is one of your freezer must-haves?

Baja-style Spicy Shrimp Tacos

Grilled Baja-style shrimp tacos couldn’t be any quicker and any easier to prepare using mostly kitchen staples.

Slaw

  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp sour cream
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp honey
  • dash of cayenne
  • 1/2 red cabbage (thinly sliced)
  • 1/2 cabbage (thinly sliced)

Sauce

  • 2 tbsp sour cream
  • 1 tbsp mayonaise
  • 1 slice of lime (squeezed)
  • 1 tsp chilpotle chili powder
  • 1 tsp chili powder

Shrimp

  • 2 lbs peeled (thawed shrimp (I used jumbo))
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • pinch of salt
  • pinch of pepper
  • squeeze of lime
  • olive oil for grill pan

Toppings

  • sliced tomato
  • thinly sliced jalapeño
  • sliced avocado
  • cilantro leaves for garnish
  • tortillas (warmed in the oven or microwave)

Slaw

  1. Combine first 5 ingredients and stir to combine. Toss in the cabbage and toss to coat. Set aside.

Sauce

  1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Stir to combine and set aside.

Shrimp

  1. Combine all ingredients in the bowl and toss. Let sit for 10 mins. Sear on a hot grill pan on both sides until shrimp is opaque.

  2. Warm tortillas.
  3. Top tortillas with the slaw and the fresh ingredients.
  4. Top with the shrimp and drizzle the spicy cream sauce on top.
  5. Garnish with cilantro.

I buy the 2 lb. bag of shrimp and cook the entire bag, but expect leftovers.
Adjust the seasoning for both sauces to your liking.
Try Greek yogurt as a healthy alternative.
Go traditional, and do this recipe with fried fish.

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Comments

  1. Pat Leonard says

    Made this for myself then again during a cottage vacation with my brother and sister last month Tonight I tried it with my wife who doesn’t do to spicy but she loved it too. So far everyone has loved it. I added shredded cotija cheese. Awesome. Thanks.

    Reply

    • Olive Jude says

      Sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy this. As with all recipes, it’s a good idea to taste and adjust seasonings to your liking so you can get that kick of spice you’re longing for. Thanks for checking out the recipe though.

      Reply

      • Carrie says

        Well this is my 4th time making them and they are awesome!
        The only thing I changed was I add 2 canned chipotle peppers to the sauce instead of powered and the fam loves them! This is my go to baja taco recipe. Thank you!

        Reply

  7. Rebecca says

    Who doesn’t love Taco’s!? These look wonderful and I love all your photos. Makes it so simple to make and see what you did. Thanks

    Reply

  8. Amber says

    Tacos are always a good idea. These baja shrimp tacos will be a nice switch up from the regular ground beef or turkey ones.

    Reply

  11. candy says

    I like all kinds of tacos. Unfortunately my husband doesn’t think along the same lines as I do. I will make these when he won’t be around.

    Reply

  17. Sharon says

    The spicy sauce on the shrimp remind me of Bang Bang Shrimp from Bonefish. Have you had it before?? I like your version better thought since it’s not fried. I gotta try it out next week! I am always struggling to get a meal on the table after a long day of working so this is perfect for me 🙂

    Reply

  21. Halley says

    These look so yummy!! I always make tacos have I have never thought to make shrimp tacos, I don’t know why but I cannot wait to try these ones out!

    Reply

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