Tangy Garlic Lime Shrimp Tacos

This tangy, smoky, garlic shrimp marinade makes a great shrimp taco seasoning. It’s quick and easy to make and creates a delicious coating for shrimp and seafood. Though you could eat the garlic lime shrimp on its own, it’s even better tucked into a warm tortilla and loaded with your favorite toppings.

Here in the tropics, fish abounds.  So does crab — both the blue crab variety and those tasty stone crab claws in season now.  We have sweet spiny lobsters (ours don’t have the big pincher claws) and oysters from the northern part of the state.   And then there’s shrimp.  Gorgeous, pink blue crab — plentiful, plump & juicy! One of the easiest and tastiest ways to enjoy this bounty is with this easy lime, cumin and garlic shrimp marinade, which is less of a marinade and more of a quick, down-and-dirty preparation.

Ingredients for Lime Cumin Garlic Shrimp Marinade

• Cumin
• Smoked Paprika
• Cayenne Pepper
• Oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Lime Zest
• Lime Juice
• Chopped Garlic

Making Garlic Lime Shrimp

1. Peel and devein the shrimp (removing the tails, if you’re making tacos)
2. Transfer shrimp to a bowl and lightly coat with oil.
3. Add cumin, paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper to the shrimp and toss to coat.
4. Add oil to a large skillet over medium high heat.
5. Place the shrimp in a single layer in the skillet and cook on one side until they turn pink.
6. Using a pair of tongs, flip the shrimp over and add the lime zest, garlic and lime juice. Toss the shrimp in the lime garlic glaze until well coated and the shrimp are cooked through.

This is less of a garlic shrimp marinade, because you really don’t need to let the shrimp rest in the shrimp taco seasoning blend before cooking it. That makes these garlic lime shrimp tacos super fast and easy to make. In fact, it will probably take you longer to assemble the toppings than it will the shrimp.

Can I Use Frozen Shrimp For Shrimp Tacos?

Yes. Frozen shrimp is fine, however, be sure to thaw the shrimp completely. Pat it dry with paper towels, otherwise they’ll steam instead of sear. Also, if using frozen shrimp with the tails on — remove the tails — you don’t want a big piece of shell in your taco.

What Size Shrimp Should I Use?

The nice thing about this is that you don’t have to go all out and buy the extra large or jumbo variety of prawns.  In fact, you shouldn’t.  24-30 count medium shrimp are the perfect size for tacos. 

Shrimp Taco Seasoning and Toppings:

If you aren’t a spice fan, you can eliminate the cayenne pepper from the shrimp taco seasoning. However, if you do like spice, you could also augment with red pepper flakes or your favorite hot sauce.

More Favorite Toppings:

• Diced tomato
• Pico De Gallo
• Avocado
• Cilantro
• Queso Fresco
• Cheddar
• Monterey Jack
• Pepper Jack
• Shredded Cabbage (Red or White)
• Slaw
• 10 Minute Chunky Black Bean and Corn Salsa from Dawn at Girl Heart Food.
• Sliced Jalapenos
• Pickled Jalapeños
• Tomatillo Salsa
• Lime Wedges
• Fish Taco Sauce (courtesy of Greg at My Wife Can Cook)
• Sour Cream
• Lime Crema
• Pickled Red Onions

The best shrimp taco seasoning advice I can give, however, is to lightly char your tortillas. Heated in the oven is ok, but to really make it authentic, they need to be kissed by a flame or hot pan.

How To Char Tortillas For Garlic Lime Shrimp Tacos

Gas Grill Method: Heat the gas grill to a medium heat (about 350°) and lay the tortillas in a single layer on the grill. Heat the tortillas, just until they start to puff, then use a pair of tongs to flip them. Note: If your gas grill has hot spots, be aware of them and pay extra attention so you don’t burn the whole tortilla.

Gas Burning Stovetop Method: Turn the stove top on to a medium flame. Rest a tortilla directly on the burner (not the heating element itself). Use a pair of tongs to move the tortilla around and char it evenly. When it starts to puff on one side, flip the tortilla and char the other side to your liking. Continue with remaining tortillas.

Electric Stovetop Method: This one isn’t quite as effective, but if you don’t have access to a gas burner, you don’t have much of a choice. Place a nonstick skillet over medium high heat and place a tortilla in the skillet. Cook the tortilla until it becomes fragrant and starts to take on some color. (It may or may not puff, so don’t use that as your visual cue). Use your tongs to flip it and continue charring on the other side.

Serve the tangy garlic lime shrimp tacos with your favorite yellow rice, coleslaw or from my fellow foodie pals these fabulous sides:

Quick and Easy Black Bean Recipe via Julie from Hostess At Heart.

Arroz Verde (Green Poblano Rice) from Sean at Diversivore.

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Tangy Garlic Lime Shrimp Tacos

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: shrimp, soft tacos, tacos

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 378kcal

Seafood tacos are always a hit in our house and these garlicky lime shrimp are the perfect stuffing for flour tortillas!

Print Recipe

Ingredients

FOR TANGY GARLIC LIME SHRIMP

• 1 pound medium shrimp peeled, tail removed, deveined
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• pinch cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon + 1 tablespoon canola or olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 lime zested and juiced
• 1/4 cup cilantro chopped

SERVE WITH:

• 8 flour tortillas warm
• 1/2 cup cilantro
• 1 cup charred salsa verde recipe on this site
• 1 cup queso fresco crumbled
• 1 lime cut into wedges

OTHER OPTIONAL GARNISHES:

• 1 avocado sliced
• 1/4 cabbage thinly sliced
• 1 jalapeño thinly sliced
• pickled red onions
• pico de gallo
• 1/2 cup sour cream

Instructions

• Place peeled and deveined shrimp in a bowl. Coat with 1 teaspoon oil. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, cumin, paprika and cayenne. Mix thoroughly and set aside.
• Place a pan over medium high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of oil and let it heat until it's slick, but not quite smoking. Add shrimp to the pan in a single layer and cook until just slightly turning pink, 1-2 minutes. Use a pair of tongs to flip them in the pan and continue cooking an additional minute. Add the garlic, lime zest and lime juice. Cook and stir for an additional minute. Remove from heat and stir in the cilantro.
• To assemble: place 4-5 shrimp in a warm tortilla, top with additional cilantro, charred salsa verde and crumbled queso fresco. Add other accompaniments if desired. Finish with a squeeze of lime

Notes

Serve with a side of yellow rice, or white rice and black beans. (I always top the beans with additional salsa).

Nutrition

Calories: 378kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 2014mg | Potassium: 403mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 20.4% | Vitamin C: 8.9% | Calcium: 30.7% | Iron: 14.8%

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