Description
Quick Paleo shrimp tacos combine zesty flavors with fresh ingredients for a satisfying meal. Mexican-inspired cuisine delivers clean protein and crisp textures you can enjoy without guilt.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ lb (680 g) shrimp, peeled and deveined, 21-25 count
- 1 head butter lettuce, leaves separated
- 1 small white onion, peeled and finely diced
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- 1 lime zest
- ¼ cup (60 ml) avocado or olive oil
- 3 tbsps fresh oregano, minced (or 1 tbsp dried oregano)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ tsp Diamond Crystal brand kosher salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ cup cilantro, minced
- 1 large Hass avocado
- ¼ cup full-fat coconut milk
- 2 tbsps cilantro, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup chives, roughly chopped
- 2 tbsps freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Marination Magic: Immerse shrimp in a zesty marinade of olive oil, dried oregano, minced garlic, and lime zest, thoroughly coating each piece and refrigerating for 30 minutes to 2 hours to infuse deep flavors.
- Sauce Preparation: Craft a velvety avocado crema by blending ripe avocado flesh with coconut milk, cilantro, chives, lime juice, salt, and pepper until achieving a silky, smooth consistency. Taste and fine-tune seasoning as needed.
- Fresh Garnish Creation: Finely chop red onion and cilantro leaves, setting aside in the refrigerator to maintain crisp texture and vibrant flavor profile.
- Shrimp Roasting Technique: Preheat oven to 400°F, line baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange marinated shrimp in a single layer, season with additional salt and pepper, then roast for 6-8 minutes until opaque with a golden exterior.
- Taco Assembly: Layer roasted shrimp on crisp lettuce leaves, sprinkle with prepared onion-cilantro garnish, and generously drizzle with creamy avocado sauce. Serve with fresh lime wedges for an extra burst of citrusy brightness.
Notes
- Maximize Marinade Time: Let shrimp soak in the olive oil, oregano, garlic, and lime zest mixture for up to 2 hours to develop deep, robust flavors that will elevate the entire dish.
- Perfect Shrimp Roasting: Watch carefully during the 6-8 minute cooking window to prevent overcooking, which can make shrimp tough and rubbery. Golden edges signal perfectly cooked seafood.
- Sauce Consistency Hack: When blending avocado crema, start with less coconut milk and gradually add more to control thickness, ensuring a creamy yet spreadable texture.
- Temperature Matters: Use a hot oven at 400°F and avoid overcrowding the baking sheet to achieve crisp, evenly roasted shrimp with beautiful golden edges.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 340mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 150mg