Easy Shrimp Taco Recipe: 8 Shrimp Taco Toppings

Shrimp tacos are a version of the Mexican street snack that heavily features shrimp and several toppings inside a folded tortilla. Much like other versions of tacos, a shrimp taco lends itself to a variety of flavor combinations.

There are several ways to cook shrimp for shrimp tacos: You can use fresh shrimp or frozen shrimp, and then season them with taco seasoning or another blend of spices. Here are three of the most popular ways to prepare shrimp for tacos:

• Fried shrimp: Crispy, fried shrimp can add texture and fattiness to an otherwise light and refreshing dish. Season the shrimp with salt and black pepper, then for a light and crispy shell, coat the shrimp in cornstarch and shallow-fry them in a neutral oil like vegetable or canola oil. Dry off excess oil on a paper towel and fill a corn tortilla or flour tortilla with the crispy shrimp and toppings of your choice.
• Grilled shrimp: Season fresh shrimp or thawed frozen shrimp with fresh lime juice, cumin, chili powder, a pinch of cayenne pepper, and garlic powder. Toss them with olive to avoid sticking and then grill them until char marks appear. Squeeze lime wedges over the shrimp as they cook.
• Sautéed shrimp: Cook the shrimp in a cast-iron skillet or other large skillet. Preheat your pan over medium-high heat, add a little olive oil, and sauté the seasoned shrimp just until they turn pink, which should take only a few minutes per side.

For easy shrimp tacos, use a combination of any savory garnishes you have on hand. Here are some common toppings for shrimp tacos:

1. 1. Crema: Use sour cream or even Greek yogurt to make a creamy sauce, also called a crema, for shrimp tacos. For spicy shrimp tacos, stir in hot sauce, or blend it with chipotles in adobo sauce.
2. 2. Cabbage slaw: Shredded cabbage tossed with vinegar or lime juice, salt, and pepper is a basic way to make slaw for tacos. It differs from coleslaw in that it’s not generally mayonnaise-based. Try red cabbage, green cabbage, or a combination of both.
3. 3. Fresh cilantro leaves: Use cilantro as a garnish for fish tacos to give a fresh and bright flavor. If you don’t like cilantro, use parsley instead or leave the herbs out altogether. Mexican cuisine uses cilantro as a garnish, but also in salsas and other shrimp taco sauces.
4. 4. Fresh lime juice: A squeeze of lime juice is an easy way to add flavor to shrimp tacos and other Mexican dishes as it complements spicy flavors well.
5. 5. Guacamole: Mix together mashed ripe avocados, diced onion, tomato, lime juice, diced jalapeño, cilantro, salt, and pepper for guacamole, an easy shrimp taco topping.
6. 6. Mango salsa: Add a fruity and spicy kick to shrimp tacos with mango salsa, consisting of diced fresh mango, red onion, and a pepper like a jalapeño. Lime juice adds acidity, but vinegar can work, too.
7. 7. Pickled jalapeños: For notes of spiciness and acidity—both of which are important in Mexican cuisine—pickle jalapeños in a vinegar solution to infuse shrimp tacos with a briny, spicy flavor.
8. 8. Pico de gallo: A chunky salsa made with tomatoes, white onions, and chiles, pico de gallo often also includes lime juice and cilantro for even more flavor. Make it in a food processor, or dice all the ingredients and mix them together by hand.

The best way to store shrimp tacos is to store all the elements individually, since not all components will keep to the same degree. Store the cooked shrimp, salsa, guacamole, slaw, crema, and any other toppings in the refrigerator. Corn tortillas and flour tortillas store the best at room temperature, so you can cover them and keep them on your countertop or in your pantry. Storing fresh limes in the refrigerator is optional. To consume shrimp taco leftovers, reheat the ingredients that you want to serve warm or hot and leave the rest cold or at room temperature.