Baja Shrimp Tacos

Name: Baja Shrimp Tacos
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Ingredients: 12 to 16 large shrimp or prawns, peeled and deveined; 1 tbsp. olive oil; ½ tbsp. ancho chili powder; 1 tsp. ground cumin; 2 large cloves garlic, pressed; ¼ tsp. ground Himalayan pink salt, or to taste; ½ tbsp. hot sauce such as Cholula or Valentina; 6 6-inch corn or flour tortillas; 1 cup red cabbage, thinly sliced; ½ cup crema (substitute sour cream), for serving; 6 lime wedges, for serving; ¼ cup red onion, diced; 1 to 1 ½ tbsp. jalapeño pepper, ribs removed and finely diced; 1 large Roma tomato, seeded and diced; 1 large avocado, stone removed, peeled and cubed; 1 tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice; ½ tsp. ground Himalayan pink salt, or to taste; ½ tsp. freshly ground mixed peppercornes, or to taste; 1 ½ tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped

Author: Francine Lizotte

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Posted on Jun 30th, 2026

by Francine Lizotte

There are two holidays coming up this week: Canada Day and 4th of July! Family and friends on both sides of the border will gather together for a picnic, or a backyard party. People will set up some decorations, choose the music 🎶, and prep the food.

The most obvious will be the ones that go on the barbecue. It can be ribs, hamburgers, and hot dogs, steaks 🥩, rotisserie chicken, asparagus, corn on the cob, eggplants, etc. Another one that should be on the menu is Baja Shrimp Tacos!

These are popular for a good reason… they’re loaded with deliciousness! With well-seasoned shrimp paired with a tasty salsa, and topped with red cabbage and crema, each bite is a burst of vibrant flavor! This light and satisfying dish is incredibly quick to make, and a certainly a summer favorite 💖!

One of the spices 🥫 I use to coat the protein is ancho chili powder… not chili powder, there’s a difference! Although they can be interchangeable, they’re not quite the same. One is a blend of different spices, while the other is a single-ingredient spice.

– Ancho Chili Powder is just a single ingredient made from dried, ground poblano peppers, delivering that smoky, sweet, and fruity profile with a bit of heat in the background.
– Chili Powder is a pre-mixed seasoning blend. There’s ground chiles, ground cumin, garlic salt 🧄, onion powder, and dried oregano.

What makes these Baja Shrimp Tacos so succulent is the salsa. The combination is perfectly balanced, with freshness to it! It wraps the dish up so beautifully! There are raw red onions 🧅 that go in, and sometimes their taste can be strong, so here’s a way to fix their harshness… How to Remove Bitterness from Onions.

I enjoy spicy food to a certain extent. I don’t want to numb my taste buds and miss out on the other flavors. To the salsa, I add 1 to 1 ½ tablespoons of finely diced jalapeño peppers however, if you prefer more or less heat 🧯, adjust accordingly.

In the video, I warm up my tortillas and cook the shrimp on an electric indoor non-stick grill, although a skillet on the stovetop is another way to go. Why not the BBQ? If the weather is wet ☔, these are two great options to have up your sleeves. If using the “barbie”, the shrimp must be threaded onto skewers.

Whichever cooking method you choose, the temperature is set at 400ºF, which is the equivalent to the medium-high heat on the stovetop. Warming up the tortillas takes about a minute per side ⏳ at the most, and a little longer, but not that much more when it comes to the protein: 2:30 to 3 minutes, flipping halfway through.

People tend to overcook the protein 🍤, resulting in it becoming tough and dry, with a rubbery texture. A perfectly cooked shrimp curls into a loose “C”, and if it curls into a tight “O”, it’s overcooked. If using a thermometer, the internal temperature of the thickest part should be around 120ºF to 125ºF.

From start to finish, cooking time is 5 minutes, and the salsa can be made 👩‍🍳👨‍🍳 ahead. This is one of those dishes that I like to call “stress-free”. This recipe is ideal for entertaining or when you don’t want to spend too much time cooking.

These flavorful Baja Shrimp Tacos 🌮 are a popular Mexican finger food that everyone enjoys! They’re quick and easy to make, and the perfect meal to have this summer. Celebrate one of the upcoming holidays 🍁 by serving them at your gathering.
Bon Appétit! 🍽

Here are several more Mexican-inspired recipes for you to enjoy… 😀
– Easy Chicken Fajitas
– Mexican Chicken Salad
– Tequila-Lime Chicken Wings
– Strawberry Mango Margarita
– Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef
– Mexican Smoky Corn Dip
– Chiles Rellenos
– Mexican Tostadas
– Fire Roasted Salsa
– Michelada • Mexican Beer Cocktail
and for even more Mexican recipes, click on this link… Recipe Category • Mexican Cuisine

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