Description
These blackened shrimp tacos balance smoky spice and sweet pineapple for a summer-inspired dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 500 g (1 lb) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 10 g (2 tsp) kosher salt
- 10 g (2 tsp) sugar
- 8 g (1 tbsp) smoked paprika
- 2 g (1 tsp) ground cumin
- 3 g (1 tsp) garlic powder
- 2 g (1 tsp) onion powder
- 1–2 g (¼–½ tsp) cayenne pepper
- 8 g (1 tbsp) brown sugar
- 30 ml (2 tbsp) neutral oil (canola or vegetable)
- 150 g (1 cup) fresh pineapple, diced
- 40 g (¼ cup) red onion, finely diced
- 1 small jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional)
- 10 g (¼ cup) cilantro, chopped
- 15–30 ml (1–2 tbsp) lime juice
- Salt to taste
- 8 small corn or flour tortillas
- Optional toppings: sliced avocado, lime wedges, shredded cabbage, crema
Instructions
- Brine the shrimp: In a bowl, mix 240 ml (1 cup) water with 10 g (2 tsp) kosher salt and 10 g (2 tsp) sugar. Rinse shrimp and pat dry, then brine for 5 minutes. Rinse quickly and dry thoroughly.
- Make the pineapple salsa: Combine pineapple, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime juice. Season with salt and let sit for 5–10 minutes.
- Mix the blackening rub: In a bowl, whisk together smoked paprika, ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, and brown sugar. Coat shrimp with the rub.
- Heat the skillet: Preheat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat for 2–3 minutes. Add neutral oil and heat until shimmering.
- Sear the shrimp: Add shrimp in a single layer, cooking 1.5–2 minutes per side until charred and opaque, total of about 3–4 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Warm tortillas and assemble: Heat tortillas in a skillet for 20–30 seconds per side. Divide shrimp among tortillas, top with salsa, avocado, and a squeeze of lime. Serve immediately.
Notes
For extra crunch, toss shredded cabbage with lime and a pinch of sugar before serving. Keep all components separate until ready to serve to avoid sogginess.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Searing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tacos per serving
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 195mg