These blackened shrimp tacos are an easy, healthy weeknight dinner and a twist on your regular Taco Tuesday.

These spicy blackened shrimp, along with a sweet coleslaw and spicy Sriracha sauce are not for the weak! You can always adjust the seasonings but sometimes you just need a little heat in your life.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ‘BLACKEN’ FOOD?

There is a difference between ‘grilling’ something and ‘blackening’ it. To blacken does not mean to burn or cook until it is black. We call that burnt. You first want to create a blackening seasoning mix that has no oil, otherwise that would be a marinade.

So it’s essentially a dry rub and then, the shrimp in our case, is cooked over high heat in a pan that has been preheated. I will always recommend a cast iron skillet for these types of recipes as you can heat it to a very hot temperature without it smoking like stainless would do.

So you are charring it at a high temperature and cooking it very quickly which will give it a nice flavor packed, crusty outside.

WHAT EXACTLY IS IN BLACKENING SEASONING?

This is a basic blackening seasoning. Sometimes basil is added and you can of course adjust these to your tastes.

Smoked paprika (you can use regular if you don’t care for a smoky flavor)
Thyme
Oregano
Cumin
Cayenne (use a little or a lot)
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Salt and pepper

A word about the slaw …. I typically prefer coleslaw after it’s been in the fridge over night to soften. However, in the case of shrimp tacos, I like it better when it’s crunchy. It just adds another layer of texture to the soft shrimp.

It’s ice cold, it’s crunchy and if offsets the spice from the shrimp and creamy sriracha sauce. Feel free to toast your tortillas on the burner of your stove for a minute or two for some more texture and crunch!

TOPPINGS:

The sky is the limit. You can top your tacos with:

Diced Tomatoes
Avocado slices
Shredded lettuce
Mango Salsa ~ Helllooo!
Fresh Cilantro or Parsley

These shrimp tacos are a much healthier alternative to ground beef and pre packaged taco seasoning. Taco night can still be a part of your weekly menu and it can delicious too!