Shrimp Tacos
This is the dish that started it-all.
Serves 8-10
Friends Friday meals are all about simple yet “friggen” delicious inexpensive food (emphasis on all three!) For this classic fish taco, the shrimp is enveloped in an addictive spice blend, a simple cilantro sauce is thrown together et voila-you’ve got dinner to feed “la gang”. Extra toppings can be added to make this as extravagant or as simple as you like. I like to say “ let your taco heart lead the way!”
I am absolutely obsessed with this meal as it can be thrown together while you’re chatting with your friends in the kitchen. Delegate a few tasks here and there and get the whole group involved, maybe even assign someone to dishes! Alternatively, many of the sides can be assembled the night before, like the slaw, spice mixture, sauce and fixings. Now call up your friends and you are on your way to enjoying a Friends Friday without breaking your back or the bank (Double W’s).
Pro Entertaining Tips
- Do your groceries the night before your friends arrive. If possible, prep as much the night before as you can.
- For this recipe, the cilantro sauce, slaw and other fixings can all be made and placed in serving bowls the night before. Simply plastic wrap them and place them in your fridge until you are ready to Fiesta! (Margaritas necessary)
- If your guests ask if they can contribute, ask them to bring an appetizer or wine. Dessert is so simple and can be made the night before. Check out this link for a super simple Lemon Blondies bar that is assembled in no time!
- Finally, set the table and clean up the space where you will be hosting your friends. You will feel much more relaxed coming home from a busy Friday, having a clean space and dinner pretty much done (only thing to do is pour yourself a (big) glass of wine)!
***Disclaimer! You do not need to make all these fixings, choose whichever ones jump out at and go with those. This is your Friend’s Friday, you follow your taco shaped heart!
Cilantro Crema
Ingredients
- ½ cup of sour cream
- ½ cup of mayo
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 lime juiced
- 1 handful of cilantro
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp sugar
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender and pulse until silky and smooth. Keep in refrigerator up to 3 days in an airtight container.
Shrimp & Spice Blend
Ingredients
- 1.5-2 pounds of frozen, de-veined, uncooked shrimp (preferably tail off)
- Deveining shrimp, peeling and removing tails is SUCH a process, do yourself a favour and spend the extra 3 dollars on the cleaned shrimp. You’re welcome.
- 1 tsp of each (Chilli, garlic powder, paprika,cayenne and salt)
- 3 tbl Vegetable oil
- Tortillas of your choice
Directions
- In a colander, thaw out frozen shrimp (preferably in the sink)
- In a small bowl, combine all spices.
- Once shrimp is thawed out, remove tails if not done so already, rinse and pat dry. Sprinkle spice blend all over shrimp and toss evenly.
- In a medium pan or skillet, heat oil on medium high heat and add shrimp. Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side.
Slaw
Ingredients
- Small red cabbage
- 2 carrots
- 1 garlic
- 1 jalapeno
- ½ cup mayo
- 2 tbl white vinegar
- 2 tbl lemon juice
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 tsp salt
Directions
- For the dressing, in a large bowl combine mayo, white vinegar, lemon juice, sugar and salt, whisk and set aside.
- Using a mandoline, thinly shred the red cabbage, add to dressing bowl. (If you do not have a mandoline, thinly slice cabbage with a sharp knife)
- Using a mandoline, slice the carrots lengthwise creating long thin ribbons, add to bowl.
- Thinly chop the garlic and jalapeno (for less spice, remove seeds and ribs) and add to slaw, mix well and store in the fridge (lasts up to 5 days).
Salsa Verde
Ingredients
- 1 28 oz can of Tomatillos
- 1 jalapeno (seeds removed)
- 2 garlic cloves chopped finely
- 1 lime, juiced
- ½ white onion chopped
- 1 handful of cilantro
- 1 tsp sugar
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until silky and smooth. Keep in refrigerator up to 1 week in an airtight container.
Optional additions
Thinly sliced radishes
Guacamole
Jalapenos
Corn Kernels (Canned corn is fine)