Looking for a simple, bright and sunny dish to cast away your winter blues? Look no further! These flavour-packed tacos are the key. Fresh and flavourful charred pineapple salsa, zesty pickled cabbage, tender, crispy coconut shrimp and zesty lime crema come together to make for a new 30-minute dinner favourite.
Tropical Pineapple Coconut Shrimp Tacos
Prep/Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 12 tacos
Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 cup rice vinegar
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt, divided
2 cups finely sliced red cabbage
4 slices pineapple, about ½ inch thick
1 jalapeno
2 rings red onion, about ½ inch thick
½ cup cilantro leaves and tender stems, chopped
2 limes, divided
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp agave syrup or honey
450g medium shrimp, thawed, peeled and deveined
½ cup flour
¼ tsp pepper
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut
¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
12 small flour tortillas
Directions:
1. Bring water, vinegar, sugar and ½ tsp salt to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add cabbage and boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and set aside for 10 minutes. Drain and set aside to cool.
2. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook pineapple, jalapeno and onion in batches until charred and tender, about 4 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway. Set aside to cool slightly. Once cooled, remove pineapple rind and chop the fruit and vegetables (use the seeds of the jalapeno if you want heat, discard if you want a milder salsa). Toss with the juice of one lime and cilantro.
3. Stir together the sour cream, juice of remaining lime, agave syrup or honey and 1 tsp zest in a small bowl.
4. Place flour and eggs into separate medium sized bowls. Stir remaining ½ tsp salt and pepper into eggs. Stir together coconut and panko in another medium bowl.
5. Dredge shrimp in flour, then egg mixture followed by coconut mixture. Heat enough oil to generously coat the bottom of a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Fry shrimp in batches until golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes, turning halfway and replenishing oil, if needed between batches. Set aside on a cooling rack-lined baking sheet.
6. To warm tortillas, heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Add tortillas in batches, cooking until browned on both sides, about 1 to 2 minutes, turning halfway. Wrap in a clean kitchen towel to keep warm while cooking remaining tortillas.
7. Spread tortillas with lime crema, topped with pickled cabbage, shrimp and pineapple salsa.
For a vegan alternative, whip up these coconut-crusted cauliflower tacos. For a post-meal treat, stick with the tropical theme and make one of our sunniest dessert recipes. You can also add this reliable dinner staple to your arsenal of healthy Mexican recipes.