Spicy Asian Shrimp Tacos with Crunchy Slaw and Lime

An overhead view of soft flour tortillas filled with crisp napa cabbage slaw, jumbo shrimp stir-fried with garlic and ginger, and a garnish of chopped cilantro.

Why We Love This Recipe

These tacos feature jumbo shrimp quickly stir-fried with plenty of garlic and fresh ginger, finished with a squeeze of lime and tossed with scallions and cilantro. The shrimp stay tender and fragrant, giving each bite bright, savory flavor.

A crisp napa cabbage slaw balances the shrimp, while a sweet-spicy sriracha mayo ties everything together. The result is a light, flavorful taco that’s fast enough for weeknights and impressive enough for guests.

A closeup view of soft tacos filled with stir-fried shrimp and napa cabbage slaw, drizzled with sriracha mayo and garnished with fresh cilantro.

If you like serving tacos neatly, inexpensive restaurant-style taco holders are handy for testing and presentation. They keep tortillas upright and make assembling at the table easier.

More Taco Recipes

  • Ground Turkey Tacos
  • Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Sweet Plantains
An overhead view of soft flour tortillas filled with crisp napa cabbage slaw, jumbo shrimp stir-fried with garlic and ginger, and a garnish of chopped cilantro.
4.44 from 16 votes

Spicy Asian Shrimp Tacos

By Lynne Webb
Loaded with a crunchy napa cabbage slaw and jumbo shrimp stir-fried with garlic and ginger, these tacos are a fresh, light meal that comes together quickly.
Prep: 30
Cook: 5
Total: 35
Servings: 4 servings
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Ingredients

  • 24 extra-jumbo shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails removed
  • 3 cups chopped napa cabbage, firmly packed
  • 1 medium carrot, shredded
  • 4 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
  • 2 teaspoons sugar, divided
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, or more to taste
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons sriracha
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
  • 2 scallions, sliced
  • 8 flour tortillas, small, 8-inch

Instructions

  • In a mixing bowl, combine the chopped napa cabbage and shredded carrot. Add 2 tablespoons of the oil, 1 teaspoon of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon each of the minced garlic and ginger. Drizzle with rice vinegar, season with salt and pepper, and toss. Set the slaw aside while you prepare the shrimp.
  • Place the shrimp in a separate bowl and toss with the remaining garlic and ginger, the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, and a light seasoning of salt and pepper. Set aside briefly to absorb the flavors.
  • Whisk together the mayonnaise, sriracha and the remaining teaspoon of sugar until the sugar dissolves. Adjust the sriracha to taste and set the sauce aside.
  • Heat a wok or large skillet over high heat. Add the shrimp mixture and stir-fry until the shrimp turn pink and opaque, about 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Deglaze the pan with the lime juice, add the chopped cilantro and sliced scallions, toss to combine, then remove from the heat.
  • To assemble, place about 1/3 cup of slaw in the center of each tortilla, top with 3 to 4 shrimp, and drizzle roughly 2 teaspoons of the sriracha mayo over each taco. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 602, Total Fat: 32g, Cholesterol: 69mg, Sodium: 1001mg, Carbohydrates: 63g, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 3g, Protein: 17g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.