Add a little variety to your taco night with these Chipotle Shrimp and Asparagus Soft Tacos! You will love these spicy, zesty shrimp cooked in beer and then coated with a flavorful chipotle-lime sauce, served over a bed of greens in a whole wheat tortilla!
We used to have a Baja Fresh right around the corner, and I loved their shrimp soft tacos. I was crushed when it closed! It was kind of like an upgraded Taco Bell, with food that you could feel a little better about eating (not to knock Taco Bell…I have been known to eat there, too!).
We used to go to Baja Fresh after church on Saturday evenings and have a nice, quick, affordable dinner. Even though it was basically a fast food place, they would take your order, tell you to go ahead and find a table, and then they would bring tortilla chips over for you to munch on while you waited for your food.
The best part was the salsa bar! They had all kinds of salsa options, and you could help yourself to all of them if you wanted. They also had a container of chopped cilantro, which I always dug into enthusiastically. (I love cilantro!) We would sit with our chips and our drinks, and chew happily until our food was ready. I remember the shrimp soft tacos were always so flavorful and delicious, and they were never skimpy with the shrimp.
I don’t know why they closed (the chain still exists, just not the location near us), but I decided that I wanted to make my own shrimp soft taco since I couldn’t get them from Baja Fresh anymore. Unfortunately, the place near us closed quite a while ago, and my memory isn’t good enough for me to really say whether or not this recipe is a good imitation.
However, it was delicious, so I am not too concerned either way! I imagine Baja Fresh did not cook their shrimp in beer, and I know they did not use asparagus, but this is my recipe so I made it the way I wanted! 🙂
I must mention that Thing 2 did not like this dinner much. He doesn’t like cilantro and he doesn’t like chipotle. But, sometimes it is necessary to serve food that Thing 2 doesn’t like, in the name of keeping a little variety going on around here!
I also think it is important for Thing 2 to keep trying different flavors and textures. Sometimes he surprises me (and himself) when he finds he likes something that he didn’t used to like. So we will keep trying these sorts of dishes from time to time, and I might even write about them if the rest of us like them, even if Thing 2 does not totally approve!
I must admit, he is a good sport about it and tries just about everything with a little encouragement!
Chipotle Shrimp and Asparagus Soft Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh asparagus (I cut the tips off for this recipe and used the rest of the stalks for another meal)
- 12 ounces light beer
- 1 pound shrimp (fresh, or frozen and thawed)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup onion (chopped)
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder (or more, to taste)
- 1/3 cup cilantro (chopped)
- 4 whole wheat tortillas (soft taco size)
- 6 ounces spinach (can substitute lettuce)
- 1 avocado (optional)
- 1/4 cup sour cream (optional)
Instructions
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Bring a medium pot of water to boiling. Add the asparagus tips for about 30 seconds. Drain and rinse the asparagus with cool water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
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Pour the beer into a large skillet and heat over medium-high. Add the shrimp and cook until they just turn pink throughout.
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Drain the shrimp and set aside.
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In the same skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat and add the onion. Cook until the onion is translucent.
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Add the shrimp and asparagus in the with onion and stir.
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Add the lime juice and chipotle powder, and stir until distributed.
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Remove from the heat, and stir in the cilantro.
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Line the middle of each tortilla with the shredded spinach, then distribute the shrimp-asparagus mixture over the spinach.
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Top with avocado and sour cream and serve!
Enjoy!
Note: This post has been shared at THESE link parties!
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Karen says
Are you kidding me? Shrimp, Cilantro, and Avocado are the best…All together in a flavorful wrap? A definite must try. Thank you for sharing!
Miss Messy says
I love Chipotle! This looks delicious! 🙂
Heather @ French Press says
Tacos are our favorite meal – and we LOVE shrimp and asparagus too 🙂 what a great combo
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thanks for linking up
~Heather
Meghan @ The Tasty Fork says
YUM!! I love the Mexican flavors and I can NEVER turn down a taco! Thanks for linking up to Wake Up Wednesdays! I pinned this recipe to the Wake Up Wednesdays Pin Board. Have a great night!!
Krista @ joyfulhealthyeats says
Ok, I’m all about shrimp tacos. I never would have thought to put asparagus on them. Definitely going to have to give it a try. They look awsome Kristin, can’t wait to test it out. 🙂
Kristin says
Thanks, Krista! Oh, look, you just did a shrimp post too! I am heading over to check it out now!
Krista @ joyfulhealthyeats says
haha. I Know. Great minds think alike. 🙂
Easy Life Meal & Party Planning says
The Shrimp Tacos sound so good with Asparagus! I have a Thing 2 as well and we would have the same food over and over again if he had his way! Thanks for sharing on the BBQ Block Party.
Easy Life Meal & Party Planning
Antionette Blake says
Wow this looks awesome – I might have to try it this weekend.
Adelina Priddis says
Baja Fresh sounds amazing! Shrimp and asparagus – yummy! Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friday
sarah says
Those look amazing! Thank you so much for linking up at Thank You Honey’s Whatever Wednesday party!!
Sarah
http://thankyouhoneyblog.com
Lori @ A Bright and Beautiful Life says
I just saw that you’re the featured blog on The Best Blog Recipes this week. Congrats!!! This recipe looks awesome ~ I’m pinning it so I remember to make it. 🙂 Have a fantastic weekend.
Kristin King says
Thanks, Lori! I appreciate you stopping by. I am headed over to check out your milkshake…it sounds wonderful!
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
Uhmmm – Yum! Never had asparagus in a taco. Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party!
Sheri says
Oh my, I want these now. Adding to my week! Pinned! Thanks for sharing at the To Grandma’s House We Go DIY, Crafts, Recipes and More Link Party. Hope to see you again this week!
Jann Olson says
Oh yum! I have made shrimp tacos before, but never had asparagus with them. Gotta give it a try!! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Karren Haller says
THis is a great and healthy alternative to the traditional tacos, my husband would love shrimp tacos!!
Thank you for sharing on Friday Features #omhgff on Oh My Heartsie Girl, your post being featured this week and will be shared on Instagram, watch for it.
It will also be pinned on Pinterest and shared to Facebook.
Now I hope you enjoy the little boost, and stop by again to share.
Have a great weekend!
Erlene says
This sounds like a great taco recipe. We’re all asparagus eaters, so this is perfect for us. Thanks for sharing on Merry Monday. Pinned and will be featuring this in a roundup.