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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Seafood

    Crispy Prawn Tacos

    Published: Mar 19, 2018 · Modified: Jul 12, 2022 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 40 Comments

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    Diet: Low Fat
    Crispy Prawn Tacos title picture
    Crispy shrimp tacos with a text title overlay.

    Tacos don't have to be overly complicated and these Crispy Prawn Tacos are about as simple as they get. Crispy oven baked prawns on a bed of crisp lettuce, a fresh and spicy salsa with a drizzle of zesty coriander sauce. Shrimp tacos (as you would call them in the US) are an easy but impressive meal that can easily feed a crowd.

    Crispy Prawn Tacos with lettuce and salsa with a drizzle of creamy sauce.

    These are the perfect summer meal. Light and fresh, but plenty of flavour. Prawn tacos are easy to adapt with your favourite taco toppings, and they take just 10 minutes to cook. We love ALL kinds of tacos, but these are our favourite. So simple, but bursting with flavour.

    If you are looking for some other healthy prawn recipes to try, then why not try our Prawn Jalfrezi, The Ultimate Prawn Cocktail, Garlic Prawn Spaghetti or The Best Prawn Sandwich.

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love it
    • Ingredients and substitutions
    • Step by step
    • Crispy prawns
    • Prawn Taco Toppings
    • FAQs
    • Extra tips
    • More Mexican recipe
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why you will love it

    • Quick and easy - The prawns take just 10 minutes in the oven and you can be making the sauce and toppings whilst they are cooking.
    • A great way to use prawns - If you love prawns, but are bored of eating them them the same way all the time then this makes a nice change.
    • Light and fresh - Meaty tacos can feel a bit heavy sometimes, but these prawn tacos are light and fresh and the perfect summer meal.
    • Adaptable - Use this prawn taco recipe as a guide and adapt it to suit your own tastes. You can make it extra spicy if you want.

    Ingredients and substitutions

    • Mini tortillas or soft tacos - We prefer soft tacos, but you could use hard crispy taco shells if you prefer.
    • King prawns - The bigger the prawns the better. You want something that isn't going to be lost in the tacos.
    • Egg - This is to help the breadcrumbs stick to the prawns.
    • Panko breadcrumbs - We love panko because it helps the prawns get extra crunchy. You can use regular breadcrumbs if you prefer.
    • Cayenne pepper - This is optional, but it adds a nice kick of spice to the prawn tacos. You could use our Mexican Seasoning instead if you prefer.
    • Flour - This gives the egg something to stick to. Don't skip this, otherwise the egg will just slide off the prawns.
    • Tomatoes - Use really ripe and fresh tomatoes for the best salsa.
    • Shallots - These add a nice sweetness to the salsa, but you can use half a small red onion if you prefer.
    • Fresh coriander - Can be left out if you are not a fan, but it's a must in salsa in our opinion.
    • Limes - Depending on how juicy your lime is, you may need to use more.
    • Jalapeno - Also optional, but it makes the salsa nice and spicy. To make it less spicy, remove the seeds from the jalapeno.
    • Iceberg lettuce - This adds a nice crunch to the prawn tacos. You can use romaine or little gem too. For an extra green veggie boost, add some chopped spinach.
    • Greek yogurt - This is for the creamy sauce. Use reduced fat to keep this a lighter meal.
    • Garlic cloves - Freshly crushed is always best. Crush in to a fine paste so it evenly distributes in the sauce.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    Step by step

    One: In a bowl, mix together the tomatoes, shallots, half the coriander, half the lime juice, 1 of the crushed garlic cloves, jalapeno and salt and pepper and set aside. This is the salsa.

    A bowl containing chopped tomatoes, herbs, crushed garlic and shallots.

    Two: In another bowl, mix together the Greek yogurt, rest of the lime juice, coriander, crushed garlic and salt and pepper. This is the coriander sauce.

    A bowl containing yogurt, chopped herbs and crushed garlic.

    Three: Put the flour and cayenne in a small bowl and mix. Put the panko breadcrumbs in another bowl and in a third bowl, whisk the egg. Coat the prawns in the flour, then dip them in the egg and then the panko until they are all fully covered.

    A plate of prawns, and bowls of flour, breadcrumbs and whisked egg.

    Four: Put the prawns on a lined and oiled baking tray and in a preheated oven at 200°C/400°F/Gas 6 for 10 minutes, or until crispy.

    Cooked crispy prawns on a baking sheet.

    Six: Make your tacos by adding some shredded lettuce to tortillas, topping with the salsa, then add the cooked crispy prawns and a drizzle of the coriander sauce.

    Crispy prawns

    You could fry these prawns and they would only take a minute, but we wanted to make them as light as possible so we baked them. You can still get them super crispy with baking by using panko breadcrumbs. These prawn tacos are, in my opinion, pretty much the best tacos there are and that honestly isn't over selling them

    Something we might try next time is to dip them in some beer before dipping them in the egg and breadcrumbs. Beer battered tacos are the way forward I think.

    Singe prawn taco on a stone surface.

    Prawn Taco Toppings

    Now, what really makes these tacos special (as if the crispy prawns didn't make them special enough, right?!) is the salsa and the creamy coriander (cilantro) sauce. That makes these next level tacos.

    The salsa is a fresh pico de gallo, rather than a blended salsa and the creamy coriander sauce you are going to want to eat straight out of the bowl, so make sure you make a double/triple/quadruple batch.

    It is seriously THAT good. Mix that all together with some crispy lettuce on a soft taco and you have your new favourite meal ever. Trust me.

    Other toppings that work well on these prawn tacos are our Restaurant Style Salsa or The BEST Guacamole. If you want more of a fruity salsa on top, then why not try our Pineapple Salsa or Mango Salsa.

    Three Crispy Prawn Tacos surrounded by lime wedges and spoons with salsa and sauce.

    FAQs

    Can I make these with chicken instead?

    If you aren't a fan of prawns, then you could make crispy baked chicken or even crispy baked tofu instead. We try to make our recipes as adaptable as possible, as not everyone is going to like the same things.
    But seriously, you are going to like these. How could you not! Did I mention how good the creamy coriander sauce was?

    Can these prawn tacos be gluten free?

    Don't feel like you have to miss out just because you are gluten free. Simply swap the panko breadcrumbs for a gluten free alternative and pick up some of your favourite gluten free tortillas.

    Can these prawn tacos be made in advance?

    This is such a quick and easy meal to put together. You can prepare everything in the morning, and then when you are ready to eat, you just need to spend 10 minutes cooking the crispy prawns.

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • Make these prawn tacos gluten free by using a gluten free panko and swapping the tortillas for your favourite gluten free brand.
    • If you don't like prawns, you could make crispy chicken or tofu instead. The method would be the same, but cooking time would vary.
    • Want even more spice on your tacos? Add a drizzle of sriracha before serving.
    • You can make everything in advance and then just cook the prawns when you are ready to eat.
    • Don't forget to warm the tortillas before filling. You can do that in a dry frying pan for about 30 seconds each side.

    More Mexican recipe

    • Sweet potato and black bean tacos arranged in a serving dish.
      Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos
    • Cajun steak tacos in a long serving dish.
      Cajun Steak Tacos
    • Two Slow Cooker Beef Tacos on a wooden board with two lime wedges
      Shredded Beef Tacos
    • Fish Tacos in a serving dish next to guacamole and salsa
      Easy Fish Tacos

    If you’ve tried these prawn tacos, then let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - You can use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    Three Crispy Prawn Tacos surrounded by lime wedges and spoons with salsa and sauce.

    Crispy Prawn Tacos

    By: Dannii
    Tacos don't have to be overly complicated and these Crispy Prawn Tacos are about as simple as they get.
    the words low fat in a white circle.
    Low Fat
    4.92 from 34 votes
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Lunch
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep: 10 mins
    Cook: 10 mins
    Total: 20 mins
    Servings: 2 servings
    Calories: 484kcal
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a carton of milk.
    Dairy
    An illustration of a cracked egg.
    Eggs
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    Gluten
    An illustration of a shrimp.
    Shellfish
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 6 Mini flour tortillas
    • 150 g (7 oz) King prawns
    • 1 Egg
    • 50 g (0.75 cups) Panko breadcrumbs
    • 0.5 tablespoon Cayenne pepper
    • 3 tablespoon Plain flour
    • 4 Tomatoes - diced
    • 2 Shallots - diced
    • 8 g (1 cups) Fresh coriander - finely chopped
    • 8 g Fresh coriander - finely chopped
    • 1 Limes - juice only, for the salsa
    • 1 Limes - juice only, for the sauce
    • 1 Jalapeños - finely diced (or 2 heaped tablespoon of pickled jalapeños)
    • 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper - for the salsa
    • 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper - for the sauce
    • Iceberg lettuce - shredded
    • 6 tablespoon 0% Greek yogurt
    • 1 Garlic clove - crushed; for the salsa
    • 3 Garlic clove - crushed; for the sauce

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6.
    • In a bowl, mix together 4 Tomatoes, 2 Shallots, half the 8 g Fresh coriander, juice of 1 Limes, 1 Garlic clove, 1 Jalapeños and 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper and set aside. This is the salsa.
    • In another bowl, mix together 6 tablespoon 0% Greek yogurt, juice of 1 Limes, 8 g Fresh coriander, 3 Garlic clove and 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper and set aside. This is the coriander sauce.
    • Put 3 tablespoon Plain flour and 0.5 tablespoon Cayenne pepper on one plate and mix. Put 50 g Panko breadcrumbs on another plate. Whisk 1 Egg in a bowl.
    • One by one, dip 150 g King prawns in flour, then in the egg and then into the panko breadcrumbs making sure they are coated.
    • Put the prawns on a lined and oiled baking tray and bake for 10 minutes until crispy.
    • Start making your tacos by adding some shredded Iceberg lettuce to a 6 Mini flour tortillas, add some salsa, crispy prawns and then top with some creamy coriander sauce.

    Notes

    • Make these gluten free by using a gluten free panko and swapping the tortillas for your favourite gluten free brand.
    • If you don't like prawns, you could make crispy chicken or tofu instead. The method would be the same, but cooking time would vary.
    • Want even more spice on your tacos? Add a drizzle of sriracha before serving.
    • You can make everything in advance and then just good the prawns when you are ready to eat.
    • Don't forget to warm the tortillas before filling. You can do that in a dry frying pan for about 30 seconds each side.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 3tacos | Calories: 484kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 84mg | Potassium: 710mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 3950IU | Vitamin C: 66mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 2.3mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mark

      April 30, 2020 at 6:56 pm

      5 stars
      These were amazing! I went to a Mexican cooking class for 10 weeks and these were 10 times better than anything we made. Thanks so much for the recipe.

      Reply
      • Dannii

        April 30, 2020 at 8:41 pm

        Wow - what a compliment. Thank you! So glad you enjoyed them :)

        Reply
    2. Mandy Dennelly

      April 07, 2018 at 9:08 pm

      So simple so tasty. Can I check, raw or cooked prawns. I made it witj cooked but wanted to check

      Reply
      • Dannii

        March 16, 2019 at 6:50 pm

        We used cooked prawns.

        Reply
    3. Traci

      March 31, 2018 at 2:20 pm

      5 stars
      I'm so excited to discover this recipe on your site. I absolutely cannot wait to make these beautiful tacos! In the meantime, I'll be pinning them…and drooling ;) Thanks for the recipe inspiration!

      Reply
    4. Tom

      March 26, 2018 at 8:44 pm

      5 stars
      love the article, Amazing post :)

      Reply
    5. Gabriella Manchester

      March 26, 2018 at 3:04 pm

      5 stars
      Wow definitely trying these, they look delicious!

      Reply
    6. Louise

      March 26, 2018 at 12:26 am

      Can you believe I'd never tried tacos until recently?! I loved them though. I bet they'd be delicious with prawns in. Yum!

      Louise x

      Reply
    7. Annemarie

      March 24, 2018 at 9:14 pm

      5 stars
      This looks so healthy and delicious! I bet my family would love it.

      Reply
    8. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry

      March 24, 2018 at 8:32 pm

      5 stars
      I'm a massive prawn fan and love tacos - these look perfect for the upcoming warmer months as a lighter lunch or dinner option.

      Reply
    9. Jacqueline Meldrum

      March 24, 2018 at 7:39 pm

      5 stars
      Such pretty colours. Perfect for spring. I will have to try that dressing on my next tacos.

      Reply
    10. Lisa Bryan

      March 24, 2018 at 6:03 pm

      5 stars
      I love prawns and I love tacos....so this sounds like the most delicious recipe to me!

      Reply
    11. Ashleigh Dougherty

      March 23, 2018 at 10:10 am

      5 stars
      Oh these look so yummy and look good for you too! I do love a prawn in lunches and dinner so will have to give these a go next week!

      Reply
    12. Holly

      March 22, 2018 at 5:54 pm

      4 stars
      These sound absolutely delicious! I'm the worst cook but I love to try new recipes when I have a few hours to screw it up and re do it again - this is definitely on my list!

      Reply
    13. Jemma @ Celery and Cupcakes

      March 22, 2018 at 4:24 pm

      5 stars
      I just love tacos and these crispy prawn tacos are right up my street. Love the add-in options too.

      Reply
    14. Whatlauraloves

      March 22, 2018 at 9:39 am

      This is one of my favourite recipes from you yet! I love prawn tacos but haven't made them at home before, now I will! xxx

      Reply
    15. Lynne Harper

      March 21, 2018 at 2:09 pm

      5 stars
      Love prawns and adore tacos so this is the perfect combo for me. They look amazing as well, very moreish

      Reply
    16. Angela Ricardo Bethea

      March 21, 2018 at 5:56 am

      5 stars
      Wow! I really need to try these. I do really love TACOS and this recipe looks really delish. WIll surely give this a try.

      Reply
    17. Ana De- Jesus

      March 20, 2018 at 10:01 pm

      I love the idea of light and fresh tacos to welcome the start of spring and what better way than through baking your filling instead of frying it. Much healthier and I can imagine your crispy tacos are just as delicious!

      Reply
    18. Bella and Dawn

      March 20, 2018 at 9:14 pm

      5 stars
      Love the sound of the fresh salsa and these crispy prawn tacos would be amazing in my belly! What a nice healthy treat :)

      Reply
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