It feels like its been YEARS since I’ve made us some rice bowls. I would cook up a shrimp taco bowl at least once a week. They’re a super easy way to put together a meal for the family (or in our case mom and dad, because Brayden is too picky!) and a very multi-task friendly meal!
Since its already getting a little cooler out, I thought instead of grilling shrimp, I’d pan fry it in a little cholula, cumin, paprika, garlic and salt. Then making a version of my avocado pico that my wife loves everything is pretty much set.
You can either use a quick Spanish rice recipe, or go the store bought route and pick up some pre-made spanish rice. Although I’m curious if this is a think outside California? I often find myself recommending things that you guys can’t seem to find anywhere. But here’s a a link to my favorite store bought spanish rice if you need help!
Quick pointer: have you pan searing hot. Then with a little olive oil in the pan, being to add your shrimp and just leave it there for a few minutes. This will begin to give your shrimp a beautiful char to add some color and texture to the outside of your shrimp!
Serve your shrimp taco bowls on rice, black beans and topped with a little cilantro, cojita cheese and some lime wedges. If you want to add a little crunch, toss in some tortilla strips to make it “extra” or “living its best life” or whatever it is the kids say these days! I’m a cool Dad, I swear!!!
1tbspCholula Chipotle Hot Sauceor your favorite hot sauce
1/2tbspcumin
1/2tbsppaprika
1cloveminced garlic
1tspkosher salt
FOR THE AVOCADO PICO
1large avocado
1small jalopeno
1tspkosher salt
1cupcherry tomatoes
1/4cupchopped cilantro
FOR THE RICE BOWL
1cup spanish rice
16ozcanned black beans
1/4cupcojita cheesecrumbled
!/4cupchopped cilantro
handfultortilla strips
1wholelimecut into wedges
Instructions
If you're cooking rice, begin that now, along with warming up your beans in a pot. while while everything is cooking, pat shrimp dry and place in a large bowl. Toss in hot sauce, cumin, paprika, salt and garlic. Toss until evenly coated, then place in the fridge.
Prepare the avocado pico, by cutting avocado into 1/2 inch sized cubes. Place in a bowl with cherry tomatoes that are cut in half, or in wedges. Toss with cilantro, chopped jalapeno, and salt. Place in fridge until ready to serve.
To cook shrimp, add about 2 tbsp oil into a hot pan, place shrimp in to the pan and let sear for about 2 minutes on one side, then flip on the other side and continue to cook for another 2 minutes or until completely opaque
In a bowl, add rice, black beans and avocado pico. Top with cojita cheese, cilantro, and serve with lime wedges. Optionally you can top with tortilla strips as well. Enjoy!
I'm an IT professional by day. Home cook for the family by night. Follow my blog for easy to make recipes, how-to's and ideas to gather the family at the dinner table!