Tacos de Camaron al Mojo de Ajo (Garlic Prawn Tacos)
Juicy prawns sizzled in garlic and guajillo oil, tucked into warm corn tortillas with cabbage and creamy guacamole.
Made with Classic guacamole and Corn tortillas from masa harina. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time20 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.49 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Pat the prawns dry and sprinkle with the salt.
- 2
Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a low heat. Add the garlic and guajillo strips and cook gently for 2 minutes, stirring, until the garlic is pale gold and the chilli smells fruity. Do not let the garlic brown or it turns bitter.
2 min - 3
Turn the heat up to high, add the prawns and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, turning once, until they are pink and curled and opaque all the way through.
3 min - 4
Squeeze over half the lime and toss. Take the pan off the heat.
- 5
Warm your ready made corn tortillas (see the base recipe) in a dry pan for 20 to 30 seconds a side.
- 6
Fill the tortillas with cabbage and prawns, spoon over the guacamole (see the base recipe), and sprinkle with coriander. Serve with lime wedges and the garlic oil spooned over.
Tips
- Cook the garlic gently in cold oil first, so it flavours the oil without burning.
- Prawns cook in minutes. Take them off the heat as soon as they curl and are pink all through, or they go rubbery.
- Use the red garlic oil from the pan as a dressing over the filling.
- Use frozen raw prawns if you like. Defrost fully in the fridge and pat dry.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten fresh. Keeps in the fridge for up to 1 day. Cool within 1 to 2 hours and reheat quickly until steaming hot all the way through, once only. Do not freeze cooked prawns.
Questions
Can I use cooked prawns?
Yes, but add them for only 1 minute at the end to heat through, as they turn rubbery quickly. Raw prawns give the best result.
What can I use instead of guajillo?
Use a pinch of dried chilli flakes or half a teaspoon of mild chilli powder in the oil. The flavour will be hotter and less fruity.
Are these tacos gluten free and dairy free?
Yes. Prawns, garlic oil, guacamole and masa harina tortillas contain no gluten, dairy, egg or nuts. Shellfish is a major allergen, so keep it away from anyone allergic.
More made with classic guacamole
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.