Tacos Gobernador (Prawn, Poblano and Cheese Tacos)
A Sinaloa favourite: prawns cooked with poblano and tomato, folded into tortillas with cheese and crisped on the griddle.
Made with Chipotle in adobo sauce (homemade) and Corn tortillas from masa harina. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time35 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £2.29 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
Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Cook the onion and poblanos for 6 minutes until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
7 min - 2
Add the tomatoes and cook for 4 minutes until jammy. Stir in the chipotle adobo sauce (see the base recipe).
4 min - 3
Add the chopped prawns and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring, until pink and opaque all the way through. Squeeze over half the lime and take off the heat.
3 min - 4
Warm your ready made corn tortillas (see the base recipe) in a dry pan for 20 seconds a side. Lay 4 on the work surface, cover each with cheese, then the prawn mix, then more cheese. Top with a second tortilla.
- 5
Heat the remaining oil in a clean frying pan over a medium heat and cook the tacos in batches for 2 to 3 minutes a side, pressing down, until the cheese has melted and the outside is crisp and golden.
6 min - 6
Cut into wedges and serve with the lime wedges.
Tips
- Chop the prawns small so the filling is evenly spread and cooks fast.
- Cheese on the outside of the filling helps make the crisp, lacy edge that gobernador tacos are known for.
- Poblanos are mild. Use jalapenos if you want more heat.
- Do not overfill, or the cheese leaks and burns on the pan.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten fresh. Keeps in the fridge for up to 1 day. Cool within 1 to 2 hours and reheat in a hot pan until steaming hot all the way through. Do not freeze.
Questions
What are tacos gobernador?
A speciality from Mazatlan in Sinaloa, made with shrimp, cheese and a cooked pepper and tomato sauce, griddled until crisp. They are said to have been created for a local governor.
Can I use cooked prawns?
Yes, add them for the last minute only, to warm through. Raw prawns give a juicier texture.
Are these tacos gluten free?
Yes. Prawns, vegetables, cheese and masa harina tortillas contain no gluten, egg or nuts. They contain dairy and shellfish.
More made with chipotle in adobo sauce (homemade)
Caldo Tlalpeño (Chipotle Chicken and Chickpea Soup)
GFDFEFAlbóndigas al Chipotle con Arroz Rojo (Chipotle Meatballs with Red Rice)
GFNFHPBrownies de Chocolate y Chipotle (Chocolate Chipotle Brownies)
NFVTostadas de Atun Sellado con Aguacate y Chipotle (Seared Tuna Tostadas)
GFDFEFDouble 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.