Tacos Gobernador (Sinaloa Prawn and Cheese Tacos)
Sizzled prawns with roasted poblano, onion and melted cheese inside crisp griddled flour tortillas, a modern Sinaloa classic.
Made with Creamy avocado salsa and Flour tortillas. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time35 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £2.59 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
Char the poblanos over a flame or under a hot grill for 10 minutes until blackened. Cover in a bowl for 10 minutes, then peel, deseed and slice into strips.
20 min - 2
Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Fry the onion for 3 minutes, then add the poblano strips and tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes.
6 min - 3
Add the prawns with a pinch of salt and cook for 3 minutes, turning, until pink and cooked through. Take off the heat.
3 min - 4
Lay a flour tortilla (see the base recipe) in a clean dry pan. Scatter with some cheese, spoon over a quarter of the prawn mix and top with more cheese, then fold in half.
- 5
Cook the taco for 2 minutes a side until crisp and golden, brushing the pan with a little of the remaining oil as needed.
4 min - 6
Serve straight away with your ready made creamy avocado salsa (see the base recipe) and lime wedges.
Tips
- Cook prawns only until pink. They become rubbery very quickly.
- Put cheese on both sides of the filling so it glues the taco shut.
- Use plenty of heat for the final crisp, but not so much that the tortilla burns.
- Raw prawns must be cooked through. Look for opaque, pink flesh with no grey.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten fresh. Keep the cooked filling in the fridge for up to 1 day and reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
What is the story behind tacos gobernador?
Tacos gobernador are a Sinaloa speciality, a griddled taco of prawns and cheese. A governor of Sinaloa is often credited as the namesake, but accounts differ.
Can I use frozen prawns?
Yes. Defrost them fully in the fridge overnight, dry them well on kitchen paper and cook as written.
Can I use corn tortillas?
Yes, many cooks do. Griddle them until crisp before folding. Flour tortillas give a softer, chewier result and are common in Sinaloa.
More made with creamy avocado salsa
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.