Artificial Food Coloring Free Paleo Chipotle Lime Shrimp Lettuce Tacos
Smoky, citrusy shrimp tucked into crisp butter lettuce cups with a bright mango-avocado salsa — this one is genuinely hard to put down. Every ingredient here is whole and recognizable, from the fresh limes and ripe mango to the chipotle chili powder and smoked paprika, so there's no guesswork about what's actually going into your food. That matters more than people realize with taco-style dishes, where store-bought seasoning packets and pre-marinated proteins are notorious for sneaking in synthetic dyes and artificial additives. Here, the deep red-orange color on the shrimp comes entirely from smoked paprika and chipotle chili powder — real spices doing real work. The quick skillet sear gets the shrimp pink and lightly charred at the edges in just a few minutes, while the fresh salsa comes together while they marinate. Butter lettuce leaves stand in for tortillas beautifully, giving you that satisfying handheld taco experience without any processed wrappers. It's a vibrant, flavor-packed meal built entirely from ingredients you can see and trust.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the shrimp
- 1 ½ lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed
- 2 tbsp avocado oil, divided
- 2 tsp chipotle chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1 tsp lime zest
For the salsa
- 1 mango, peeled and diced small
- 1 avocado, diced
- ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
For serving
- 12 large butter lettuce leaves, washed and dried
- lime wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
In a medium bowl, combine the chipotle chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, lime zest, 3 tbsp lime juice, and 1 tbsp of the avocado oil. Add the shrimp and toss until evenly coated. Let marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes — no longer, as the acid will begin to denature the shrimp.
- 2
While the shrimp marinates, combine the mango, avocado, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, 1 tbsp lime juice, and 1/4 tsp salt in a bowl. Toss gently and set aside.
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