Tacos de Camarones al Mojo de Ajo (Sautéed Shrimp Tacos) Recipe

Even though it sounds impressive, mojo de ajo is essentially just a mixture of garlic and oil—two very simple ingredients which nonetheless make a huge impression on this quick-cooking taco filling from Doña Tomás. Everything is cooked over high heat, leaving the vegetables tender but still slightly crisp, while a little butter and jalapeño added at the end envelop the shrimp in a creamy, spicy sauce.

But it's the mild garlic flavor that you'll taste first.

Due to the high heat, it's really important to have everything chopped and ready to go before you begin. Once the burner is on, the filling is finished in less than five minutes, and you don't want to be fumbling around on the cutting board while the shrimp overcook in the process.

Though it's relatively straightforward, I did have an issue with the onions. The original recipe advises adding the shrimp just moments after the onions, but when I did that, the shrimp started to overcook before the onions were ready. Perhaps I didn't have a large enough pan, or it wasn't hot enough. Anyway, I adjusted the recipe to let the onions cook for a little longer before the shrimp. Just be mindful. And if the onions aren't done but the shrimp is, remove the shrimp and then add them back when the onions are ready.