Tacos Gobernador is a Mexican dish consisting of tacos filled with shrimps, chillies, some cheese and a tomato sauce wrapped in a corn tortilla.
The dish is a fairly new tradition, named after a governor who particularly enjoyed the flavor of shrimp with cheese. There are many variations on the recipe, including the level of spice and occasionally the use of smoked fish. Our recipe is the basic “traditional” version, often served with salsa or a slice of avocado.
Origin & Cultural Significance
It was during the late 1980s that this dish was said to first come together in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, which is famed for its seafood. The governor at the time and a regular visitor, Francisco Labastida Ochoa, had planned to dine in Los Arcos restaurant located in Mazatlan.
The owner of the restaurant, Edward Angulo, heard about the upcoming visit of the governor and wanted to surprise him with something new. Friends of the governor had shared that one of his favorite dishes is the shrimp tacos with mashed potatoes that his wife usually prepares.
After hearing about this, the owner took this piece of information and decided to create something that the governor will truly enjoy. Even though they had never seen or tasted the governor wife’s shrimp tacos, they recreated their own version of the dish.
The restaurateur, in coordination with his chef, developed a few recipes until they came up with something that they were proud to present to their guest. When the governor arrived, he was very much pleased to be presented with the shrimp, cheese and chilli tacos AKA Tacos Gobernador.
The dish of course did not have the name yet and so when asked what to call it, it was named after the first person that it was served to and was officially named Tacos Gobernador de Camarón or “governor shrimp tacos”.
Mexican Tacos Gobernador Recipe
Ingredients
- Shrimps (peeled and chopped in large chunks) - 1 lb
- Medium Sized Tomatoes (diced) - 3
- White onion - 1
- Poblano pepper (grilled, peeled and diced) - 1 large piece
- Garlic (minced) - 4 cloves
- Olive oil - 3 tbsp
- Key lime - 2
- Salt and pepper - to taste
- Monterey Jack Cheese (shredded) - 2 cups
- Corn Tortillas - 8 pieces
- Salsa verde (any of your choice for dipping)
Instructions
- In a pan over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and saute garlic, white onion, and poblano pepper for about 3 minutes.
- Add in the diced tomato and saute for another 3 minutes. Season it with some salt and pepper.
- After sauteing, add the shrimps, juice of one key lime, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook the shrimps until their colour is no longer translucent and turns pink. Do not overcook to avoid a rubbery texture.
- On a separate skillet, add in the remaining olive oil and place over the corn tortillas to heat it for about 30 seconds then flip it on the other side. After flipping, add in the shredded cheese.
- When the cheese is almost melting, add the sauteed shrimp mixture on one half of the tortilla then fold over the other side like a taco.
- Continue to warm it up until the cheese melts and the tortilla is almost crispy on the edges.
- Remove the tacos and best served warm with the remaining key lime and your choice of salsa verde.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 601Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 294mgSodium: 1594mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 6gSugar: 5gProtein: 45g