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Tacos Gobernador hail from the good State of Sinaloa and are SO SO GOOD!
There are two stories as to their origin.
First Story
The Governor of Sinaloa, Francisco Labastida, was visiting a restaurant. The chef and restaurant owner remembered hearing that the governor really liked his wife’s shrimp tacos.
So, they served him their version of shrimp tacos.
Second Story
The governor was visiting a restaurant, and they didn’t know what to serve him.
The chef got creative and quickly invented these now famous shrimp tacos.
How to make them
- Remove the shells.
- Devein the shrimp.
- Chop up the shrimp.
Rough chopping is ok here.
You want big chunks of shrimp to bite into.
Table of Contents
More Mexican Shrimp Recipes:
Coctel de Camaron
Camarones a la Diabla
Camarones en Crema Chipotle
Caldo de Camaron
How to make the Filling
- Heat oil and butter in a large skillet.
- Add the onion and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the shrimp, garlic, salt, and roasted poblano peppers.
Here’s an instructional video on how to roast a poblano pepper.
Some people will use serrano peppers for a spicier taco. That’s totally up to you.
For me, the combination of poblano and cheese tastes amazing like in Rajas con Crema.
Pro Tip:
Next time you are roasting poblano peppers, roast an extra pepper and stick it in the FREEZER. Defrost for dishes like this. It will make cooking this recipe faster.
- Cook until the shrimp is pink.
- About 5 minutes.
Another Pro Tip:
Make the filling ahead of time. That way, you won’t spend all day in front of the stove.The filling will last in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Since the shrimp gets chopped up, size does not matter. Save your money and buy medium shrimp since they are CHEAPER.
- On a hot griddle, add the tortilla.
- Let it warm for 1 minute, then flip it.
- Add the cheese and shrimp filling.
- Cook for 1 minute and fold over one half of the tortilla.
Have everything you need ready. This will go fast.
Some people like to add oil to the griddle to get a better crisp. That’s totally up to you.
How To Keep the Tacos Warm:
Place in a baking dish covered with aluminum foil.
Once all the tacos are cooked, keep in a warm oven until ready to serve.
- Using your spatula, PRESS DOWN on the tortilla.
- The cheese will ooze out.
- Once the cheese has crisped up, flip and press again.
Warning: The griddle is going to get messy.
That’s OK. As you cook, the tortillas will pick up some of the char from the previous tacos.
The crispy cheese edge is referred to in Spanish as “Chicharron de Queso.”
Roughly translated, it means “Cheese Crackling.”
Mmm… you’re going to love biting into it!
What to Serve with It
Frijoles de la Olla
Arroz Blanco
Pickled Jalapenos
Ensalada de Nopalitos
Tacos Gobernador are to die for. With big chunks of shrimp and crispy edges, for Taco Tuesday or any day that ends with Y. Simply add your favorite salsa and enjoy!
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Ingredients
- 1 lb medium shrimp shells removed, deveined, rough chopped
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ onion diced
- 1 garlic clove finely minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 roasted poblano pepper skin and seeds removed, rough chopped
- 8 corn tortillas
- 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese shredded
Instructions
- Remove the shells and devein the shrimp.
- Chop into pieces.
- Leaving them as big chunks is fine too.
- Rinse.
- In a large skillet, heat up the oil and butter.
- Add the onion and cook for 1 minute, until translucent.
- Add the shrimp, garlic, salt, roasted poblano pepper.
- Cook until shrimp are pink. About 5 minutes.
- Stir occasionally.
- Set aside. Let cool slightly.
- Heat griddle.
- Place two tortillas on the griddle.
- Cook for 1 minute, then flip.
- Add about 2 tablespoon cheese and 2 tablespoon of the shrimp filling to one side of the tortilla.
- Fold over the other side to create the taco.
- Press down on the tortilla, using your spatula.
- The cheese will ooze out.
- Once the cheese is crispy, flip the taco.
- Press down again.
- Once the cheese on that side is crispy, remove from the griddle.
- Place in a baking dish.
- Cover with aluminum foil
- Continue until there are no more tortillas and filling.
Notes
Nutrition
Maggie Unzueta is the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer, videographer, and creator of In Mama Maggie's Kitchen. She has been developing easy and authentic Mexican food, Mexican-inspired recipes, and traveling tips since 2010. From family recipes to her extensive travels throughout Mexico, she brings traditional Mexican flavors from South of the Border and into your kitchen. Maggie has been featured in notable culinary websites and other media outlets. For more details, check out her About page.
Can you make this with chicken? One of kiddos didn’t like shrimp.
Thanks!!
Yes, of course. Traditionally, tacos gobernador are made with shrimp, but I’m sure you can substitute with chicken if your kiddos doesn’t like them.
This is one of my absolute favorites! I can’t wait to have MORE!
This is pretty tasty, if I say so myself. Glad you enjoy it!
My boys will definitely try it out. Delicious recipe.
My hubby and my son LOVE these tacos. Hope you make it for them!
Tacos are my favorite dish! Amazing recipe
My favorite too. Thank you!!
Sounds delicious. Perfect light and easy lunch. I will definitely make this.
Yes! These tacos make the best lunch.
I can hardly wait to make these shrimp tacos. They look so delicious and look very simple to make 😋
You’re going to LOVE them! They’re sooo good. Hope you enjoy.
I love your description “cheese smooshing out of the sides” 😂I can taste it already, one of my favorite things ever!!!
lol. When I wrote that, I thought someone would get it. Thank you for getting it!
I am so loving the crispy part and the delicious flavors of this!
Yes, the crispy parts are the best!
So delicious, I’m making this for dinner again tonight!
Oooh! Can I come over for dinner? lol. kidding, of course. Enjoy!
Love this recipe. I feel like it is a mixture between a taco and a quesadilla. My family loved it!
Yes. Exactly. My family loves these tacos. So will yours.
So so delicious! Love these unique regional flavours. Thanks
Yes. Very unique to Sinaloa, but it’s a favorite all throughout Mexico.
My family loved these tacos!
Yours and mine. 🙂
I am trying to decide what to make for cinco de mayo, and these tacos gobernador are it! They look so delicious and I can’t wait to try them!
Yes, these tacos are perfect for Cinco de Mayo!
Delightful lunch idea, Maggie! I looove tacos!
Tacos for life. 🙂
So simple but so delicious looking…I mean shrimp and cheese, how can you go wrong!
Exactly! You’ll love them.
Omg so yum! Need to make these asap!
Lauren
Yes! So yummy!
These look delicious and I absolutely loved that table setting too – oh so sweet. Will have to try these tacos soon!
It was a wonderful night. Hope you try the tacos. They are delicious!
I would have never thought to use the salsa as a marinade! These look delicious! We have shrimp tacos almost weekly so I’ll have to add this recipe to the rotation.
Yes! It’s a very versatile salsa.
The table setting is beautiful. I love shrimp tacos. Will definitely have to try these! Yum!
Oh yeah, that table setting was awesome. Hope you try the tacos. They’re delicious! (humbly speaking, of course)
These look amazing Maggie! I can’t wait to try them! 🙂
Hope you do. It was nice meeting you. 🙂
Sounds like a fun time and food looks delish!!!
Thank you. It was a great time, and the food was delicious!