I recently watched this one episode of Black Mirror called Nosedive, a sci-fi show on Netflix that takes place in a world where technology takes over every aspect of life. I won’t spoil it for you or anything, but basically the premise of the episode is that a young woman lives in a futuristic society where people’s value is solely based on their social media presence.

And while it is supposed to be satire, I’m seeing the effects in our 2017 world.

I have a love-hate relationship with social media. I love the fact that it gives people who otherwise are marginalized, a platform. I love that it gives people the means to express themselves. That it educates people. That it creates a family.

But I hate that you forget what’s reality and what’s not. What life is really all about. That this is just a self-image I’m projecting that can’t even come close to representing the full extent of me. That it makes you feel envious of what others have and obsessed with what’s missing. That your societal value is based on how many likes you get, how many followers and retweets you have.

Anyways, you came for the taco recipe. And how does this stuff relate? Because it’s the stuff you discuss over a plate of tacos. What’s the future of the relationship we have with technology? What is the world going to look like in fifty years?

These shrimp tacos are light and balanced and perfect for spring-time. For this recipe, I sautee shrimp in butter, cumin, coriander, paprika, and fennel with a little bit of diced onion. The butter makes the shrimp extra delicious and the onions add a slight sweetness that cuts the salty bite from the shrimp.

Shrimp with cumin, coriander, fennel, salt, onion, and butter

I also make home-made corn tortillas with masa flour (store-bought is completely okay, but if you have the time, I highly recommend making them from scratch!) To top the shrimp off, I make a beautiful mango salsa consisting of a mango, jalapeno, cilantro, onion, tomato. The sweetness of the mango pairs wonderfully with the acidity of the other ingredients. I also add a spicy mayo (just mayo and a good quality hot sauce) before topping the tortilla with the shrimp and salsa. This adds a bit of creaminess to your taco.

Spicy Mayo

And this guys is balance! Make this for a bunch of friends while you discuss climate change, driveless cars, the end of antibiotics, imminent nuclear warfare or maybe even that one guy or girl you swiped right on that dating app. Whatever it is, these tacos will get everybody into an active and lively conversation. And that’s really what good food is supposed to do.

Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa

Servings 8 tacos

Ingredients

2 lb shrimp (peeled and deveined)
3 tbsp butter
2 garlic cloves
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp paprika or chili powder
1/4 tsp salt (for shrimp)
1 mango (should be ripe, yet firm)
1 jalapeno
1/4 cup cilantro
1 small onion (divided: 1/2 for shrimp, 1/2 for salsa)
1 avocado
juice of lime (to taste)
1 tomato
3/4 tsp salt (for salsa)
14-16 corn tortillas
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2-3 dashes of hot sauce (or to taste)

Instructions

Prepare your salsa. Dice up all you ingredients - mango, jalapeno, cilantro, 1/2 small onion, avocado, tomato and combine. Add salt and lime juice to taste.
On medium-low heat, add in your butter, garlic, and the remaining half of your onion (diced finely), and sautee until lightly brown. Turn the heat up to medium high and then add in your shrimp, salt, and spices. The shrimp only take a few minutes to cook. Once they are pink, turn off the heat.
Take your corn tortillas and lightly toast them on a grill pan or regular pan.
Combine your mayo and hot sauce and add a little bit to the bottom of each tortilla.
Add a couple of shrimp to each tortilla and top with mango salsa. Serve with extra hot sauce on the side.