These vegan Tacos Gobernador are cheesy “shrimp” tacos made with hearts of palm, roasted poblano peppers, and a creamy tomato sauce. The tortilla is lightly fried in chili oil to be slightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
![tacos gobernador on a beige plate.](https://healthysimpleyum.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/tacos-gobernador-4-844x1024.jpg)
Tacos Gobernador
These cheesy shrimp tacos originated in the state of Sinaloa, Mexico. They were named after the governor of Sinaloa because it is said that he ordered these at a restaurant (or that they were made for him). Gobernador = Governor in Spanish! 😉 They are actually one of the best tacos I’ve ever had so I knew I had to veganize them. You only need 8 main ingredients:
![ingredients for tacos gobernador on a white surface.](https://healthysimpleyum.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/tacos-gobernador-1-1024x902.jpg)
Ingredients for Tacos Gobernador
Hearts of Palm: This will be your shrimp substitute. The texture is pretty close to shrimp and they are pretty easy to find at local grocery stores. I personally like to get mine at Trader Joe’s for affordability. They tend to get pricey at other grocery stores!
Poblano Pepper: I don’t recommend leaving this pepper out because it adds a lot of flavor. I have roasted peppers using various methods: oven, air-fryer, open flame, and griddle (stove-top). For this recipe, I air frier the pepper on “roast” at 375 F for 15 minutes, flipping it halfway through. If you want more details, check out Nancy’s full guide on how to roast poblano peppers! She includes all methods I mentioned above.
Mexican Chili Oil: Using chili oil to fry the tortilla truly makes the flavors come together. Use your favorite Mexican chili oil or try this one!
![vegan tacos gobernador on a beige plate.](https://healthysimpleyum.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/tacos-gobernador-5-781x1024.jpg)
Vegan Cheeses and Cream Cheese Options
What kind of vegan cream cheese to get? There are lots of types out there so I’ll give you the low down:
Trader Joe’s: Great product for a low price! This is not the best vegan cream cheese but I have used it and works great once it’s mixed with all the other ingredients.
Kite Hill: Amazing and not super overpriced. I also think this is the closest tasting to regular cream cheese. Highly recommend this one!
Miyokos: Great cream cheese but can be pretty pricey.
Vegan Cheese: If you want a good vegan cheese that melts and stretches, use Follow You Heart Mozzarella shreds. If you want to make your own, check out my stretchy vegan mozzarella recipe!
Serve With:
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Tacos Gobernador
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These vegan Tacos Gobernador are cheesy “shrimp” tacos made with hearts of palm, roasted poblano peppers, and a creamy tomato sauce. The tortilla is lightly fried in chili oil to be slightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Ingredients
- 1 14oz can of hearts of palm
- 2 medium tomatoes, diced
- 1/2 small onion, diced
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp avocado oil (or any neutral oil)
- 1/4 cup chili oil (or regular oil)
- 2 tbsp vegan cream cheese
- 3/4 cup vegan cheese
- 2 tbsp water or vegetable broth
- 1 poblano pepper, roasted, peeled and sliced (see above for instructions on how to roast)
- 8 corn tortillas
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Open the can of hearts of palm, drain and quickly rinse. Chop into half-inch-sized pieces, about the size of a shrimp cut in half.
- Add 1 tbsp of avocado oil to a pan on medium heat. Once hot, add the chopped hearts of palm, salt to taste, and fry until golden brown (about 7-10 minutes). Set aside.
- Next, sauté the diced tomatoes, onions, and garlic in the same pan used for the hearts of palm. Add 2 tbsp of water and let it simmer until it thickens into a sauce.
- Add vegan cream cheese, stir in until it is evenly incorporated. If the sauce is too thick, add a little more water.
- Add the hearts of palm chunks back into the pan to mix in with the sauce. Add in sliced poblano pepper.
- Turn on the griddle on medium heat. Once hot, add a corn tortilla and lightly drizzle with chili oil. Flip tortilla, add 1-2 tablespoons of vegan cheese, close, and let cook for 2 minutes on each side until cheese gets melty.
- Open the tortilla and add a heaping spoonful of the saucy hearts of palm filling. Close tortilla and enjoy!
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: Mexican
- Method: Stove
- Cuisine: Mexican
Absolutely A-MA-ZING!!!!!!!!! Wow!
First time I ever had these was in Puerto Vallarta! This recipe here was even better and it took me straight back to vacation! Highly recommend!