You don’t need to deep fry to make terrific Fish Tacos. You just need a really great marinade! A seriously delicious way to serve up white fish fillets, this recipe can be cooked on the BBQ or stove. Either way, they’re healthy, fresh and bursting with serious taco goodness!
Bonus: they happen to be HEALTHY 💪🏼
Fish Tacos
A bad fish taco is worse than a bad chicken taco.
And while most people would be turned off after multiple dismal experiences, I persevered, believing there to be better.
I mean, tacos. They have always been one of my favourite foods, ever since the first time I tried them.
And I’m thankful I didn’t give up. Because it just got better and better. Went to Mexico, tasted the real deal, then used that as my benchmark to make my own.
And now I’ve got The Fish Taco recipe. Well, at least, what I think is the BEST Fish Taco recipe. 🙂
What I like to do is load the fish with flavour with a chipotle lime marinade. You just know by looking at it that it’s gonna be good, right??!
Will you LOOK AT THAT!!! Tender and juicy on the inside, deep golden brown on the outside, flavoured all the way through with just a quick 20 minute marinade!!
What to serve with Fish Tacos
Here’s what I serve with Fish Tacos:
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The chipotle marinated fish;
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“Pink Taco Sauce” – 2 ingredient, mildly spicy sour cream or yogurt sauce, goes very well with the fish;
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Quick pickled cabbage; and
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lime wedges and coriander/cilantro leaves.
What you need for Fish Tacos
Here’s what you need to make fish tacos.
Any firm white fish fillets will work fine here, especially if they are fleshy.
My favourites are snapper and barramundi. They have “meaty” flesh which I particularly enjoy in tacos.
Other common fish that are ideal include: tilapia, basa, cod, John Dory and Silver Dory, ling, bream, haddock, pollack, monkfish.
I recommend avoiding:
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really lean fish – like swordfish, tuna and kingfish
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very delicate fish – like dover sole and flounder
Quick Pickled Cabbage for Tacos
I serve these tacos with a quick pickled cabbage. Pickling it makes the cabbage floppy so it kind of melds together better with the fish (raw cabbage would be too pokey and crunchy for tender fish), and the slight tang is a classic pairing with seafood.
Here’s what you need for the pickled cabbage:
Don’t restrict yourself to using this pickled cabbage just for Fish Tacos! It will go with any type of tacos – chicken, old school beef tacos, shredded beef, beef barbacoa, or pork carnitas.
How to make it
I think I’ve pretty much talked through the making part, but here’s a visual anyway!
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20 minute fish marinade – no longer, because otherwise the lime juice in the marinade will “cook” the fish;
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cook it, flake it;
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quick taco sauce – sour cream and sriracha. I call it my Pink Taco Sauce;
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pickle the cabbage – 20 minutes to become floppy (same as the fish marinating time, nice and convenient!);
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stuff and devour.
I typically cook Fish Tacos on the stove for midweek meals. But this is fantastic food for a barbecue with friends! It cooks so quickly so it doesn’t take you away from your guests and you can throw the tortillas onto the BBQ to warm up.
It also scales up easily, and you can lay everything out on the table and let everyone help themselves. Definitely my preferred method of entertaining!! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Fish Tacos
Ingredients
Fish Marinade
- 1.2 lb / 600g firm white fish fillets (Note 1)
- Zest of 1 lime
- 3 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp chipotle powder (Note 2)
- 1 tbsp canned jalapeno , finely chopped
- 1/4 cup cilantro / coriander , finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Quick Pickled cabbage
- 4 cups red cabbage , finely shredded
- 3 green onion stems , finely sliced on the diagonal
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar (or white wine vinegar, cider vinegar)
- 1/2 tsp salt
Pink Taco Sauce
- 3/4 cup sour cream (or yogurt)
- 2 - 3 tbsp sriracha , adjust to taste (Note 3)
To Cook & Serve
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 12 small tortillas (corn or flour), warmed
- lime wedges
- coriander/cilantro leaves
Instructions
- Marinade fish: Combine Fish Marinade ingredients in a ziplock bag. Set aside for 20 minutes to marinate - no longer than 1 hour.
- Pickled Cabbage: Place Pickled Cabbage ingredients in a bowl. Toss to combine and set aside for 30 minutes. Drain excess liquid, scrunch cabbage with your hands (to help soften). Set aside.
- Pink Sauce: Mix to combine.
- Cook fish: Heat oil in a skillet over high heat. Cook fish for 2 minutes on each side, or until golden and cooked.
- Remove fish onto plate then flake into large pieces.
- To assemble tacos, top with cabbage then fish, a dollop of sour cream and a squeeze of lime juice. Fold tortilla over and enjoy!
Recipe Notes:
- lean fish - like swordfish, tuna, kingfish (unless you can get fatty kingfish)
- very delicate fish - like dover sole and flounder
Nutrition Information:
Originally published May 2016. Updated with new photos and video, and most importantly, new Life of Dozer section added!
Life of Dozer
Helping shop for new appliances!! Need an industrial strength washing machine that can cope with all this darn FUR.
Alexandra says
Divine! Definitely a keeper
Nagi says
Thanks! N x
Shinko says
Love, love, love all your recipes Nagi! I made it with Basa fillet from Aldi, and used the “kale slaw” (also from Aldi) and pickled that instead of having to cut cabbage. That saved heaps of time, and allowed me to make your flatbread in between marinating the fish, etc… and it was GOOOOOOD! Love Dozer posts too, my Goldie is 11 and is a sweetheart too.
Nagi says
Awwww! Thanks! Nx
Dawn says
I made these for National Taco day and they were amazing! Super simple but oh so flavourful. We only had haddock but it was a perfect substitute. This one is definitely going in rotation!
Marita says
I’ve made a few of your recipes and they’ve all been really tasty, but this was a standout. So, so delicious. Thanks Nagi!
Hannah Green says
I assume chipotle powder is different to chipotle seasoning?
Our local woolies has the seasoning?
Nagi says
HI Hannah! Yes it’s different, seasoning has all sorts of other flavours in it 🙂 N x
Dede says
very excited about your upcoming book. I’m so in tune with your cooking philosophy. I have a short list of recipes which are novel and delicious and healthful. where/how do I submit them?
DANIEL HARRIS says
I want an autographed copy of Nagi’s book for sure!
victoria gurfolino says
love your recipes & blog,
best, vg
victoria gurfolino says
awesome
Jen says
Just made this for tea and wrapped it up in 1 large tortilla, Yum!! Used chipotle paste I had in fridge which worked fine. Making again later in week to use up left over pickled cabbage. Thanks for sharing.
Kylie says
Wowowowowowow!!!!
Love the simplicity of this meal yet intense flavours!! Not to mention healthy too!
Definitely making again….soon!
John says
I’ve been using sriracha for years, and often wonder why they don’t put out one with a “South of the Border” flavor profile. Frankly that would be better than standard sriracha, for fish tacos. Maybe there is one, but not sold in my area?
Natalee says
Hi! I’m just about to make this but I don’t have any olive oil!!! Ah! Please tell me I can use canola oil instead?!
Natalee
Nagi says
Yes that will be fine Natalee! N x
Olivia says
Another winner! Husband said it’s one of his new favorite meals, and it’s quick and easy to make, which is a win for me. Not to mention it’s delicious.
Marita says
Hi Nagi, made these tacos for dinner tonight and loved them! We have a bit of the pickled cabbage left over – any idea of how long it keeps for and/or recommendations on how to store it? Thank you!!
Nagi says
Hi Marita, it will keep for a week in the fridge 🙂 N x
Tricia says
LOVE Nagi’s recipes! Didn’t care for these fish tacos though.
Saracheri says
I think Fish Tacos are an aquired taste unless you are Hispanic or native Texan (me). I love them but my husband thinks they are gross. 😉
Melanie says
Thanks for this great recipe! I just found your site and the fish tacos are the first recipe I’ve tried—they were delicious. It was really helpful to have the advice on how to reverse-engineer the chipotle powder. Will definitely be trying more!
Meredith McDonald says
Truly excellent. I used Ling. Added avocado at the end, otherwise I was exactly to the recipe. I can see this becoming a family tradition
Nagi says
Perfect Meredith!!! N x
Sue says
Hi Nagi,
I have made this recipe many times and we just love it. It’s great for 2 or for a crowd.
I’ve made a few “improvements” 🙂 ….
I bake the fish in the oven on some foil and works perfectly
I use only a teaspoon of chipotle so it’s not overpowering.
In terms of sides, I love the cabbage salad, but also serve some avocado mashed with coriander and lemon juice, some finely julienned carrots soaked in a little lemon juice for 20mins and plain Greek yoghurt (instead of sour cream or taco sauce). The yoghurt is just lovely and fresh on top of the spicy fish.
It’s a delicious meal every time and healthy too!
Candy says
Hi Sue – at what temp and how long do you bake the fish for? I have been using Ling.
RyanF - USA says
Made this recipe tonight for dinner. I found it to be too spicy for my taste. I should have known better after seeing the chipotle, jalapeno and sriracha. I’m not a big fan of spicy food. Sorry Nagi! Everything else I have made has been excellent.
Nagi says
Sorry to hear it was too spicy for you Ryan! Yes, it does have a bit of a kick to it. Next time feel free to reduce, or sub out for a couple of teaspoons of say cumin? – Nx
Cath says
Hi Nagi
For the chipotle powder, will ground whole chipotles do? Thanks, Cath
Linda Martin says
Hi Nagi, Can I cook this with chicken?
Nagi says
Sure could – I also have a chicken tacos recipe here too: https://www.recipetineats.com/chicken-tacos-with-sauce/ N x