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.
I have always avoided fish in my tacos, had a rough experience a long time ago and never got over it. Lol! But your recipe, I reckon it might be the turning point in this love hate relationship I have had with fish taco to date. Loving the splash of colour with the purple cabbage, pretty, delicious and healthy too. 🙂 Do they call you Señora Nagi in your household?! 🙂
BA HA HA!!! I think even the homeless guy is getting sick of tacos at the moment, I have gone on a bit of a TACO BENDER!!! I hear you Anna, my first fish taco experience was terrible. I’m so glad I got over it though!!!
I made this recipe last night and it was AWESOME!!! Quick and easy – and I am thinking that I might make the marinade ahead of time – it would keep well for a few days, don’t you think? Winner inner winner recipe, Nagi!!!
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it Megan, thank you for letting me know! The marinade is best made fresh, but up to a day ahead will be ok 🙂 It loses flavour over time and also it is not safe to keep raw garlic for more than 3 days. Hope that helps!! N x
Just back from Singapore and over Asian food ( sorry) I saw the recipe this morning and we ate them tonight. Yum!!! And thank you for the chipotle substitute, I will look for it but couldn’t shop for it today. Hubby ate three, I ate two and we are both very full and happy. Well done again.
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it Linda, thank you for letting me know! N x
I love fish tacos! Perfectly teamed with pickled cabbage….also good for the gut 🙂 Can’t wait to try this one Nagi.
Tacos and seafood……just drooling over this one!
Thanks so much Dhanya! 🙂
Love both the marinade and the mildly pickled cabbage . . . . well, it may go inside a tortilla or it may not 🙂 ! Lovely, Nagi!!!
Either way, I promise the fish is delish! 🙂
I am an avid fan of yours and have had great success with many of your recipes. Can you please advise if the chipotle powder can be purchased anywhere in Melbourne.
Hi James! So glad you enjoy my recipes, thank you! I forgot to add a note about Chipotle Powder. I’m sorry, I am not exactly sure where to buy chipotle powder in Melbourne but I’ve added a note 1 for where I find it in Sydney! 🙂
I have never had a fish taco, and have not considered it likely that I’d make them, but these sound very good. I would probably like them, but unless I choose the right fish and cook it right, I doubt my husband would eat them… I have saved the recipe. Just in case.
Hope you do try them Susan! I was not convinced when I first tried them – but when you use a good marinade, it makes a huge difference! 🙂
These fish tacos look amazing. When I had my first fish taco I was not convinced at the concept but I am sold, they pair so well.
Thanks Evelyne!!! I was the same as you 🙂 Now I’m converted!
Beautiful pictures! My mouth is watering here :). Love the bowl with cabbage slaw :)!
Awww, thank you Julia! 🙂
These look amazing, thank you for the recipe, Nagi!
Thanks Jitka! I do hope you try them! 🙂
I am not sure why all the comments post with tomorrow’s date, but it’s funny……living in the future!
Time zone differences!! I’m in Australia – where are you? 🙂
I live in California and never had a good fish taco. I’m excited to try these!
I hear you Barbara! Other than fried, I used to be quite disappointed by fish tacos!!
Lovely variation on a favorite Mexican taco. Looks wonderful!
Thanks Victoria! Hope you had a fab weekend! N x
Hi Nagi! I have never had a fish taco, but it is now on my MUST try list! I have home canned pickled cabbage that would be good on these. I’m happy with pretty much anything good stuffed in a tortilla! 🙂 Trust you are soaking up that CA sun!
Hi Nagi! I’ve never had a fish taco, but it’s now of my list of MUST try! I have home canned pickled cabbage that I think would be perfect on these. I’m pretty happy with almost anything good stuffed in a tortilla! 🙂 Soak up a bunch of that CA sunshine for me!!
Oooh! The home canned pickled cabbage will go FAB with this!!! PS I am still smiling over the photo you sent me…..and you get to hear my Aussie twang tomorrow! N x