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:
The chipotle marinated fish;
“Pink Taco Sauce” – 2 ingredient, mildly spicy sour cream or yogurt sauce, goes very well with the fish;
Quick pickled cabbage; and
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:
really lean fish – like swordfish, tuna and kingfish
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!
20 minute fish marinade – no longer, because otherwise the lime juice in the marinade will “cook” the fish;
cook it, flake it;
quick taco sauce – sour cream and sriracha. I call it my Pink Taco Sauce;
pickle the cabbage – 20 minutes to become floppy (same as the fish marinating time, nice and convenient!);
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
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
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.
Meant to say ‘Another success story…’.😁
Any success story for dinner tonight! Thanks for this taco recipe. The seasoning for the fish was great even though i substituted as per your suggestion because I did not have the chipolte powder.
Hi Nagi,
I’ve been hoping to make this dish for months now but with a newborn have somehow whenever I thought about making it I managed to forget at least one ingredient everytime I went shopping! Finally after a few good nights of more than 3 hours sleep I made it! And boy was it worth the wait! So so good and so simple and easy to make!! Can rest assured this will now be a staple during the week! Thank you so much! Will have to try your fish cakes next!!
I’m so glad you loved them Munlee!
Just made for lunch & absolutely delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them Leanne!
Absolutely yummy. It’s the only way I can get my daughter to eat fish. Thank you!
That’s great Alina!
What would be an ideal side dish for these tacos?
Hi Coco, https://discountspot.info/grilled-mexican-corn-with-chipotle-adobo-sauce-mexicano-restaurant-copycat/%3C/a%3E this is a great side!
Nagi, you are definitely psychic! I wasn’t even actively searching a new recipe for fish tacos – yours found me! And guess what? TODAY is “taco Tuesday” – and I was planning to head across the way to the shopping center with Rubio’s since they do cheap tacos on Tuesdays BUT I can feast in my own home instead. LOVE the idea of pickled red cabbage for flavor and crunch. I have a couple of just-right ripe avocados and some marinated carne asada so I will lay out a banquet of Mexican food tonight! Wish you were here so I could share with you (bring Dozer and Katie will get the door!) I don’t know if I can hold off for dinner time, so I just might have to do what old people do and have dinner at 3:00 PM!
You’d lose some tacos if you let Dozer in the door I fear!!! Gosh, I am so jealous you have a Rubio’s nearby 🙂 I LOVED their fish tacos soo much! N xx
These fish tacos are perfection! As a born and raised San Diegan, I can honestly say Nagi’s Mexican recipes are spot on! The only thing I did differently was to add some lime juice and spices to the sour cream. I’ve made them twice in a week and even served them to guests who couldn’t get enough..LOVE THESE!!
That’s so great to hear Meredith! I’m so pleased you enjoyed this, thank you for letting me know! N x
Superb! This is the Best fish tacos I have ever tasted. Your spices and condiments are always perfect.
NAGI … JUST CAME ACROSS YOUR SITE & HAVE CHECKED OUT A COUPLE OF RECIPES (GREEK CHICKEN & LEMON RICE … AND THIS FISH TACO ONE). BOTH SOUND SO FLAVOURFUL & LOOK SO TEMPTING. A COMMENT ABOUT YOUR STYLE …. YOU ARE ONE OF THE ONLY RECIPE WRITERS TO INCLUDE PERTINENT INFO LIKE THE ACTUAL SIZE OF YOUR PAN OR YOUR TORTILLA !!! SIMPLE BUT SO HELPFUL. ALSO YOUR DESCRIPTIONS ARE DETAILED … AND YOUR NOTES ARE THE BEST. SO HAPPY I FOUND YOU !
I agree. Nagi adds those extra all important details in her recipes which make all the difference. I love how authentic your recipes are. And these fish tacos are so delicious.
I had some fish taco’s at a trendy restaurant last week in Nashville TN that was know for their “great” fish tacos. This recipe beat them hands down. I also used 8″ flour tortillas for a larger sized taco.
I did a variation as I had some breaded cod fillets. I deep fried them 80% done and then split them lengthwise and rolled them through the marinade. I finished them off in a convection toaster oven for a crispy crust with the spicy tang of the marinade. I also used fresh Serrano pepper instead of canned Jalapeño (a little more kick). The Pickled Cabbage was the what brought it all together. Perfect balance.
Wow, you jazzed this up big time! So glad you enjoyed the marinade for this – N x
ABSOLUTELY amazing!!!! I used cod because I couldn’t find snapper (sadly)! but it worked great. I also had some leftover red slaw and corn & black bean salsa which I used as a side 🙂
I’ve made a couple of your recipes now and not disappointed… making pad kee mao with tofu and veggies tomorrow. SO excited! thanks!
That’s great to hear Asako! Thanks for leaving a review! N x
UPDATE: Woolworths sells Chipotle powder now!!! 😀
Hi Nagi, I love the way you photograph your recipe, but also knowing that you’ve mentioned yourself that you’re height challenged I’m just visualizing you standing on a chair to get the right angle. LOL. Definitely going to try this one, maybe over the weekend.
Oh my GOSH you can’t imagine Josephine, I have a little ladder that is permanently near the table, I am up on it many times in one photo shoot!! 😂
Will apple cider vinegar or balsamic work for the cabbage
Apple cider will be perfect!
HI Nagi I’ve been wanting another fish taco recipe ( I have a fish taco obsession) and I’m so fixin to make these this week. One question though. When you say canned jalapenos do you mean pickled jalapenos like for nachos?
Hi Robert! Yup the stuff that comes in jars or cans in liquid 🙂 Hope you enjoy this!
Will the jalapenos in the marinade make the fish too spicy for toddlers? I’m not sure how much of a marinade transfers to meats… absolute beginner here.
You could always leave them out as well as the chipotle and put the jalapeños on top after you assemble the tacos (for people who want spice) ☺️
Nice recipe! We all enjoyed it!
Oh wow! I’m so happy that you tried and enjoyed this Angela, thanks so much for letting me know! N x
Nagi, I just came upon your blog and printed off several recipes—can’t wait to try!
Dozer is gorgeous…I am passionate about Goldens—I’ve had 5 rescues over the years.
Thanks for sharing such delicious food items!
Oh wow, you’re such a wonderful person to be rescuing goldies! Can you believe – I tried to get a rescue but I was rejected!!! Honestly! They said my lifestyle didn’t suit and my fences were too low 🙁
Penzeys.com sells chipotle powder. I get all my spices from them, they are the best. I will try these soon. Unlike so many commenting here, I never had a fish taco I didn’t like & I’ve tried a lot.
I hope you do try this Patsy! And thanks for the tip! 🙂 N x
I have a bunch of salmon in the freezer. Do you think the flavors would work with salmon? Thanks!
Definitely! I’ve made this with salmon and it is phenomenal!
Thanks Nagi! This is on my “must try” list!
Fantastic fish tacos Nagi! Love, love, love!
I made it last week for my family and we all loved it.
I’m so glad you enjoyed these Lizzie! Thank you so much for coming back to let me know! N x
Thanks, I make home made wraps for my husband and I to take to work.Looking for inspiration and this looks yum yum. 🙂 ill let you know how the Philippine version goes. I’m English but Ill be using Asian ingredients.
Oooh! Keen to hear what you sub! 🙂