Fish marinated in classic Mexican fresh flavours, seared until golden, are perfect for tacos. The lightly pickled red cabbage is a perfect accompanied for the soft fish, a great texture contrast. A wonderful recipe for white fish fillets, you will NOT miss deep fried fish!

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

1. Marinade fish: Combine Fish Marinade ingredients in a ziplock bag. Set aside for 20 minutes to marinate – no longer than 1 hour.

2. 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.

3. Pink Sauce: Mix to combine.

4. Cook fish: Heat oil in a skillet over high heat. Cook fish for 2 minutes on each side, or until golden and cooked.

5. Remove fish onto plate then flake into large pieces.

6. 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:

1. Fish – my favourites are snapper and barramundi. They have “meaty” flesh which I particularly enjoy in tacos. Other good fish include: tilapia, basa, cod, John Dory and Silver Dory, ling, bream, haddock, pollack, monkfish.

Recommend avoiding:

lean fish – like swordfish, tuna, kingfish (unless you can get fatty kingfish)
very delicate fish – like dover sole and flounder

2. Chipotle powder – can still be irritatingly difficult to find in Australia! Not sold in all major supermarkets (yet) but you can find it in fruit & veg stores (eg Harris Farms), delis and gourmet/speciality stores (e.g. Thomas Dux). It does not cost much more than ordinary spices. It can be ordered online from Firework Foods (Aus only).
If you can’t track it down, I think the best substitute is ½ tbsp each SMOKED paprika, cumin and 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper.

3. Sriracha – Asian chilli sauce that’s very common nowadays (sold alongside chilli sauces and in Asian section). Great “cheat” ingredient to quickly add flavour into things as it’s made with more than just chilli. To reduce spiciness of sauce, sub with some (or all) ketchup instead.

4. Nutrition for 3 tacos (tortilla + fish + pickled cabbage), assumes 2 of the 3 tbsp of oil in the marinade is discarded.