Crispy Fried Fish Tacos with Avocado Crema

A classic Baja dish of perfectly Crispy Fried Fish Tacos served with an assortment of toppings and finished with a vibrant, fresh Crema. These delicious Tacos are the perfect meal to enjoy with a few drinks and perhaps a side of Chips as you relax in the warm, Summer sun. You can pack so much flavor into these amazing Tacos through both the toppings you choose, as well as the Seasoning that can be added to the Batter. The textures of the crispy deep-fried Fish make every bite of these wonderful Tacos so enjoyable

How to make Crispy Fried Fish Tacos

These wonderful Tacos are quite easy to make; they just require a bit of preparation before it’s ‘go-time’ (once you begin to fry the Fish). You will need to prepare all the other toppings and ingredients before you begin to fry the fish. This way, when the fish gets cooked everything else is ready to go so you can serve it piping hot

You can choose whatever toppings you like for your Crispy Fried Fish Tacos. For our recipe we’ve opted for a traditional combination of flavors. A simple Pico de Gallo, which is a combination of finely diced Tomatoes and Red Onions that is finished with Lime Juice, Cilantro, and Salt makes for a beautiful hit of freshness to the richness of the fried Fish

Along with the Pico de Gallo we add some Pineapple. I love the addition of sweet fruits to Fish Tacos. They not only complement the flavors of the Taco, but the sweetness brings a sense of Summer and the beach to the Fish Tacos. We lightly grilled our Pineapple before dicing it up to add a bit more sweetness and charred flavor to the Tacos

Finally, a beautiful Avocado Crema is topped over the Tacos. This serves as the ‘sauce’ for the Tacos, giving them a luxurious flavor and texture. It’s a simple combination of Sour Cream, Avocado, and Lime Juice and it tastes so good

Other toppings you can use for your Fish Tacos

There’s loads of options for toppings. However, as difficult as it is, try to avoid overloading the Tortilla with a lot of different flavors and ingredients. The hero of the dish is the Fish, so we want to ensure it is still a prominent flavor on the palate

Another popular choice is Red Cabbage Slaw. The crunch and freshness of the Cabbage works great in Tacos, and many people like the bitterness it adds which can help to balance out the sweetness of the Fried Fish

Personally, I’m not the biggest fan of adding bitter flavors to Crispy Fried Fish Tacos. I like amplifying the sweetness of the dish through summer fruits (you can also try Mangoes), and balancing everything out with a load of Lime Juice

What is the best type of Fish for deep frying?

Any firm white fish works great for deep frying Fish Tacos. You want something that’s going to hold together and keep its shape while being exposed to the high heat of the deep fryer. For our recipe we used Cod, which is a very common choice for Fried Fish and Fish and Chips

Other good options are Sea Bass, Halibut, Monkfish, Tilapia, and Snapper. If you are unsure, simply ask your local Fishmonger what they recommend. Tell them you’re looking to batter and deep fry some Fish and they’ll guide you in the right direction

Creating the Batter for frying

Making a batter for Fried Fish is simple! It’s a combination of Flour, seasoning, and either Beer or Soda / Mineral Water. The use of Beer or Soda Water is to help aerate and add lightness to the batter. The carbonation of the liquid is the key, so any Carbonated Water will work

Beer Batter is a very traditional ingredient to use. So, if you can spare a beer then definitely consider using Beer instead of Soda Water. I’d suggest a lighter pilsner style beer. Something that isn’t too heavy that’s going to weigh the Batter down too much

Fish Tacos are traditionally from Baja California, so a good Mexican beer like a Corona or Modelo will work great. Otherwise, simply use Soda Water or Mineral Water. We used Mineral Water for our dish, and it turned out great

The Batter is where you add all the seasoning to the Crispy Fried Fish Tacos

Don’t be shy on seasoning the Batter aggressively. You’ll be surprised at just how much seasoning you’ll need to get the best result. For our seasoning we use a combination of Salt, Pepper, Onion Powder, and Garlic Powder

We also add one of the most popular ingredients in Seafood cookery – Old Bay! This famous spice blend just works magically with Seafood, and Fish Tacos are no exception. Be heavy handed with the seasoning, to the point where the color of the batter will be almost orange in color. That’s probably the best sign to tell you’ve got a good amount of seasoning in the Batter!

Frying the Fish and serving

As mentioned earlier, have all your toppings and ingredients ready before you fry the fish. I like to serve the other ingredients in their own bowls at the table. This helps with serving, but also makes it easier for everyone to make their own personalized Tacos

Once you’ve got everything ready, it’s time to fry! You will want to use a heavy bottom saucepan or cast-iron pot for deep frying. Never fill the Oil any higher than halfway up the pot to avoid any risk of the Oil spilling over. Use a Neutral Oil with a high burn point such as Canola Oil or Vegetable Oil. Don’t use Olive Oil

Once your Oil is at a deep-frying temperature (between 320F – 350F) it’s time to cook the fish! Coat the Fish pieces well with the Batter and then immediately drop them (carefully) into the Oil. Don’t overcrowd the pot as this will reduce the temperature of the Oil, resulting in a soggy Batter. You’ll need to batch cook the Fish

Fry until golden-brown (about 5 minutes but may vary depending on the size of the Fish pieces), and then remove carefully using a spider strainer. Set the Fish aside on an elevated wire rack to drain any excess Oil

Season your Fried Fish immediately after it’s been removed from the Oil

It’s important to do this, as the Salt will catch to the Batter while it’s still hot. You can then repeat the cooking process for the remaining Fish. I like to give the Fried Fish about 7 – 8 minutes maximum time out of the Oil before it’s eaten, and no longer. This will ensure optimal crispiness

Given you’re batch cooking it may be wise to serve the cooked Fish as you’re cooking the second batch. You’ll enjoy the wonderful flavors of Crispy Fried Fish Tacos that are perfectly cooked at home

Crispy Fried Fish Tacos with Avocado Crema Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. White Fish (eg: Cod, Tilapia, Sea Bass)
• 6 Canned Pineapple Rings
• 3 heaped tbsp. of Sour Cream
• 1 Avocado
• Juice of 3 Lime Juice
• 5 Tomatoes, finely diced
• ½ Red Onion, finely diced
• ½ cup Cilantro, finely chopped
• 1 cup All Purpose Flour
• 1 ½ cups of Soda Water (or Light Beer)
• 1 tsp. Onion Powder
• 1 tsp. Garlic Powder
• 3 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning
• Frying Oil (enough to fill your pot deep enough to submerge the Fish)
• 10 – 12 Taco Tortillas (Corn or Flour)
• Salt and Pepper
  
  

Equipment needed: Spider Strainer

Instructions

1. Cut the fish into large chunks that are roughly evenly sized and then set aside to come up to room temperature while you prepare the toppings
2. Pan fry the Pineapple rings over medium heat for 3 minutes on each side to lightly char them. Remove from pan and cut into chunks once cooled
3. Combine Avocado, Sour Cream, the juice of 2 Limes, and ½ tsp. of Salt in a bowl and mix well with a fork to form a smooth Avocado Crema
4. Create a Pico de Gallo by mixing Tomatoes, Red Onion, Cilantro, the juice of 1 Lime, and a pinch of Salt in a bowl. Mix well then set aside
   
   

Frying the Fish

5. Make a batter by whisking together Soda Water (or Beer) with Flour until it’s thick enough to coat the Fish while still being smooth and runny. Season the Batter with 2 tsp. of Salt, 1 tsp.  Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, and Old Bay
6. Place Oil in a heavy bottom pot and place over medium high heat until its temperature reaches 320F – 350F
7. Coat the Fish pieces well with Batter then immediately drop (carefully) into the Oil. Add half the fish to avoid dropping the Oil heat too much. Fry for 5 – 6 minutes until golden-brown and cooked through
8. Remove Fish pieces with a spider strainer and set aside on a wire rack to drain. Season immediately with a touch more Salt and repeat the process for the remaining Fish
9. Serve all the accompaniments in individual bowls / plates at the table along with some Hot Sauce and enjoy
   
   

Recipe Notes

• The quantities of Flour and Water may vary slightly. Look for achieving that smooth, slightly runny consistency as the ultimate guide for the batter
• You can also pan fry the Fish. Lightly coat it with the seasoning (excluding the Water / Beer) and pan-fry in Butter
• For the best result, try lightly scorching your Tortillas over the open flame on your stovetop
  
  

These wonderful Crispy Fried Fish Tacos are the perfect treat to whip up on a hot Summers day. Perfect for lunch or dinner, they’re a tasty and fun recipe to cook at home and we just know you will love them as much as we do!

For more fun and tasty recipes that are perfect for Summer, check out these delicious dishes:

• The Ultimate Poke Bowl
• Feta and Yoghurt Dip with Tomatoes and Basil
• Poached Shrimp Salad with Sundried Tomatoes
• Grilled Chicken with Mango Salsa
  
  

Happy Cooking!