Baja Fish Tacos (Printable Version)

Crispy battered fish in warm tortillas topped with fresh cabbage and tangy lime sauce.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Fish

01 - 1 lb firm white fish fillets (cod, halibut, or tilapia), cut into 1-inch strips
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1/4 cup cornstarch
04 - 1 tsp baking powder
05 - 1 tsp kosher salt
06 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
07 - 1/2 tsp paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
09 - 1 cup cold sparkling water
10 - Vegetable oil for frying

→ For the Creamy Lime Sauce

11 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
12 - 1/4 cup sour cream
13 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
14 - 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
15 - 1 tsp lime zest
16 - 1 tsp hot sauce
17 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ For the Toppings

18 - 2 cups finely shredded green cabbage
19 - 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
20 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
21 - 1-2 ripe avocados, sliced
22 - 8 small corn tortillas (6-inch)
23 - Lime wedges for serving

# How to Make It:

01 - Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, minced garlic, lime juice, lime zest, and hot sauce in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
02 - Whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper in a large bowl. Gradually whisk in cold sparkling water until smooth batter forms.
03 - Pour 1 inch of vegetable oil into a deep skillet or Dutch oven. Heat over medium-high heat until temperature reaches 350°F.
04 - Pat fish strips completely dry with paper towels. Lightly coat each piece in flour, shaking off excess. Dip floured fish into batter, allowing excess batter to drip off.
05 - Fry fish in batches, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crispy, about 3-4 minutes per batch. Transfer to wire rack or paper towels to drain.
06 - Heat tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat for 30 seconds per side or wrap in foil and warm in oven.
07 - Place crispy fish pieces on warm tortillas. Top with shredded cabbage, cilantro, red onion, and sliced avocado. Drizzle generously with creamy lime sauce. Serve immediately with lime wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The crispy exterior gives way to tender, flaky fish in every single bite
  • That creamy lime sauce ties everything together with just the right amount of zing
  • They come together faster than you can decide whether to open a bottle of wine
02 -
  • Cold sparkling water makes a huge difference in how light and crispy the batter turns out
  • Overcrowding the pan drops the oil temperature and makes everything soggy
  • Letting the fish drain on a wire rack keeps it crispier than paper towels
03 -
  • Set up your topping station before you start frying so nothing gets cold
  • Serve the sauce on the side so guests can add as much as they like
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