Crispy Fish Tacos With Red Cabbage Slaw Recipe

Name: Crispy Fish Tacos With Red Cabbage Slaw
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: For the slaw:; 1 1/2 limes, zested and juiced; 2 tablespoons honey; 2 tablespoons avocado or canola oil; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1 1/2 cups thinly sliced red cabbage (about a 1/2 small head of cabbage); 5 radishes, cut into matchsticks (3/4 cup of matchsticks); 1/4 cup minced red onion; 1/2 cup fresh cilantro; 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced; For the crema:; 1/2 cup sour cream; Juice from 1/2 lime; 1/2 teaspoon chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; For the fish:; 1 1/2 pounds skinless cod fillets; 1 lime; 1/2 cup all-purpose flour; 1/4 cup cornmeal; 2 teaspoons smoked paprika; 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 3/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper; 1/2 cup whole milk, heavy cream, or buttermilk; 4 cups high heat oil, such as canola oil; 10 small (5-inch) flour tortillas, street taco style

In This Recipe

Why Make Crispy Fish Tacos
Batter vs. Breading
Tips for Frying the Fish
The Best Fish for Tacos
Cutting the Fish
The Best Oil for Frying
What to Serve With Fish Tacos
Prepping Fish Tacos Ahead

If you think food transformed into foam and served on porcelain plates is a stronghold of modern haute cuisine. Then, a fish taco party may be the best beach party you’ll ever go to.

These fish tacos are assembled at the table and eaten with your hands. They can turn any gathering of respectable people into a group of unruly friends with riotous laughter. There’s no pretense here.

Just kick off your shoes, grab yourself a drink, and have a good time!

Why Make Crispy Fish Tacos

I mean, really, what’s not to love about fish tacos? A crispy breading, loaded with chili powder and citrus, encasing tender, flaky white fish? It’s perfect.

And the crunchy tang of lime-honey coleslaw that balances the heaviness of fried food? All I can say is, “I’ll take more of that, please!” And the cumin, garlic, and citrus crema that adds a little creaminess to every bite? I love it all, and I want you to love it, too.

Crispy Fish Tacos: Batter vs. Breading

There is a difference between battered fish tacos and breaded fish tacos.

Batter is liquid based, often with added beer. You quickly dip fish in a beer flour bath, then fry it.
Breading is when you dip the fish in a liquid, usually milk or buttermilk, then press it into a dry coating of panko, breadcrumbs, or a flour mixture.

Baja-style fish tacos are usually made with a batter. I tried that with this recipe, and I just preferred the texture and crunch of the breaded fish better. I also found the breading stayed on the fish better than the batter did.

Crispy Fish Tacos with chili lime crema - fish tacos on grey slate with crema and lime — Alison Bickle

Tips for Frying Fish for Tacos

For this recipe, I coated the fish in milk, breaded it, then fried it. I like to bread all of the fish before I start to fry it. I do this for two reasons:

Letting the breading sit on the fish for a few minutes helps the breading adhere better to the fish.
Breading gets your fingers messy. It’s easier to bread all the fish, clean up the mess, then fry it.

The Best Fish for Fish Tacos

Firm-fleshed white fish is usually the best choice for breaded fish tacos. They are mild in flavor, and they hold up well to frying. Two of my favorites are cod and walleye.

When testing this recipe, I used two different brands of frozen fish that I thawed at home. I noticed a pretty significant difference in the quality of the fish between the brands. I used the store brand from both my regional grocery store and a Whole Foods.

The cod from my regional grocer wasn’t as thick or firm. It kind of smooshed apart when I pressed on it, and it didn’t stick together well when I fried it. The 365 Brand Wild Caught Cod Fillets from Whole Foods was firm, held its shape when gently pressed, and held up to frying.

If you’ve made battered or breaded fish before, and it didn’t turn out the way you thought it should, it might have been the brand. Try sourcing from a different company next time, and you might be pleasantly surprised.

crema recipe for fish tacos — Alison Bickle

Cutting the Fish for the Tacos

I like to cut the fish portions on the bias (a diagonal cut). This cut provides longer strips that fit well in the taco shell. Make each cut about an inch thick, and you’ll have the perfect piece every time.

The Best Oil for Frying

High heat oil is best for frying food. Good choices are canola, safflower, and sunflower oil.

What Is the Best Oil for Deep-Frying?

What to Serve With Fish Tacos

Honestly, two to three tacos are pretty filling even for big eaters. But if you like to present your friends and family with a feast, then serve these tacos alongside any of these tasty sides.

Don’t forget the drinks! I often serve festive nonalcoholic drinks at parties, but I always provide a selection of spirits such as vodka, gin, or tequila alongside those drinks. That way, my non-alcohol-consuming friends can enjoy a zero-proof cocktail and still feel like they are a part of the celebration. And those who want to add a little booze to their drink can imbibe to their liking! I only have to make one drink, and everyone has options. It’s a win-win.

However, if you’re all booze all the time, then try any of these tasty concoctions.

Best cod Tacos with slaw and crema - fish tacos on grey slate with crema and lime — Alison Bickle

Can I Make Fish Tacos Ahead of Time?

Let’s say you want to throw a party, and fish tacos are on the menu. You can make almost every component at least two to three days ahead of time. Then, do the final breading and frying just before serving.

For the crema, mix it all together, and store it in a covered container in the fridge for up to three days. Some of the liquid may separate during that time, but don’t worry. You can just give it a quick stir.

For the taco slaw, I prefer to chop everything up and keep the fresh ingredients in one container, then make the dressing and store it in another. This is because the color from the purple cabbage will bleed into the other ingredients. Do this up to two days before the party. Then, just before serving, give the dressing a good shake and toss it together with all of the vegetables and herbs.

For the fish, thaw and slice it to size 24 hours before the party. You can make the flour mixture up to a week in advance. Half an hour before you want to serve the tacos, bread and fry them. Dinner’s ready!

Need More Tacos in Your Life?

Crispy Fish Tacos With Red Cabbage Slaw

Prep Time 30 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 50 mins

Servings 4 to 5 servings

Yield 10 tacos

This recipe makes about 10 small, street-style tacos.

For the slaw:

1 1/2 limes, divided
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons avocado or canola oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 cups thinly sliced red cabbage (about a 1/2 small head of cabbage)
5 radishes, cut into matchsticks (3/4 cup of matchsticks)
1/4 cup minced red onion
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

For the crema:

1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

For the fish:

1 lime, divided
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup whole milk, heavy cream, or buttermilk
1 1/2 pounds skinless cod fillets, fresh or thawed from frozen
Freshly ground black pepper
4 cups high-heat oil, such as canola oil
10 small (5-inch) flour tortillas, street taco style

Make the slaw and crema:

Zest both limes, then slice each in half. In a medium bowl, add the lime zest and lime juice from 1 1/2 of the limes, the honey, oil, salt, and black pepper. Whisk to combine. Add the cabbage, radishes, onion, cilantro, and jalapeno pepper. Toss to combine. Set aside.

To make the crema, stir together the sour cream, the juice from the remaining lime half, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, and salt. If the crema seems too thick, you can always thin it with a little milk or additional lime juice. Set it aside.

Alison Bickle
Prepare to fry:

Line a platter with paper towels to drain the oil from the fish after you fry it.
Prepare the fish and breading:

Zest the lime onto a medium plate. Add the flour, cornmeal, paprika, kosher salt, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Set it aside.

On another medium plate, add the milk, and juice from half of the lime. The milk will thicken and look slightly curdled.

Cut the fillets on the bias (a diagonal cut) into strips about 1-inch thick, season them with the juice from the remaining lime half, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Alison Bickle
Heat the oil:

In a large Dutch oven, add the oil. Heat it to 360°F. It will take about 15 minutes for the oil to come to temp.

If you don’t have a thermometer to test the temperature, sprinkle a little of the breading into the oil. If it sizzles and pops, it’s ready.

Alison Bickle
Bread the fish:

While you’re waiting for the oil to come up to temperature, dip the fish in the milk. Then, coat it in the flour, spice, and cornmeal mixture. Bread all of the fish before you begin to fry it.

Alison Bickle

Alison Bickle
Fry the fish:

Once all the fish strips are breaded, gently place them 1 piece at a time in the hot oil. Depending on the size of your Dutch oven, you can probably fry 4 to 6 pieces at a time.

Fry the fish in batches so you don’t bring down the temperature of the oil too much. Cook on each side for about 2 to 3 minutes, until the coating is a deep amber brown.

Remove from the oil and drain on the prepared paper towels.

Alison Bickle

Alison Bickle
Serve for the self-assembly:

Transfer the fish to a platter, serve alongside tortillas, slaw, and crema. Let everyone assemble their own tacos. Start with a little slaw, add a piece of fish, and drizzle with the crema.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1097	Calories
51g	Fat
114g	Carbs
48g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 5
Amount per serving
Calories	1097
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 51g	66%
Saturated Fat 8g	40%
Cholesterol 90mg	30%
Sodium 1619mg	70%
Total Carbohydrate 114g	41%
Dietary Fiber 9g	34%
Total Sugars 13g
Protein 48g
Vitamin C 64mg	322%
Calcium 191mg	15%
Iron 7mg	41%
Potassium 923mg	20%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.