California Fish Tacos Recipes

Steps:

• For the cabbage slaw: Add the cabbage to a mixing bowl and season with salt. Toss with your hands and gently massage the cabbage to tenderize. Add the cilantro and juice from the lime.
• For the smoky chipotle aioli: Combine the mayonnaise, chipotle and agave in a small bowl. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
• For the Baja fish tacos: Carefully cut the halibut into 12 even-sized pieces (each about 4 inches long). Combine the cornstarch, chili powder and 3/4 cup flour in a large bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Using a whisk, create a well in the center and slowly pour in the beer as you stir. Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the beer, forming a smooth batter.
• Heat 3 inches oil in a heavy pot to 350 degrees F. Line a tray with paper towels.
• Season the remaining 1/4 cup flour in a shallow dish with salt and pepper. Lightly dredge each piece of fish in it, shaking off any excess. Dip into the batter, then place in the hot oil. Cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on the paper towels and season with salt. Keep warm.
• To assemble, place a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Place the tortillas in the pan 2 at a time and lightly drizzle with oil. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and cook until golden and the Parmesan is crispy and stuck to the tortilla, 30 to 40 seconds on each side.
• To make each taco, smear a little chipotle aioli on the bottom of each tortilla. Top with some drained slaw, a piece of crispy fish and some Rojo Salsa. Serve with Tortilla Chips.
• Remove the stems and seeds from the dried chiles, then tear them into large pieces. Toast the chiles in a large saute pan over medium-high heat until they start to change color, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and add hot water to just cover the chiles (about 2 cups). Place back on medium-low heat and simmer until soft and tender, 13 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Place the tomatoes, garlic, jalapeno and onions on a baking tray, then broil until everything is charred well, turning once, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a blender along with the chiles and their cooking liquid and pulse until smooth but still with a little texture. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Set aside until ready to serve.
• Break down the salt into finer pieces in a mortar and pestle (so it sticks to the chips better).
• Heat 5 to 6 inches oil to 350 degrees F in a heavy pot.
• Stack up the tortillas and cut into 6 even pieces. Working in batches, sprinkle into the hot oil and cook, stirring so they don't stick together, until puffed and golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and place on a rack over a tray. Season with salt immediately. Serve warm with salsa.

Steps:

• Heat about 3 inches vegetable oil in a medium pot over medium-low heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 375 degrees F. Meanwhile, toss the cabbage, cilantro, lime juice, honey and mayonnaise in a bowl. Season the slaw with salt.
• Warm the tortillas in a skillet over medium-low heat or wrap in a damp cloth and microwave 25 seconds. Wrap in a towel to keep warm.
• Mix the flour, chili powder, and salt and pepper to taste in a shallow bowl. Dredge the fish in the flour mixture, then fry in batches until golden and just cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Season with salt.
• Halve, pit and slice the avocado. Fill the tortillas with the fish, avocado, slaw and salsa. Serve with lime wedges.

Steps:

• Mix tomatoes, onion, cilantro, jalapeno peppers, 1 tablespoon juice from jalapeno peppers, and garlic salt in a bowl; squeeze 1/2 lime over salsa fresca. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate while preparing fish.
• Toss coleslaw mix with ranch dressing in a bowl; set aside for flavors to blend.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Stir batter mix and beer together in a bowl. Wrap corn tortillas in wet paper towels and set aside.
• Dip cod in the batter mix; fry coated cod in batches in the hot oil until cod is cooked through and coating is brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove cod with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
• Microwave corn tortillas on high until warmed, about 1 minute.
• Stack two tortillas on a plate; top with fish, a sprinkle of Mexican cheese, coleslaw mixture, salsa fresca, and a squeeze from lime wedge. Drizzle with chile-garlic sauce. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, onion, garlic, cilantro and jalapeño (if using).
• In a small bowl, whisk the mayonnaise and sour cream until combined. Season to taste with the halved lime, salt, pepper and chipotle (if using).
• In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, chili powder and 1 1/2 teaspoons each of kosher salt and black pepper. Pour the milk into another medium bowl, and place the fish into it.
• Pour 1/4 cup of the peanut oil into a 12-inch frying pan and place over medium-high heat until it shimmers and is about to smoke. Remove the fish pieces from the milk bath and dredge them lightly through the flour mixture, shaking to remove excess. Add the butter to the pan. Place some fish pieces in the oil, without crowding them, and cook until deep golden brown on one side, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn carefully and cook for 1 minute more. Remove to a warmed, paper-towel-lined plate and sprinkle with salt. Repeat with the remaining fish.
• Meanwhile, lightly grease a skillet with a drizzle of oil and set over medium heat. Heat the tortillas, one or two at a time, until they are soft and hot. Keep them warm, wrapped in a dish towel.
• Fill each tortilla with 3 pieces of fish, browned side up, followed by tomato salsa and a pinch of cabbage. Drizzle with the cream sauce. Serve 2 to 3 tacos per person, with lime wedges and hot sauce on the side.

Steps:

• For Fish: Pat fish dry and combine in a nonreactive bowl with lime juice, white wine and garlic. Set aside to marinate about 10 to 15 minutes.
• When fish is ready, remove it from the marinade, pat dry, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Heat a grill to medium-high. Rub with olive oil. Place fish on grill and cook for 5 to 8 minutes (depending on the thickness of the fillet), then flip with a spatula in one swift motion and cook another 5 to 8 minutes, until cooked through. Remove from grill, cut into strips and place in tortillas. Let guests add toppings.
• For the pico: Combine all ingredients in a bowl, and stir to combine.
• For the Avocado Cream: Place in a food processor, and blend until smooth.

Steps:

• Spray a 7x11-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
• Stir together the lime juice, oil, chili powder, ground coriander, and salt in a cup. Place the fish in the prepared baking dish in one layer and brush with the lime juice mixture.
• Cover with plastic wrap and vent one corner. Microwave on HIGH until the fish is just opaque in the center, about 3 minutes. Break the fish into flakes.
• Stir together all the remaining ingredients except the tortillas in a medium bowl.
• Top each tortilla with about 2 tablespoons of the cabbage mixture, 2 tablespoons of the fish, and another 1 tablespoon of the cabbage mixture. Fold the tortillas in half.
• Serve a plate of dressed avocado wedges alongside. Halve, pit, and peel an avocado. Cut into wedges and arrange on a plate. Squeeze the juice from 1/2 lime over the avocado and sprinkle with salt and pepper.