Baja Fish Tacos Delight (Printable version)

Crispy fried white fish with creamy lime drizzle, cabbage, and fresh garnishes served warm.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fish

01 - 1 lb firm white fish fillets (e.g., cod, halibut), 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

→ 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 (optional)
17 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ 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:

01 - Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, lime juice, lime zest, and hot sauce in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Chill until ready to serve.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper. Gradually incorporate cold sparkling water until smooth.
03 - Pour vegetable oil to a depth of about 1 inch into a deep skillet or Dutch oven. Heat over medium-high until oil reaches 350°F.
04 - Pat fish dry and lightly dredge in flour. Dip each piece into the batter, allowing excess to drip off.
05 - In batches, fry fish until golden and crisp, about 3 to 4 minutes, turning occasionally. Drain on a wire rack or paper towels.
06 - Heat tortillas in a dry skillet or oven until pliable and warm.
07 - Place several pieces of fried fish on each tortilla. Top with cabbage, cilantro, red onion, and avocado slices. Drizzle with creamy lime sauce and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The batter stays crispy even after assembly, thanks to the sparkling water trick that creates delicate bubbles.
  • You get restaurant-quality fish tacos in 40 minutes with ingredients most home cooks already have.
  • It's the rare weeknight dinner that feels fancy without any fussing.
02 -
  • Pat your fish dry before battering or it won't crisp—this single step changed everything for me.
  • Cold sparkling water is not a suggestion; room temperature water won't give you that signature light, airy texture.
  • Don't assemble tacos too far in advance; build them just before eating or the sauce will soften the tortillas.
03 -
  • A wire rack for draining fried fish beats paper towels; the air circulation underneath keeps things crisp longer.
  • Pre-shred cabbage a few hours ahead and chill it; cold cabbage stays crunchier and won't wilt when the warm fish touches it.
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