Description
These Baja Fish Tacos feature crispy beer-battered fish, a zesty slaw, and a creamy chipotle sauce, delivering the perfect balance of crunch, spice, and freshness. Ready in under an hour, this easy recipe brings authentic coastal Mexican flavors to your table.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Fish:
- 1 lb white fish fillets (cod, halibut, or tilapia)
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¾ cup light beer (or club soda for non-alcoholic option)
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
For the Slaw:
- 2 cups shredded cabbage (green or purple)
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- ¼ tsp salt
For the Baja Sauce:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
- 1 clove garlic
For Serving:
- 8 corn tortillas
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 jalapeño, sliced (optional)
- 1 avocado, sliced (optional)
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Prepare the Slaw
- In a bowl, mix shredded cabbage, lime juice, and salt.
- Set aside to let the flavors meld.
- Make the Baja Sauce
- Blend mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, chipotle pepper, and garlic in a food processor until smooth.
- Adjust seasoning and set aside.
- Prepare the Batter
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Gradually add beer while whisking until a smooth batter forms.
- Coat and Fry the Fish
- Heat oil in a deep skillet to 350°F (175°C).
- Cut fish into strips, dip in batter, and fry until golden brown (about 3-4 minutes per side).
- Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Assemble the Tacos
- Warm tortillas over an open flame or in a dry skillet.
- Spread a spoonful of Baja sauce on each tortilla.
- Add crispy fish, slaw, and garnish with cilantro, jalapeño, and avocado.
- Serve immediately with lime wedges.
Notes
- Grilled Fish Option: Instead of frying, season and grill the fish for a lighter version.
- Make it Spicier: Add extra chipotle peppers or hot sauce.
- Low-Carb: Use lettuce wraps instead of tortillas.
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free flour and ensure corn tortillas are certified gluten-free.
- Dairy-Free: Substitute mayo and sour cream with dairy-free alternatives.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: frying
- Cuisine: mexican inspired
Keywords: Baja fish tacos, beer-battered fish tacos, crispy fish tacos, Mexican fish tacos, easy fish tacos