Looking for a delectable culinary experience that blends the zesty flavors of Mexico with the crispy crunch of tempura? Baja style tempura fish tacos are sure to tantalize your taste buds with their unique combination of fresh fish coated in a light and airy batter, then fried to perfection. Served with a variety of toppings, such as creamy avocado, tangy salsa, and pickled cabbage, these tacos offer a symphony of textures and flavors in every bite. Whether you're a seasoned taco aficionado or new to the world of Mexican cuisine, this article will guide you through the steps of creating the ultimate baja style tempura fish tacos, complete with tips for selecting the freshest ingredients and achieving the perfect crispiness in your tempura batter.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
BAJA STYLE FISH TACOS
I came up with this recipe after having fish tacos from a street vendor in Ensenada, Mexico. It is the closest to authentic I have found. Salsa can be made a day in advance for flavors to blend.
Provided by Nancy Kopperud
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Latin American Mexican
Time 1h
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 16
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 422.6 calories, Carbohydrate 50.8 g, Cholesterol 38.7 mg, Fat 17.6 g, Fiber 5.3 g, Protein 16 g, SaturatedFat 6.6 g, Sodium 442.9 mg, Sugar 3.1 g
BAJA STYLE FISH TACOS
Provided by Marcela Valladolid
Categories main-dish
Time 50m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- For the Beer Batter:
- Mix the flour, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Gradually add in the beer while whisking. Set aside and let the batter rest for 15 minutes before using.
- For Cream Sauce:
- Add the mayonnaise and crema to a medium bowl. Whisk in the lemon zest, lemon juice and water. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper (can be made 3 days ahead, covered and refrigerated).
- For the Fish:
- In a large skillet, over medium heat, add enough oil to reach a depth of 1-inch. Heat the oil until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350 degrees F or when the end of a wooden spoon sizzles when inserted into the oil.
- On a large plate, combine the flour and salt. Season the fish pieces all over with salt and pepper and coat with the flour. Working in batches, dip the fillets in the beer batter and coat on both sides. Fry in the hot oil until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
- Make tacos with the tortillas and fish and top each with cream, shredded cabbage, tomatillo salsa and pickled jalapenos, if desired.
- *Cook's Note: Crack open a cold Mexican cerveza like a Negra Modelo or a 2 Equis (XX) Amber to make this tasty beer batter, which will change the way you think about fried fish! You can use it for vegetables, too.
- **Cook's Note: Mexican Crema is Mexico's version of creme fraiche and is found at many supermarkets and can easily be substituted with sour cream.
BAJA-STYLE TEMPURA FISH TACOS
These Baja-style tempura fish tacos are as authentic as they come. White fish is dunked in a quick chile-lime marinade and then battered and pan-fried until crisp before being tucked in soft tortillas and topped with slaw and banana mango salsa.
Provided by Mark Miller
Categories Mains
Time 1h
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine the cold water, lime juice, garlic, chiles, oregano (if using) and salt. Add the fish and set aside at room temperature for 20 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the ice water and mustard. Gently stir in the flour, being careful not to overmix the batter; a few small lumps are okay. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Drain the fish and pat the pieces dry with a paper towel. Have a plate lined with paper towels or a cut-open brown paper bag at the ready.
- In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat at least 2 to 3 inches of oil over medium heat until it reaches 360°F (182°C) on a deep-fry or candy or instant-read thermometer.
- Remove the tempura batter from the refrigerator and stir to recombine.
- Dredge a few pieces of fish at a time in the batter, turning to coat them evenly. Gently lower a couple pieces of fish into the oil, adding a couple more pieces every 30 seconds. Fry no more than 4 pieces at a time. Fry the fish, turning as needed, until the pieces are crisp, light golden brown, and floating on the surface of the oil, about 2 1/2 minutes. Monitor the temperature of the oil throughout frying, letting the oil return to proper temperature between batches; to ensure crispness, it must remain a constant 360°F to 380°F (182°C to 193°C).
- Using a fine-mesh skimmer, transfer the fried fish to the paper towel-lined plate or brown paper bag to drain. Repeat with the remaining fish and batter, being sure to remove any flecks of floating fried batter in between batches.
- Place the tortillas side by side, open face and overlapping, on a platter. (If using extra tortillas, simply double them up.) Divvy the slaw and fish equally among the tortillas. Top with salsa and desired garnishes or allow guests to do so themselves. Grab, fold, and eat right away.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 taco, Calories 222 kcal, Carbohydrate 23 g, Protein 19 g, Fat 6 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, TransFat 1 g, Cholesterol 39 mg, Sodium 776 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 1 g, UnsaturatedFat 4 g
BAJA-STYLE FISH TACOS
These fish tacos are a traditional Mexican dish that's sure to be a crowd-pleaser. A quick lime juice marinade for the cod provides a hint of citrus in each bite, and the beer batter is wonderfully crisp and light. Simple, rustic, delicious: it's everything you want from Mexican street food.
Provided by Gabriela Cámara
Categories main-dish
Time 45m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Marinate: Slice fish into 1-inch-thick pieces (about 2 ounces each). Place in a wide, shallow bowl and season with salt on all sides. Pour lime juice over the pieces and let rest while preparing the batter, 5-10 minutes.
- Make batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and beer until smooth. Whisk in baking powder, then add sambal, mustard, oregano, and salt, and whisk to combine. Set aside.
- Dredge, batter, and deep-fry: Place flour on a plate. Add oil to a pot and set over medium heat. Secure a thermometer to the pot's side and heat oil to 375 F. Remove fish from marinade, one piece at a time, and dredge in flour on both sides. Then dip in the batter, coat well, and carefully place into the hot oil. Repeat with one or two more pieces, working in batches to avoid crowding the pot. Fry until the fish is evenly cooked and golden brown on all sides, about 8 minutes. Transfer fish to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Assembly: Warm tortillas on a comal or skillet over low heat. While tortillas are heating, mix together mayonnaise and crème fraîche in a small bowl. Place a warm tortilla on a plate, and spread a dollop of mayo-crème sauce down the middle. Place a piece of fish on top of the sauce, followed by another spoonful of sauce. Add cabbage, an avocado slice or two, then finish with a spoonful of pickled red onions. Repeat assembly with remaining ingredients and serve immediately.
BAJA FISH TACOS
Crisp mahi mahi pans out beautifully when dressed up with fresh lime, cilantro and smoky adobo. One bite and you'll be hooked on these baja fish tacos! -Brooke Keller, Lexington, Kentucky
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 35m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In a small bowl, combine the salad dressing, adobo sauce, cilantro and lime juice. Chill until serving., Sprinkle mahi mahi with salt and pepper. Place the flour, eggs and bread crumbs in separate shallow bowls. Coat mahi mahi with flour, then dip in eggs and coat with bread crumbs. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat; cook fish in batches for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels., Place fish in tortillas; top with cabbage, sauce mixture and additional cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
Nutrition Facts :
BAJA-STYLE FISH TACOS
These fish tacos have a delicious tequila-lime-chili flavor and are topped with a crunchy ranchero coleslaw. They are very easy to make. Optional toppings can include black beans, jalapeno peppers, diced tomato, julienned carrots, and green onions.
Provided by JohnBailey
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Latin American Mexican
Time 2h5m
Yield 9
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- Make a marinade by whisking together the tequila, lime juice, water, 2 tablespoons salt, turbinado sugar, and 1 tablespoon chili powder in a large bowl. Set aside 1/4 cup of the marinade. Add the cod to the remaining marinade; cover and set aside.
- Stir together the reserved 1/4 cup marinade, black beans, and jalapeno; set aside.
- Mix together the mayonnaise, sour cream, 1 tablespoon chili powder, cider vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, sugar, and green onions in a large bowl. Add the coleslaw mix and green onion and mix until coated; set aside.
- Mix together the flour, 1 tablespoon chili powder, baking soda, and 2 teaspoons salt in a shallow dish. Remove pieces of cod from the marinade, shake off the marinade, and coat in the flour mixture.
- Heat the oil in a heavy skillet to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Gently lie the coated fish in the skillet without crowding the pieces. Cook in the hot oil, turning once, until browned on all sides, 5 to 7 minutes.
- While frying the cod, heat the black bean mixture in a saucepan over medium heat. Heat the reserved marinade in a separate small saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Assemble tacos by placing fish in the center of tortilla; top with coleslaw, black beans, and any other desired toppings. Drizzle some of the heated marinade over the fillings and fold the tortilla to close.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 488.7 calories, Carbohydrate 43.6 g, Cholesterol 52.6 mg, Fat 23.6 g, Fiber 5.6 g, Protein 19.8 g, SaturatedFat 5.1 g, Sodium 2504.8 mg, Sugar 4.5 g
BAJA-STYLE TEMPURA FISH
Batter-fried fish tacos as we know them in the United States originated in the 1930s in Ensenada, Mexico, home to a large Japanese immigrant population who worked in the fishing industry there. Along with their skills as fishermen, the Japanese also brought with them the technique for tempura-deep-frying fish in batter. The Mexicans adapted this technique to make tacos, using young shark, a very inexpensive local catch that held up beautifully when fried. These tacos are best served immediately as fried foods get soggy if left to sit. If you can't find shark, substitute a firm, moist white fish like opah, tilapia, or mahi mahi.
Provided by Mark Miller
Yield makes 10 tacos
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- To make the marinade, in a large bowl, combine the 1 1/2 cups water, lime juice, garlic, chiles, oregano, and salt. Add the fish strips and let marinate for at least 20 minutes.
- To make the tempura batter, in a separate bowl, whisk together the ice water and mustard. Gently stir in the flour, but don't overmix; a few small lumps are okay. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Drain the shark pieces and pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Have a plate lined with paper towels ready. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat at least 2 to 3 inches of oil over medium heat until it reaches 360°F on a deep-fat thermometer. Remove the batter from the refrigerator and stir once more. Dredge the fish pieces in the batter, a few at a time, to evenly coat. Drop them in the hot fat, 2 pieces at a time, adding 2 more pieces every 30 seconds (fry no more than 4 pieces at a time). Monitor the temperature of the hot oil throughout frying, letting the oil return to proper temperature, if necessary, between batches; to ensure crispness, it must remain a constant 360°F to 380°F. If too low, the fish will be oily; if too hot, the pieces will burn.
- Fry them until crisp, light golden brown, and floating in the oil, about 2 1/2 minutes per batch. With a fine-mesh skimmer, transfer the fish tempura to the paper-towel-lined plate to absorb the excess oil. Repeat with the remaining pieces of fish. During frying, be sure to remove any pieces of floating batter, or they will burn and darken the oil, which will transfer a burned flavor to the tempura. Serve immediately.
- To serve, lay the tortillas side by side, open face and overlapping on a platter. Divide the slaw and filling equally between the tortillas and top with salsa and garnish. Grab, fold, and eat right away. Or build your own taco: lay a tortilla, open face, in one hand. Spoon on some slaw, then filling, top with salsa, fold, and eat right away.
BAJA FISH TACOS
This recipe is dedicated to my niece Ruth who lives in San Diego. When I visit we always drive down to Ensenada for fish tacos. The fish are fried in batter there. I've taken a few liberties and added beer and taco seasoning to the batter. I prefer the catfish nuggets because they are nice and firm, have a great taste and are usually the cheapest fish at the local market.
Provided by Mary Leverington
Categories Catfish
Time 35m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Whisk together the flour, beer, and taco seasoning mix.
- Wash catfish nuggets and pat dry with paper toweling.
- In a food processor or blender, process for a few seconds sour cream, cilantro, lime juice and additional taco seasoning mix to taste.
- You don't want to totally liquify the cilantro.
- Prepare garnishes as you heat about 1/2" of oil in a cast iron skillet or heavy frying pan to 360F.
- Dip fish nuggets into batter and place in hot oil with a fork.
- Turn once after about 1 minute and brown the other side for another minute.
- Do this in batches.
- Don't crowd the fish.
- Drain on paper toweling and keep warm in a 200F oven until ready to serve.
- Heat tortillas in foil in the oven or nuke them wrapped in a clean kitchen towel.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 329.3, Fat 9.9, SaturatedFat 3.5, Cholesterol 51.6, Sodium 185.7, Carbohydrate 40.7, Fiber 3.9, Sugar 1.5, Protein 17.1
CLASSIC BAJA-STYLE FISH TACOS
The original recipe is from The Gourmet Cookbook, and is adapted from the tacos served at Rubio's Baja Grill. I've made a couple changes, but mostly to the sauce -- trying to duplicate the wonderful sauce used at Barryhill Baja Grill in Houston. It may take a little more work but frying the fish twice is what gives it a crisper crust.
Provided by Galley Wench
Categories Mexican
Time 1h15m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 25
Steps:
- Make the Batter:.
- Combine beer, flour, salt, garlic powder, dry mustard, oregano and pepper in a blender and blend until smooth, about 20 seconds.
- Transfer to a bowl and let stand, covered for 1 hour.
- Make the Sauce:.
- Stir together mayonnaise, yogurt, mustard, chipotle and salt in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate.
- Fry the Fish:.
- Put a rack in middle of oven and preheat oven to 350°F.
- Heat 2 inches oil in a 4 quart deep heavy saucepan until it registers 350°F on thermometer.
- Put flour in pie plate or shallow dish. Dredge 10 fish strips in flour, shake off excess, then coat in batter, letting excess drip off, and carefully drop in hot oil.
- Fry, stirring, until PALE golden, 2 or 3 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper towel to drain.
- Repeat with the remaining fish (returning oil to 350 °F between batches).
- Set pan of oil aside.
- Heat the Tortillas and Refry The Fish:.
- Wrap tortillas in stacks of 6 in foil and heat in oven until hot, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove tortillas from foil and re-wrap in a kitchen towel to keep warm.
- Meanwhile, reheat oil until it registers 375 degrees. Refry fish strips in batches of 10, stirring, until golden brown, 1 or 2 minutes.
- With a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain again.
- To Serve:.
- Stack two corn tortillas together, top with fish, cabbage, sauce and cilantro.
- Serve with lime and salsa on the side.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 4538.8, Fat 442.4, SaturatedFat 57.8, Cholesterol 51.5, Sodium 1317.5, Carbohydrate 116.8, Fiber 11.2, Sugar 2.6, Protein 36.4
Tips:
- Use fresh, high-quality fish for the best results.
- Cut the fish into small pieces so that it cooks evenly.
- Season the fish with salt, pepper, and any other desired spices before coating it in batter.
- Make sure the batter is cold before frying the fish. This will help the batter to adhere to the fish and prevent it from becoming greasy.
- Fry the fish in hot oil until it is golden brown and cooked through.
- Serve the fish tacos with your favorite toppings, such as shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, and guacamole.
Conclusion:
Baja-style tempura fish tacos are a delicious and easy-to-make meal that is perfect for a casual get-together or a weeknight dinner. The fish is crispy and flavorful, and the toppings add a refreshing and tangy flavor. This recipe is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it.
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