EASIEST FISH TACOS, RED RICE AND BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• For the fish: Cut the fish into 3-by-1-inch batons and place in shallow dish or plastic bag. Cover with milk.
• Combine flour with salt, pepper and dry spices in shallow dish or metal pan and set aside.
• Place very large shallow skillet on stove with thin layer (about 1/8 inch) of neutral oil, about 1/4 cup. Place foil-lined tray and wire rack near stove for cooked fish.
• For the red rice: Peel and finely chop onion and grate or chop the garlic. Grate the tomato.
• Heat a 2- to 3-quart saucepot over medium to medium-high heat with oil, 2 turns of the pan; add onions and garlic and stir a minute or 2, then add rice and salt, pepper and spices. Stir a minute or 2 more, then add stock and chiles and bring to boil; cover and reduce heat to low. After 12 minutes or so, add peas and tomatoes and cook 3 to 4 minutes more until rice is just tender. Let stand a few minutes, adjust salt and pepper, fluff with fork.
• For the black beans: Peel and finely chop the onion and grate or chop the garlic. Seed and finely chop the jalapeno pepper.
• Heat oil in a skillet, 1 turn of the pan, over medium-high heat; add onions, jalapeno and garlic, salt and pepper, cumin, bay and cinnamon. Stir a minute or so, then add about 1/2 cup water and let it absorb. Add black beans and hot sauce, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until ready to serve.
• For the pico de gallo: Seed and finely chop chile peppers, put in a bowl and wash hands. Finely chop and add half an onion; reserve the rest. Add grated or chopped garlic, salt, juice of 1 lime. Seed and chop tomatoes; add to bowl. Chop and add cilantro; toss.
• To serve: Halve the cabbage, remove core and very thinly shred; reserve the other half for another use.
• When rice and beans are about ready, heat skillet with oil over medium-high heat. Remove fish from milk and shake off excess, then coat fish in flour. Fry to crispy and brown, then remove to rack and serve with lime wedges.
• Char tortillas over gas burner or in a stainless pan preheated over high heat to blister and soften.
• Build tacos: Tortilla, fish, cabbage, pico, crema, hot sauce and pickled jalapenos. Add juice of 1 lime to beans. Serve tacos with rice and beans.