Fried Fish Tacos
Fried Fish Tacos feature flaky, tender pan-fried fish, simple fresh slaw, some avocado, jalapenos, and a homemade tartar sauce! You can adjust these fish tacos to your own personal taste with various toppings and types of white fish.
Enjoy more bright seafood recipes like Baked Cod and Blackened Salmon.
Table of Contents
It’s almost my most favorite time of year – summer time! Well, here in Florida it’s basically summer all year round. I love summer not just for the beach trips and pool parties, but because it’s seafood season. This time of year practically screams fish, shrimp and shellfish!
I’ve been to plenty of beach restaurants, and let me tell you… none come close to these tacos I make at home because no one will ever put as much love and care into your food as you! First of all, you choose the ingredients, so you will get the best fish you can. Second, you will cook it just like you like it and take care to cook it well.
The fish is wonderfully tender and juicy, lightly breaded in a seasoned flour mixture and then pan fried to perfection. It’s never too greasy or overcooked with this simple process.
What really sends these tacos over the top is the fresh slaw and homemade tartar sauce. This slaw is not creamy but light and crisp. It’s flavored with fresh lemon juice, oil, salt, pepper and a little sugar to give it the best flavor. As for the tartar sauce, it’s so easy and flavorful, it’s a perfect company for the fish!
Ingredient Notes
Fish Filet – Mahi Mahi or cod are my favorite fish to use in fish tacos, but other white fishes will also work. Other fish you can use include halibut, haddock, tilapia, flounder, snapper, grouper, and sea bass.
All Purpose Flour – This is what gives the fried fish that beautiful golden color and crisp consistency. Feel free to use gluten free all purpose flour to make the recipe gluten free.
Lemon Juice – For the very best fresh flavor, be sure to use freshly squeezed lemon juice only!
Mayonnaise – use your favorite brand of mayonnaise for the best flavor.
Flour Tortillas – Use your favorite taco tortillas, be it flour tortillas, corn tortillas, or any other type you love.
Oil – This is what you’ll need to pan fry this fish. Choose a neutral variety with a high smoke point like canola, vegetable, or avocado oil. I recommend using avocado oil because it has a neutral flavor, high burn point, and it’s the healthiest option among other frying oils.
See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and quantities.
Best Fish for Fish Tacos
You’ll want to choose a white fish that is flaky. When choosing your fish, it’s best to buy fresh when possible. If you don’t have the option to get fresh, see if a flash frozen option is available.
Always try to choose better quality fish! Cheaper, low quality, and previously frozen fish can result in a strong ammonia scent and won’t taste as good. Types of fish that’s delicious in tacos are cod, mahi mahi, haddock, tilapia, flounder, or sea bass (if you’re feeling fancy).
Personally, my top two choices for fish in tacos is cod and mahi mahi! They’re the best.
How to Make Fried Fish Tacos
Make the tartar sauce. Combine all of the tartar sauce ingredients until smooth in a small bowl (1).
Make the slaw. Combine all of the ingredients for the slaw in a bowl. Gently massage the slaw so the cabbage is coated evenly (2).
Prepare. Preheat a medium pan with tall sides. Add oil. Preheat the oil to 350℉.
Season the flour. Combine flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a wide shallow bowl.
Bread the fish. Cut the fish fillets in 3-4 pieces. Bread each piece in the flour mixture. Pat it down as you bread but gently shake off the excess before adding to the pan (3).
Fry the fish. Carefully add each piece to the pan (you’ll notice if start to sizzle right away) (4) and don’t move it until ready to flip. Cook the fish until completely cooked (5).
PRO TIP: It takes 2-4 minutes on each side for an average filet. If you have very thick cuts of fish, they make take another minute or two. Fish is done when it turns completely opaque throughout.
Remove from the pan. Use a metal fish spatula to flip and take the fish out of the pan. Place cooked fish filets into the paper towel covered wire rack to soak up excess oil (6).
Enjoy! Assemble tacos with cooked fish, slaw, avocado, sauce, and any other toppings you may with to add.
Tips for Pan Frying Fish
- If the fish has been frozen, make sure it’s fully thawed prior to cooking.
- Make sure to preheat the pan and then add oil. It’s also important to preheat the oil before coating the fish as well.
- Pat the fish dry with a paper towel before coating it in the seasoned flour.
- Gently shake off excess flour before adding the fish to the pan.
Fish Taco Toppings
Here are just a few of my favorite toppings for fried fish tacos:
- Coleslaw
- Corn slaw/Corn Salad
- Mango Salsa or Pineapple Salsa
- Sliced avocados
- Diced cucumbers
- Sliced onions (red onions are best)
- Jalapeños
- Pickled red onion
Recipe FAQs
If you’re not in a mood for tartar sauce you can always use something else! Simply add some sour cream or crema to the tacos. If you want a more flavorful sauce, try remoulade, Guacamole, Avocado Ranch, or chipotle cream sauce (I use it on my other favorite Spicy Salmon Tacos)!
I do not recommend making fish or any other seafood ahead of time. Seafood does not reheat very well and it’s easy to overcook. It’s best to serve fish fresh!
There are so many options to choose from! I recommend plating them with something on the summery side like Grilled Corn on the Cob, Coconut Rice or Southern Potato Salad. Fish tacos are also pretty fabulous with beachy cocktails like Coconut Mojitos and Bay Breezes!
More Great Fish Recipes
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Fried Fish Tacos with Homemade Tartar Sauce
Ingredients
Tartar Sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 tbsp capers drained
- 1 tbsp diced pickles
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp dried dill weed
- salt
- fresh cracked black pepper
Pan Fried Fish:
- 1 lb. cod fillet or another white fish* skinless
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour**
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt to taste
- 1/2-1 fresh cracked black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup avocado or canola oil to pan fry the fish
Slaw:
- 1 1/2 cups slaw mix
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp avocado or olive oil
- 2 tsp white granulated sugar
- 1/4-1/2 tsp fresh cracked black pepper to taste
- 1/4-1/2 tsp salt to taste
Taco Toppings:
- 6-8 taco tortillas
- Avocado sliced
- Jalapeno sliced
Instructions
For Tartar Sauce:
- Combine all the ingredients for the tartar sauce in a small bowl and mix well. Set aside.
For Slaw:
- Combine all of the ingredients for the slaw in a small mixing bowl.
- Mix and gently massage the slaw to the cabbage is coated evenly. Set aside in the while making fish.
To Pan-Fry Fish:
- Note: take the skin off the fish if it's not skinless and gently run your hands over the filet to feel for missed bones. If you feel any boned, you can use tweezers to pull them out.
- Preheat a medium cooking pan with tall sides and once preheated, add oil. Preheat the oil to 350℉ degrees (use a meat thermometer).
- Combine flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a wide shallow bowl.
- Cut the fish fillets in 3-4 pieces and bread each piece in the flour mixture. Pat it down as you bread but gently shake off the excess before adding to the pan.
- Carefully add each piece to the pan (you will notice if start to sizzle right away) and don't move it until ready to flip. Cook the fish until completely cooked.It would take 2-4 minutes on each side for an average filet. If you have very thick filets, they make take another minute or two. (Fish is done when it turns completely opaque throughout.)
- Use a metal fish spatula to flip and take the fish out of the pan. Place cooked fish filets into the paper towel covered wire rack to soak up excess oil.
- Assemble tacos with cooked fish, slaw, avocado, sauce, and any other toppings you may with to add.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published on Will Cook For Smiles in March 2013.
Categories:
30 Minute Meals, Dinner Recipes, Gluten Free Recipes, Lunch Recipe Ideas, Seafood Dinner Recipes, Taco Recipes,All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe.
Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.
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up!
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Beautiful! You are making me crave fish tacos at 11 pm!
I NEVER buy tartar sauce anymore! I totally agree-never go thru it, so I might as well make it myself 🙂 These look super delicious and can’t wait to try them! Thanks for sharing.
I’m pinning this I love the fish tacos and I really love the tartar sauce. I make a very simple one and yours sounds much more interesting. Thanks for sharing these recipes with us on foodie friday.
Yum, those look great!
Thank you, Jessi!
I am a seafood ADDICT! These look absolutely great
Me Too! Thank you 🙂