Cod Fish Tacos

This Cod Fish Taco recipe is one of my favorite quick and easy weeknight dinners for when life is busy and everyone is hungry! If it sounds like “Back-to-School” season at your house, I can relate!

They are on rotation with my other quick and easy dinners like my Orecchiette Pasta with Sausage and Broccolini, Sheet Pan Chicken and Veggies, and my Tomato Cream Sauce Linguine.

The flakey cod fish pairs beautifully with my spicy, creamy sauce. And you’ll love the addition of the ripe avocado and crunchy cabbage, all wrapped up into a delicious charred corn tortilla!

Ingredients:

• Cod Fish I prefer to use the fresh fish fillets over frozen. But if frozen is all you have just let it defrost in the refrigerator over night. You can also use salmon too! Any left over salmon, you can make my yummy 15-Minute Salmon and Rice bowls another quick and easy dinner idea! 
• Salt, Pepper and Dried Oregano I only use these simple spices on the fish, and reserve the bold flavors for the sauce. This makes the tacos are a bit more kid-friendly because it’s easier to leave the sauce off than scrape off the spices on the fish! (Yes, I’m speaking from experience!) 
• Crema Mexicana or Sour Cream I like to use the Crema Mexicana because it’s a little bit sweeter and doesn’t have the tang that sour cream has. It’s also thinner in consistency than sour cream which makes it easier to drizzle over the tacos. You could also use plain Greek yogurt as well. For a little extra decadence you can also add 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise if desired. 
• Hot Sauce This can be any brand you like. Or you can also use cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes instead. 
• Cumin I love the earthy, smokey flavor the cumin provides. If you don’t have cumin you can also substitute it for smoked paprika or chili powder instead.
• Garlic I like to use fresh garlic, but if you are trying to save time, garlic powder works too! One garlic clove is roughly equivalent to 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder.  Just don’t use garlic salt which will make the sauce too salty. 
• Fresh Lime Juice This can be altered to taste. I like to use the full lime, but you can start with 1/2 a lime and taste it first, and then add more as desired. 
• Fresh Cilantro Adds a wonderful freshness to the tacos. If you are not a fan (and I know there are those of you out there who do not care for it!) you can leave it off, or swap for fresh Italian parsley instead. 
• Red Cabbage I buy the pre-chopped cabbage because it’s so much easier and less wasteful. It’s hard to use up a full head of cabbage! But if you have extra cabbage you can put it to good use in my BBQ Chicken Sliders with Coleslaw.
• Avocado I like to dice the avocado because it makes it easier to fit in the taco, but you can also slice it if you prefer.
• Corn Tortillas I prefer to use organic corn tortillas like the kind from La Tortilla Factory, because they are thicker and more durable than thinner corn tortillas. The thicker tortillas also holds up better against the weight of the taco filling and you won’t have to worry about the tortilla tearing. 
• Optional You can also add some Cotija cheese, pico de gallo, charred corn relish, or sliced radish.

What Type of Fish is Best for Fish Tacos?

• Fish tacos are traditionally made with white fish like Cod, Mahi Mahi, Tilapia or Halibut.
• When comparing Mahi Mahi against Cod for fish tacos, I prefer the Cod fish because it’s easier to find, less expensive and less “fishy” than Mahi Mahi.
• Cod also retains its moisture when cooked and develops a lovely flaky texture.

Alternate Fish Ideas:

• For salmon tacos try fresh salmon fillets and prepare it the same way as the cod.
• You can also make shrimp tacos, just by swapping out the fish for shrimp.
• If using shrimp, there’s no need to finish cooking it in the oven, just saute it in a pan until pink and cooked through. 

Step#1: Sear the Fish

• After seasoning the fish you’ll sear it in a skillet first to get some nice color on it. Then flip it over and place it in a 350F oven to cook through.
• Use a non-stick pan to get the best sear on your fish. I love my All-Clad Non-Stick pans, personally I think they are worth the money for the quality they provide! And they have a metal handle (not plastic) that allows you to go from cooktop to the oven without having to dirty another pan.
• Also, use an oil with a high smoke point. This Avocado Oil Spray by Choosen Foods can reach up to 500F before smoking! High heat will get you a nice sear and the high-smoke point oil will prevent a smoky kitchen. 

Step#2: Make the Fish Taco Sauce

• I prefer to use Crema Mexicana because of the liquidy consistency. It helps for drizzling the sauce on the tacos.
• But if sour cream is all you have just thin it a bit with water until it’s a drizzly consistency, otherwise it will be too clumpy for the taco topping.
• The recipe below will give you a “starting place” but feel free to adjust the lime, hot sauce and seasonings to taste.

Step#3: Warm and Char the Tortillas

• The tortillas are best heated on a gas cooktop, because they become charred and a bit crispy without loosing the pliability.
• But use a heartier corn tortilla that is thicker and a bit more dense. This will allow it to hold up to the weight of the taco filling.
• Simply place the tortilla directly over a gas burner, on medium-high heat, flipping it every :20 or so, or until it starts to char. Do not walk away from it, you must watch it closely, or it will burn and catch on fire! 
• I heat both sides (undercooking the second side to preserve the pliability so the taco will fold) and stack them until ready to use.
• I have not tried this with flour tortillas, but I find taco recipes work better with the smaller corn tortillas. Leave the flour tortillas for Fajitas or Quesadillas.
• For another delicious taco recipe try my Carne Asada Tacos.

Best Way to Cut Cod for Fish Tacos

• Cod fish is naturally flaky, which makes it really easy to separate into bite-sized pieces with two forks. 
• Cutting the fish with forks also preserves it’s flakiness. 
• This is another reason why I love to use cod fish for fish tacos, because it’s so easy to separate into chunks. 

What to Serve with Fish Tacos

• Personally, I find fish tacos to be a meal in itself! Since they have all the veggies, protein and starch already in them.
• But if you want to serve a side dish, try my Mexican Charred Corn Salad, which also works as an additional topping too.
• For starters you could serve my Cucumber Melon Aqua Frescas and my Gazpacho Shooters with Spicy Shrimp tails.
• For dessert, try my Churro Sundaes!