These baked fish tacos recipe begins with crispy baked panko crusted tilapia that is seasoned with a flavorful blend of Mexican spices and then drizzled with the BEST sauce for fish tacos that sure is revolutionary! Creamy ripe avocado, crunchy cabbage, red onion, cilantro and a load of jalapeño slices on charred corn tortillas complete the dish. Then, drizzle more fish taco sauce. It is SO GOOD!!!!
Today, we are talking tacos.
More precisely, Fish tacos. Not just any fish tacos.
The BEST Fish tacos that has
- Crispy baked tilapia fish coated with a spicy mixture and then dredged in panko bread crumbs
- 2-ingredient sauce that is not your traditional fish taco sauce
- Shredded cabbage, red onion, cilantro and jalapeños tossed with the same fish taco sauce
- Sliced avocado
- Charred corn tortilla
- Cilantro
- Jalapeños
Drizzle sauce all over the fish tacos and THEN, some more sauce.
My family loves Mexican recipes and we can’t get enough of them. Some of our favorites include – Mexican Spiced Chicken for Tacos, Burritos, Quesadillas or Salads, 4-ingredient Salsa Chickpeas, Spicy Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice with Black Beans and Corn, Chickpea Burrito Bowl or Chicken Burrito Bowl.
Let us take a look at each and every team player in making these easy fish tacos :
CRISPY BAKED PANKO CRUSTED FISH
The secret in making the golden, crispy baked fish lies in toasting the breadcrumbs. A regular coating of breadcrumbs doesn’t necessarily develop a golden color but also results in uneven brown and white crumby look. So, panko is first toasted in a skillet with some oil, until golden and crisp. The fish pieces are then coated with this crumb, making them crispier and more browned when baked!!!
Refer pictures below: Toast panko crumbs with some vegetable oil in a skillet, until evenly browned. Cool
Instead of adopting a regular breading method of flour-egg mixture-bread crumb, I’ve come up with a much easier one which involves tossing the fish in a batter and then coating them with breadcrumbs. The crumbs stay intact and forms a lovely crust on the outside.
(Refer pictures below)
Step-1: Whisk egg, cornstarch and spices together to make a thick batter.
Step-2: Toss fish in the batter
Step-3: Dredge the fish in the toasted breadcrumbs
Step-4: Bake at 375, until cooked through
Baked Bang Bang Cauliflower Tacos <—- Same method. Made with cauliflower and another killer sweet chili taco sauce.
Crispy baked spicy tilapia fish that is great as is with the fish taco sauce or better yet made into tacos.
Fabulous weeknight dinner. Check out more Dinner recipes
Now, It is time to talk about this REVOLUTIONARY fish taco sauce.
Traditional sauce for fish tacos are generally made sour cream, mayo, lime juice, hot sauce and spices.
But, we take a very different approach!!
Drum rule please….. The two ingredients are store bought salsa and mayonnaise!!!
Just whisk salsa, mayonnaise and a pinch of salt to make the most amazing fish taco sauce.
So simple…..So easy…..D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S
Finger licking good!
NOTE – Since the sauce depends on the salsa for its key flavor, choose a jar of salsa you really love to eat. Check out this creative 6-Minutes, 4-ingredient Salsa Chickpeas made with store-bought salsa.
Next, is the slaw for fish tacos:
Just your traditional slaw ingredients – cabbage, red onion, cilantro and jalapeños. All tossed with that delicious fish taco sauce.
You may a bag of coleslaw mix instead.
Purple cabbage (mixed in along with the green) will also add lovely color.
THE ASSEMBLY
Step-1: Char corn tortillas over open flame or on a hot cast iron skillet. ‘
Step-2: Place some slaw
Step-3: Top with crispy baked panko crusted Tilapia
Step-4: Drizzle fish taco sauce
Step-5: Top with avocado, more jalapeños and cilantro
Step-6: More sauce
E-A-T
You are welcome.
What types of fish is used to make easy baked fish tacos?
We used tilapia but you are welcome to use any white fish.
Can the crispy baked panko crusted fish be frozen?
Absolutely!
Bake fish and let cool completely. Place in a zip lock bag, seal well and freeze.
To reheat – Place desired number of fish on a baking sheet, bake in preheated 450 degree F oven for about 15 minutes, until hot and heated through.
How to cut tilapia fillets?
I choose to cut into long very thick strips, since they are
- Perfect size to be made into tacos
- More surface area for crispy breadcrumb coating
But, if you don’t want to cut the fillets, then leave it whole and bake following the recipe and then flake into big chunks before making into tacos.
I love SPICY. Can I make them more spicier?
Of course.
You may adopt one or all of the following steps to amp up the spiciness:
- Add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper along with egg/cornstarch batter
- Choose a spicy salsa
- Add more chopped or grated jalapeños into the slaw
- Load up on sliced jalapeños to finish
If you are also a huge fan of avocado then check out these recipes with avocado:
Baked Barbecue Chicken Meatballs with avocado (gluten free) – Incredible chicken meatballs baked in muffin tin!! Moist, saucy, easy and delicious baked barbecue chicken meatballs with avocado are easy enough for weeknight dinner and great for meal prep.
Healthyish Avocado Waffles – Your mornings just got better with these healthyish avocado waffles. Loaded with avocado, coconut oil, buttermilk and some dark chocolate chips for decadence, you will want this for breakfast every morning!!!
Whole Wheat Double Chocolate Avocado Muffins – An amazingly healthier version of chocolate muffins! They are perfectly moist, chocolatey, delicious and so decadent. The ultimate whole wheat chocolate avocado muffins.
Really Good Rotisserie Chicken Salad Sandwich with Avocado -Not just another boring chicken salad sandwich!!! Leftover Rotisserie chicken is sautéed with spices and then made into a delicious filling to make a really good rotisserie chicken salad sandwich with avocado.
Crispy Baked Fish Tacos with an amazing 2-ingredient Fish Taco Sauce
Ingredients
Baked Panko Crusted Fish
- 1 and 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
- 1 and 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3/4 pound tilapia ( 2 large or 3 medium fillets), each fillet cut into 2 to 4 pieces
- 1 large egg, beaten lightly
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper powder
Fish Taco Sauce
- 1 and 1/2 cup store bought salsa
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 pinches salt
Slaw for Fish Tacos
- 4 cups finely shredded cabbage
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1/2 jalapeños, sliced (optional)
Addional ingredients, to serve
- 6 corn tortillas
- 2 ripe avocado, sliced
- addional sliced jalapenos
- addional chopped cilantro
- lime wedges
- Cotija cheese or queso fresco
Instructions
Make Baked Panko Crusted Fish
- Toast breadcrumbs - Add vegetable oil and panko breadcrumbs into a skillet placed over med-high heat and stir continuously until breadcrumbs become deep golden ( stirring continuously will ensure that the breadcrumbs toast evenly). Transfer into a shallow plate and cool to room temperature.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
- Whisk egg, cornstarch and all spices ( chili, cumin, garlic, black pepper powders, paprika and salt ) in a shallow dish, until thoroughly combined. Add fish and toss to coat on all sides.
- Transfer each piece of fish into the toasted breadcrumbs, gently press it on so that the fish is coated on all sides. Place fish on the greased cookie sheet. Repeat the process with the remaining fish.
- Bake for about 15 minutes or until cooked through. Transfer cookie sheet to a wire rack to cool slightly.
Fish Taco Sauce
- Whisk together salsa, mayonnaise and salt until smooth. Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Make slaw for fish tacos
- Toss cabbage, cilantro, onion, jalapeño slices and some fish taco sauce together in a large bowl ( Make sure that there is enough sauce to coat well).
Assemble fish tacos
- Char tortillas - Toast the corn tortillas on a large dry skillet over medium/high heat or hold them over flame, to char on both sides. (Place tortillas wrapped in a clean dish towel to keep warm).
- To serve - Place some slaw on a tortilla, top with some fish (break up pieces to fit), sauce, avocado slices, cilantro, jalapeños and more sauce. It is all about the sauce!
Notes
- Add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper along with egg/cornstarch batter
- Choose a spicy salsa
- Add more chopped or grated jalapeños into the slaw
- Load up on sliced jalapeños to finish
- Perfect size to made into tacos
- More surface area for crispy breadcrumb coating
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