CRISPY Baked Tilapia 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!
Today, we are talking tacos.
More precisely, Fish tacos. Not just any fish tacos.
The BEST Baked Tilapia Tacos that is made of
- 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 baked panko fish 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 – 4-ingredient Salsa Chickpeas, Spicy Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice with Black Beans and Corn, Chickpea Burrito Bowl or Homemade Chicken Burrito Bowl.
Team Players :
- 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!!!
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.
Baked Tilapia Fish with Mexican spices is great as is with the fish taco sauce or better yet made into tacos.
2. REVOLUTIONARY fish taco sauce.
Traditional sauce for fish tacos are generally made with 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! You might also like this Cilantro Lime sauce, that is delicious for all spicy tacos.
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.
3. 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 use a bag of coleslaw mix instead.
Purple cabbage (mixed in along with the green) will also add lovely color.
Assemble
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.
How to make it spicier?
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
What to serve with fish tacos?
Spicy Cilantro Lime Rice with Black Beans and Corn
Mexican salad
Chips and Guac
Ice cold margarita
Churros with Nutella ganache <— for dessert
Variations:
Make baked panko Tilapia fish tacos gluten free – Use gluten free panko bread crumbs and gluten free tortillas
Try a different type of fish like cod or snapper.
This air fried tilapia is also a great alternative instead of the oven baked tilapia.
Try green and red cabbage
Any mild, white-fleshed fish is good for fish tacos – like Tilapia, Cod, Halibut, snapper or Mahi Mahi.
Chili powder, Cumin powder, Garlic powder, Black pepper powder and Paprika.
Fish taco topping options are avocado, guacamole, salsa, pico de gallo, lettuce, jalapeños, cabbage, chopped cilantro, lime juice and Cotija / Queso Fresco cheeses
Keeping track of all Taco recipes around here?
Fish tacos with Frozen Fish Sticks
Baked Bang Bang Cauliflower Tacos
Crispy Baked Fish Tacos with an amazing 2-ingredient Fish Taco Sauce
Ingredients
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
- One batch Crispy Baked Tilapia
- 6 corn tortillas
- 2 ripe avocado, sliced
- addional sliced jalapenos
- addional chopped cilantro
- lime wedges
- Cotija cheese or queso fresco
Instructions
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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