Fish Tacos with Slaw (Printable)

Golden spiced fish in warm tortillas topped with crisp cabbage slaw and tangy creamy lime sauce.

# What You Need:

→ Fish

01 - 1.1 lbs white fish fillets (cod, tilapia, or haddock)
02 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
03 - 1 teaspoon paprika
04 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
08 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (optional for breading)
09 - 1 large egg (optional for breading)
10 - 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs (optional for breading)

→ Tortillas

11 - 8 small corn or flour tortillas

→ Slaw

12 - 2 cups shredded green cabbage
13 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
14 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
15 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
16 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
17 - Pinch of salt

→ Creamy Sauce

18 - 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
19 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
20 - 1 tablespoon lime juice
21 - 1 teaspoon hot sauce
22 - 1 teaspoon honey or agave syrup
23 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Garnishes

24 - Fresh lime wedges
25 - Extra chopped cilantro

# Directions:

01 - Combine shredded cabbage, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, and salt in a large bowl. Toss thoroughly and set aside to marinate while preparing other components.
02 - Whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, hot sauce, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until smooth and well blended. Refrigerate until serving.
03 - Pat fish fillets completely dry with paper towels. Cut into 2-inch strips. Sprinkle both sides evenly with cumin, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper, pressing gently to adhere.
04 - For crispy texture: Dredge seasoned strips in flour, dip into beaten egg, then coat thoroughly with panko breadcrumbs, shaking off excess between each step.
05 - Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add fish strips in a single layer (work in batches if necessary). Cook 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Internal temperature should reach 145°F. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
06 - Heat tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat for 30 seconds per side until pliable and slightly charred. Alternatively, wrap in foil and warm in a 350°F oven for 5-7 minutes.
07 - Place a generous portion of slaw on each warm tortilla. Top with 2-3 fish strips. Drizzle with creamy sauce. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with lime wedges on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The texture contrast alone is worth it, crunchy against creamy against soft warm tortillas
  • Everything comes together in under 40 minutes but tastes like you spent all day thinking about it
02 -
  • Dry your fish thoroughly with paper towels before seasoning or the spices will not stick and you will not get that gorgeous crust
  • Do not overcrowd the pan when cooking fish or the temperature drops and you end up with steamed soggy fillets instead of crispy ones
03 -
  • A squeeze of fresh lime right before serving makes all the difference between good tacos and great ones
  • Keep cooked fish on a wire rack instead of paper towels to maintain that crunch you worked so hard for
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