Spicy Lime Fish Tacos (Print Version)

Zesty chili-lime fish paired with crisp cabbage slaw, creamy avocado, and fresh cilantro crema.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fish Marinade

01 - 1.1 lb white fish fillets (cod, tilapia, or haddock)
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1.5 teaspoons chili powder
04 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
05 - 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - Zest and juice of 1 lime
08 - 0.5 teaspoon sea salt
09 - 0.25 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Cabbage Slaw

10 - 2 cups finely shredded green cabbage
11 - 1 cup finely shredded red cabbage
12 - 1 small carrot, grated
13 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
15 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
16 - 0.5 teaspoon salt

→ Cilantro Crema

17 - 0.5 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
18 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
19 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
20 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
21 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
22 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Assembly

23 - 8 small flour or corn tortillas, warmed
24 - 1 ripe avocado, sliced
25 - Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish
26 - Lime wedges for serving

# How To Make It:

01 - In a bowl, combine olive oil, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, lime zest and juice, salt, and pepper. Add fish fillets and turn to coat evenly. Cover and marinate for 15 to 20 minutes.
02 - In a large bowl, toss together green cabbage, red cabbage, grated carrot, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, and salt. Set aside until ready to assemble.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream or Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, cilantro, lime juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth. Refrigerate until needed.
04 - Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook fish fillets for 2 to 3 minutes per side until cooked through and lightly golden. Remove from heat and flake into large chunks.
05 - Place a portion of slaw on each warmed tortilla. Top with flaky fish, avocado slices, and a generous drizzle of cilantro crema. Garnish with cilantro leaves and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The entire meal comes together in forty minutes flat, which means weeknight dinners just became a lot more exciting.
  • Everyone at the table will eat the same thing and actually enjoy it, no picky accommodations needed.
  • That cilantro crema is dangerously addictive and will probably end up on everything else you cook for weeks.
02 -
  • Don't cook the fish ahead of time and let it sit, because it will continue cooking from residual heat and dry out by the time you assemble everything—make the tacos immediately after the fish comes off the heat.
  • The slaw actually gets better if it sits for five or ten minutes, so make it first and let the salt do its job while you're handling the fish.
03 -
  • Pat your fish dry before marinating it, because any surface moisture will prevent proper browning and you'll end up with steamed fish instead of seared.
  • Make the cilantro crema the night before if you can—the flavors actually deepen and meld together overnight, and it's one less thing to think about during dinner.
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