Baja Fish Tacos with Crispy White Fish (Printable)

Crispy battered white fish in warm tortillas with fresh cabbage and zesty lime cream.

# What You Need:

→ For the Fish

01 - 1 lb firm white fish fillets (cod, halibut), cut into 1-inch strips
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1/4 cup cornstarch
04 - 1 tsp baking powder
05 - 1 tsp kosher salt
06 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
07 - 1/2 tsp paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
09 - 1 cup cold sparkling water
10 - Vegetable oil for frying

→ For the Creamy Lime Sauce

11 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
12 - 1/4 cup sour cream
13 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
14 - 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
15 - 1 tsp lime zest
16 - 1 tsp hot sauce
17 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ For the Toppings

18 - 2 cups finely shredded green cabbage
19 - 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
20 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
21 - 1-2 ripe avocados, sliced
22 - 8 small corn tortillas (6-inch)
23 - Lime wedges for serving

# Directions:

01 - Mix mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, lime juice, lime zest, and hot sauce in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
02 - Combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper in a large bowl. Whisk in cold sparkling water until smooth batter forms.
03 - Pour about 1 inch of vegetable oil into a deep skillet or Dutch oven. Heat over medium-high heat until temperature reaches 350°F.
04 - Pat fish strips dry with paper towels. Lightly dredge in flour, shaking off excess. Dip each piece into batter, allowing excess to drip off.
05 - Fry fish in batches, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crispy, about 3-4 minutes per batch. Remove with slotted spoon and drain on wire rack or paper towels.
06 - Heat tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 30 seconds per side until warm and pliable, or wrap in foil and warm in oven.
07 - Place fried fish pieces on warm tortillas. Top with shredded cabbage, cilantro, onion, and avocado slices. Drizzle with creamy lime sauce and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The sparkling water in the batter creates the lightest, most ethereal crunch you've ever experienced—like eating a cloud that happens to be fried
  • That creamy lime sauce ties everything together with just enough tang to cut through the richness
  • You can have restaurant quality tacos on the table in under an hour, and nobody has to know how easy it really was
02 -
  • Patting your fish completely dry before battering is the difference between coating that sticks and coating that slides right off in the oil
  • Let your oil come back to temperature between batches—if it's not hot enough, your fish will absorb too much oil and turn soggy
  • That resting period for the batter isn't optional, it's essential—the flour needs time to hydrate properly
03 -
  • Set up a wire rack over a baking sheet to drain your fish instead of using paper towels—it keeps everything crispier longer by letting air circulate
  • Warm your tortillas in batches and keep them wrapped in a clean kitchen towel so they stay pliable until you're ready to assemble
  • Have your toppings prepped and arranged in bowls before you start frying—once you start cooking, everything happens fast
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