Crispy Grilled Fish Tacos (Printable)

Crispy or grilled fish in soft tortillas with crunchy cabbage slaw, creamy lime sauce, and fresh cilantro—ready in 35 minutes.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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 for pan-frying or brushing
08 - Optional breading: 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 egg, 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

→ Tortillas

09 - 8 small corn or flour tortillas

→ Slaw

10 - 2 cups shredded green cabbage
11 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
12 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
13 - Juice of 1 lime
14 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
15 - Pinch of salt

→ Creamy Sauce

16 - 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
17 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
18 - 1 tablespoon lime juice
19 - 1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
20 - 1 teaspoon honey or agave syrup
21 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Garnishes

22 - Lime wedges
23 - Extra chopped cilantro

# How To Make It:

01 - In a large bowl, toss the shredded cabbage, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, and salt. Set aside to marinate while preparing other components.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, hot sauce, honey, salt, and pepper until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
03 - Pat the fish dry and cut into strips. Sprinkle both sides generously with cumin, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
04 - For crispy texture, dredge seasoned fish strips in flour, dip in beaten egg, then coat thoroughly with panko breadcrumbs.
05 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add fish strips and cook 2-3 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. For grilling, brush with oil and grill on medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes per side.
06 - Heat tortillas in a dry skillet for 30 seconds per side or wrap in foil and warm in a 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes.
07 - Place marinated slaw on each warm tortilla, top with cooked fish, drizzle generously with creamy sauce, and finish with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The contrast between crispy spiced fish and cool creamy slaw hits every craving at once
  • These come together in under 40 minutes but taste like they came from a beachside restaurant
  • You can grill or pan fry the fish depending on your mood and what you have on hand
02 -
  • Dry your fish thoroughly with paper towels before seasoning, or the spices will not stick and you will not get that beautiful golden crust
  • Do not overcrowd the pan when cooking the fish, or it will steam instead of getting crispy
  • Let your slaw marinate for at least fifteen minutes while you prep everything else, as this softens the cabbage and brings out all the flavors
03 -
  • If you are short on time, buy pre shredded coleslaw mix instead of cutting the cabbage yourself
  • Make the slaw and sauce up to a day ahead, then just cook the fish right before serving
  • Corn tortillas are more authentic but can tear easily, so have extras on hand for backup
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