Monday, December 19, 2011

Grilled Fish Tacos - Secret Recipe Club


Southern California is a place all its own, chaotically caffeine fueled in some places while just up the road you may find laid back surf towns with more of a Chai Tea flair.  I'm lucky enough to live in one of those simple little surf towns on the coast and my Secret Recipe Club assignment this month is my virtual neighbor.

Allie, of Allie's Clean Plate Club, is a bit north east of me and while not on my slower paced coast she is within a few hours driving distance and lives the Southern California lifestyle.  Missing her home in Illinois, she like me, originally turned up her nose at a SoCal staple... the fish taco.

When I moved from Northern California to Southern (something I said I'd never do, but now I'd never go back) I discovered In N Out and Rubio's.  In N Out was easy to immediately love with its tasty burgers, milkshakes and salty fries, but Rubio's, with the Fist Taco featured on the menu, took a while for me to try.  Venturing like an early era explorer, I eventually made my way to the restaurant and gave the taco a try.  Like Allie, the first fish taco bite was all I needed to have me hopelessly hooked.

Never having actually made my own version I jumped at the chance to try Allie's Grilled Fish Taco recipe and wholeheartedly agree that this recipe is a keeper, I only wish I had made it years ago...



Grilled Fish Tacos
Allie's Clean Plate Club

Tacos 
1 pound white flaky fish, such as mahi mahi or tilapia
1/4 cup canola oil

1 lime, juiced
1 tablespoons ancho chili powder (I didn't have Ancho - subbed half regular chili powder and half Smoked Paprika)
1 jalapeno, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
8 flour or corn tortillas (I prefer corn for this recipe)

Garnish Suggestions
Shredded white cabbage or shredded lettuce
avocado
Hot sauce
Mexican Crema or sour cream
Thinly sliced red onion
Thinly sliced green onion
Chopped cilantro leaves
Salsa

Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Place fish in a medium size dish. Whisk together the oil, lime juice, ancho chili powder, jalapeno, and cilantro and pour over the fish. Let marinate for 15 to 20 minutes.
Remove the fish from the marinade place onto a hot grill, flesh side down. Grill the fish for 4 minutes on the first side and then flip for 30 seconds and remove. Let rest for 5 minutes then flake the fish with a fork.
Place the tortillas on the grill and grill for 20 seconds.

Divide the fish among the tortillas and garnish with any or all of the garnishes.
Liv Life Note:  We took a 1/4 cup of sour cream and mixed with 2 Tbs of Salsa and about 1/4 tsp of Smoked Paprika.  Whisk and place on tortilla before other garnishes.  Layer with your favorites, we used avocado, grilled onions, shredded lettuce, the mahi mahi and Cholula Hot Sauce.
Sunset last night from my sleepy Southern California surf town


26 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You brought a bright spot to my morning. I am sipping tea, still under the covers b/c
    (a) I am already starting my Christmas vacation, and
    (b) it is rainy and cold here!!!!!!!!
    Thanks for the virtual visit to the beach! Great SRC post!
    Happy Holidays, my SRC friend.

    December 19, 2011 6:34 AM
    Delete

    ReplyDelete
  3. Fish tacos are soooo good. I love the sunset photo, especially since my view is the snow and I'm trying to motivate myself to shovel...yuk.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am excited to see that you tried my fish taco recipe! The pictures look great and I love the sunset photo at the end. We used to live in Carlsbad and I miss that view!!

    Checking out your blog and am your newest follower!

    Allie

    ReplyDelete
  5. btw...Have you been to Tip Top Meats by the outlet malls in Carlsbad? They have the best steaks and meat that I have found in SoCal. We have to bring a cooler with us anytime we are in the area so we can stock up!

    Allie

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'd do pretty much anything for a good fish taco....really. These look AHmazing!

    ReplyDelete
  7. If fish tacos are on the menu, you can pretty much guarantee that I will be ordering it. While I do not have access to fresh fins all the time, this recipe is great to have on hand when I do! Your grilled fish looks so tempting-no doubt these tacos were delicious. Glad you decided on this particular recipe for SRC-great choice.

    ReplyDelete
  8. These look SO good - I'm totally obsessed with fish tacos, they're so delicious! :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I would love one of those today for lunch..you did fantastic job..and I will try it!!! By the way "lovely photos!"

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have never made fish tacos and now I have a divine recipe! Yours look simple delish. I am on vacation for the next two weeks and will be putting these on my list. Hope your holiday season is going well! Glad that we are both in group C of SRC!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love fish tacos but haven't made them. I just need to do it

    ReplyDelete
  12. I had fish tacos once. Why have I not had them again?!?!! Yours look so fresh and wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  13. For some reason, I have never made fish tacos even though they make me drool each time I read about them lol. Seeing your photo makes me want them even more so it's time to stop putting it off and make these bad boys!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow,,,I love Fish taco's, looks so yummy :)
    Ridwan

    ReplyDelete
  15. Taco's look great!!

    Regards,
    Manju
    http://manjuseatingdelights.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh, man....now I'm craving fish tacos! Allie's recipe sounds amazing and I love the sour cream/salsa topping you added! YUM!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great job, Kim. I became a fish taco convert a couple of years ago...I LOVE THEM! This one looks so good. I think you'll like my SRC recipe for this month...it's one of your favorites. Not Grand Marnier, but close :)!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I just love fish tacos and these look just beautiful...as does your picture of your sunset! : )

    ReplyDelete
  19. If I were to have a blog like yours, this recipe will go directly under husband's favorites...he loves all things seafood! I will definitely have to try this. Looks so yummy! Thanks for the post!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Your tacos look fantastic! And I second Tip Top, if I lived more north, I'd be there for all my meat purchases!

    ReplyDelete
  21. being a fellow West-coaster (vancouver island), fish tacos are an absolute gastronomic necessity. they're fresh, crisp, delicious, and moderately healthy. i love the lifestyle over here and i can't get enough fish tacos.

    Happy SRC reveal day! I love the story behind the recipe today!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I only had my first fish tacos last year in San Diego, but I've been a big fan since. Looks like a great recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I am so nervous to try fish tacos, but your photos make them sound so delicious and the ingredient list is made up of things I LOVE!! I think you may have convinced me to give them a go! :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Just found your blog via SRC and love it! Your recipes look so yummy and I can't wait to try.

    Stop by my blog sometime :)
    http://www.the-not-so-desperate-chef-wife.com

    Happy New Year!

    Krista

    ReplyDelete
  25. This post brought me memories... last year we lived in Los Angeles, and had fantastic fish tacos, which I never attempted to make at home

    very cool post! Loved it...

    ReplyDelete
  26. LOVE fish tacos. It's what I always order when we go out for Mexican food. I need to start making them at home! Great post!

    ReplyDelete

Your comments make our hearts sing!