Fish Taco

Alton Brown

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, 2010

Show: Good EatsEpisode: American Classics VIII: Tacos

Rated 5 stars out of 5
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  • Read 36 Reviews
Total Time:
38 min
Prep
15 min
Inactive
15 min
Cook
8 min
Yield:
4 to 6 servings
Level:
Intermediate
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Ingredients

  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 cup packed cilantro leaves
  • 2 limes, zested
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup tequila
  • 1 pound tilapia fillets
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 8 (7-inch) round Flour Tortillas, recipe follows
  • Crema, recipe follows
  • Shredded red cabbage
  • Lime wedges

Directions

Put the garlic, cilantro, lime zest, cumin, salt, and pepper in a small food processor bowl and pulse until combined, approximately 20 seconds. With the processor running, add the tequila. Put the tilapia fillets into a 1 gallon resealable bag, add the garlic mixture and move around to coat each fillet. Set aside at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes.

Heat an electric nonstick griddle to 375 degrees F.

Brush the griddle with the olive oil. Cook the fillets until just cooked through and opaque about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Cut into strips and serve in warm tortillas with crema, shredded red cabbage and lime wedges.

Flour Tortillas:

  • 9 ounces all-purpose flour, plus 1/4 cup for kneading and rolling
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/3 cup lard
  • 1/2 cup cool water

Combine 9 ounces flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor and pulse 2 to 3 times.

Add the lard to the flour mixture in 4 to 5 chunks and pulse 10 to 15 times until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. With the processor running, add the water in a steady stream just until a ball of dough begins to form, approximately 30 seconds.

Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of flour on a clean surface. Remove the dough from the bowl of the processor and knead until well incorporated and less sticky. Wrap the dough ball in plastic wrap and let it rest at room temperature for 1 hour.

Evenly divide the dough into 8 pieces and form them into round balls. Roll each ball into 7-inch rounds with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface. Keep all of the dough balls covered with a tea towel.

Heat an electric nonstick griddle to 375 degrees F.

Put the tortillas, 2 to 3 at a time, onto the griddle and cook until light golden, about 4 minutes per side. Can be held for up to 2 hours, at room temperature, wrapped in a barely damp tea towel. Repeat with the remaining tortillas. Microwave for 1 minute in the damp tea towel to reheat.

Yield: 8 tortillas

Crema:

Put the heavy cream in a 16-ounce microwave-safe glass jar. Microwave on high until the cream is just under 100 degrees F, about 30 to 40 seconds. Add the buttermilk, close the jar, and store in a warm place for 24 hours. The cream will have thickened to the consistency of thin yogurt.

Add the chipotle chile and salt and process with an immersion blender, in the jar, until smooth, approximately 20 seconds. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Yield: approximately 1 cup

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Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 36 reviews

  • on January 31, 2012

    Flag

    This is truly a 5-Star recipe! Tilapia Tequila Tacos! Alton Brown is a culinary genius! My daughter-in-law kept ordering fish tacos whenever we went out for Mexican. My wife decided to try to make some, and we turned to -- Alton Brown! Thank you!

    people found this review Helpful.
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  • on January 22, 2012

    Flag

    Wow! The fish was great! We added diced cucumbers & tomatoes instead of the cabbage and my family ate it all up. Easy to make.

    people found this review Helpful.
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  • on January 22, 2012

    Flag

    On our honeymoon in Maui, my husband and I had the famous "Maui Tacos". When we returned home we were determined to make our version of them. We sampled fish tacos at several local restaurants but nothing even came close. Then we tried Alton's version....even better than Maui Tacos!! Extremely delicious! We've made it a million times for family and friends and the recipe is always requested!! Our tip.....We don't usually have tequilla in the house (mainly a whiskey family so when we make this recipe we buy a small airplane bottle of tequilla...its the perfect amount!!

    people found this review Helpful.
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