Crispy Corn and Beer-Battered Fish Tacos
- Level: Intermediate
- Yield: 8 servings
- Total: 1 hr 30 min (includes chilling time)
- Active: 30 min
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless cod, cut crosswise into 16 strips
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon seasoned salt
2 teaspoons hot smoked paprika
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
12 ounces Mexican-style pale lager beer
1/2 cup club soda (or water)
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
Vegetable oil, for frying (about 3 quarts)
16 to 24 corn tortillas, warmed
Pico de gallo, such as Kiwi and Tomatillo Pico de Gallo, recipe follows, for serving
Hot sauce, such as Carrot Habanero Hot Sauce, recipe follows, for serving
Pickled vegetables, such as Mexican-Style Pickled Vegetables, recipe follows, for serving
Lime wedges, sliced avocado, chopped fresh cilantro and shredded red cabbage, for serving
Kiwi and Tomatillo Pico de Gallo:
8 ounces tomatillos, husks removed, rinsed and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
8 ounces ripe kiwi, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
6 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil, preferably Thai basil
3 serrano chiles, seeded and finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely grated
1/2 medium red onion, finely chopped
Kosher salt
Carrot Habanero Hot Sauce:
1 pound carrots, peeled and grated on the large holes of a box grater
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 cloves garlic, lightly crushed
1 orange habanero, stemmed, seeded and quartered
Mexican-Style Pickled Vegetables:
8 Fresno chiles, stemmed and thinly sliced into rings
2 large carrots, peeled and cut into matchsticks (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 medium red onion, halved through the root end and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 tablespoon allspice berries
2 cups distilled white vinegar
1/3 cup sugar
4 teaspoons kosher salt
Zest of 1 lemon, removed in wide strips, plus 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon dried Mexican oregano
2 cloves garlic, lightly crushed
1 bay leaf
Directions
Special equipment:
a deep-frying thermometer- Lightly sprinkle the cod with salt and pepper. Transfer to a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet. Chill, uncovered, at least 1 hour and up to overnight (this air-dries the surface so the batter will adhere better to the fish).
- Whisk the flour, cornmeal, seasoned salt, paprika, baking powder and baking soda in a medium bowl. Add the beer, club soda and vinegar and whisk just until combined and no lumps remain.
- Fit a large heavy pot with a deep-frying thermometer; pour in oil to a depth of 3 inches. Heat over medium-high heat until the thermometer registers 375 degrees F.
- Working in batches, dip the fish into the batter, allowing excess batter to drip back into the bowl. Lower the fish carefully into the oil and fry until light golden brown and just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
- Serve the fried fish with the warm tortillas, pico de gallo, hot sauce, pickled vegetables, lime wedges, avocado, cilantro and cabbage.
Kiwi and Tomatillo Pico de Gallo:
- Toss the tomatillo, kiwi, lime juice, basil, serrano, garlic and onion in a small bowl to combine; season with salt. Cover and chill 1 hour to allow the flavors to come together.
Carrot Habanero Hot Sauce:
- Puree the carrots, lime juice, salt, garlic, habanero and 1 cup water in a blender on high speed until completely smooth and no large chunks remain. Transfer to a 1-quart jar or nonreactive container, cover loosely with plastic wrap and poke a few holes in the plastic to allow the hot sauce to breathe. Let sit at room temperature for at least 24 hours before serving and up to 3 days. The hot sauce can be made 1 week ahead; chill after 3 days.
Mexican-Style Pickled Vegetables:
- Pack the chiles, carrots and onion into a 1-quart heatproof jar or a nonreactive container. Put the peppercorns and allspice berries in a dry large saucepan over medium heat and toast, tossing constantly, until just fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the vinegar, sugar and salt and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar and salt. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon zest and juice, oregano, garlic and bay leaf. Let cool slightly, then pour the brine over the chiles, carrots and onion to submerge. Seal and chill at least 3 hours before serving. The flavor will mellow as it sits. The vegetables can be pickled 3 weeks ahead. Keep chilled.
Cook’s Note
The longer this hot sauce ferments, the better it's going to taste. If you're new to fermenting, this is an easy recipe to start with, and you can taste the difference in flavor every day. Sure, it's great as a fresh sauce, but by day 3, you'll see what we mean.