2000s Recipes + Menus

Grilled-Fish Tacos

Serves 6
  • Active time: 45 min
    Total time: 45 min
Originating in Baja California, fish tacos are now served along Mexico's coasts and in Southern California. But unlike the deep-fried versions that are so common, ours entails grilling meaty mahi mahi for a smoky char that contrasts deliciously with the fresh, clean garnishes.
September 2007

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 medium red onion
  • 1/2 cup cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • Salt
  • 7 tablespoons fresh lime juice, divided
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 1/4 pound (1-inch-thick) skinless mahi mahi fillet or tuna steak, cut into 12 pieces
  • 2/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 2/3 cup crema or sour cream
  • 12 (6-inch) corn tortillas
  • 6 to 8 radishes
  • 1 to 2 (6- to 8-ounce) firm-ripe avocados
  • 4 cups thinly sliced green cabbage (1/2 small head)

ACCOMPANIMENT:

  • Lime wedges

EQUIPMENT:

  • An adjustable-blade slicer; 12 (6- to 8-inch) wooden skewers, soaked in water 30 minutes

INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Very thinly slice onion crosswise into rings with slicer. Set slicer aside. Heat vinegar, sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small heavy nonreactive saucepan until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in onion, then let stand until ready to use (about 25 minutes).
  • Meanwhile, stir 4 tablespoons lime juice together with cilantro, oil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add fish and toss to coat, then marinate at room temperature 15 minutes.
  • Whisk together mayonnaise, crema, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and remaining 3 tablespoons lime juice to make sauce.
  • Preheat a gas grill with burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then reduce heat to medium-high.
  • Thread each piece of fish onto a skewer (discard marinade). Wrap exposed part of each skewer in heavy-duty foil to protect it from charring.
  • Wrap tortillas in 2 foil packages and warm on grill, turning once, about 3 minutes total.
  • Oil grill rack, then grill fish, covered, turning once, until opaque and just cooked through (for mahi mahi), about 6 minutes total; or until just pink in center (for tuna), about 4 minutes.
  • Very thinly slice radishes with slicer. Halve, pit, and peel avocados, then cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Drain onions.
  • Serve fish with tortillas, crema sauce, onions, and remaining toppings.

Cooks’ Note:

  • If you aren’t able to grill outdoors, cook fish in a lightly oiled large (2-burner) ridged grill pan. Warm tortillas in foil packages in grill pan 2 to 3 minutes or in a 300°F oven 10 minutes.
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