These simple flavorful quick-cooking fish tacos are exactly what you want to make on a busy weeknight. A flaky white fish like cod or halibut works best here. The fillets get a dry rub with a spice mix of ground cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt before getting pan-seared until they get a deep, flavorful crust. Place the flaky hunks of fish over warm charred tortillas (we prefer corn tortillas, but flour tortillas work too) and top with a crunchy shredded slaw that’s dressed in fresh lime juice and olive oil. Drizzle everything with the three-ingredient spicy fish taco sauce (a combination of sour cream, garlic-chili hot sauce, and more lime juice), which can be dialed up in heat to your taste.
And if you forgot the tortillas? Serve the spiced fish fillets over rice with a side of black beans and plenty of fresh cilantro for the easiest Mexican-inspired fish non-tacos ever.
All products featured on Epicurious are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
What you’ll need
Whisk
$12 $10 At Amazon
Large Nonstick Skillet
$50 At Amazon
Citrus Juicer
$20 $15 At Amazon
Fish Spatula
$16 At Amazon
Small Bowl
$18 At Amazon
Recipe information
Yield
4 servings
Ingredients
Sauce
Tacos and assembly
Preparation
Sauce
Step 1
Whisk 1 cup sour cream or plain whole-milk Greek yogurt, 2 Tbsp. sriracha, 1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice, 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, ¼ tsp. sugar, and 2 Tbsp. water in a small bowl to combine. Cover and chill sauce until ready to use.
Do ahead: Sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.
Tacos and assembly
Step 2
Toss ¼ small head of cabbage, thinly sliced, 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice, 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, and 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a medium bowl to combine. Set slaw aside.
Step 3
Mix 1 Tbsp. ground cumin, 1 Tbsp. paprika, ½ tsp. cayenne pepper, and remaining 2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a small bowl to combine.
Step 4
Place 1½ lb. skinless, boneless cod or halibut fillets on a small baking sheet or plate and sprinkle spice mix over to coat. Drizzle remaining 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil over fish and rub with your hands so a light paste forms on fish with no dry spots.
Step 5
Heat a dry nonstick skillet over medium-high. Cook fish, gently turning over with a fish spatula halfway through, until golden and flesh is opaque and flakes easily with a fork, about 12 minutes total. Remove from heat.
Step 6
To serve, top warm small corn tortillas with pieces of fish and reserved slaw. Top with thinly sliced red onion, thinly sliced jalapeño, and cilantro leaves with tender stems. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing over.
