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A plate with a fish taco topped with creamy chipotle cabbage slaw, with a bowl of slaw beside it.
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4.92 / 12 votes

Fish Tacos with Creamy Chipotle Cabbage Slaw

This fish tacos recipe with creamy chipotle cabbage slaw is made with fish, cabbage, lime, cilantro, and corn tortillas.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Chilling time20 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Mains
Cuisine: Tex Mex
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 614

Ingredients

For the slaw

  • 4 cups shredded green cabbage, (1 medium to large cabbage)
  • 1 cup shredded purple cabbage
  • 2 medium carrots, shredded
  • 1 small red onion, very thinly sliced
  • 3 large scallions, (white and light green parts), thinly sliced
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, (preferably full fat) or sour cream
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, or 1/8 cup fresh lime juice plus 1/8 cup Champagne vinegar, white wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, or honey
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin, (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon chipotle powder, (optional)
  • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the fish tacos

  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon chipotle powder
  • 1 teaspoon finely ground sea salt, or to taste
  • 4 mild white fish fillets, about 1 pound, such as cod, halibut, or tilapia
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

For the assembly

  • 8 small corn tortillas, warmed
  • cilantro leaves, for garnish, (optional)
US - Metric

Instructions

Make the slaw

  • Combine the 4 cups shredded green cabbage, 1 cup shredded purple cabbage, 2 medium carrots, 1 small red onion, 3 large scallions, and 1 jalapeño in a large bowl.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk the 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, and 1 teaspoon chipotle powder, if using, until smooth and creamy.
  • Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss to combine. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes before serving and up to 2 days. (If refrigerating for more than an hour or so, drain off any liquid that pools at the bottom of the bowl just prior to serving.)

Make the fish tacos

  • In a shallow bowl, combine the 1/3 cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon chipotle powder, and 1 teaspoon finely ground sea salt, or to taste. Pat the 4 mild white fish fillets dry and lightly dredge in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess flour.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium heat and place 2 fillets at a time in the pan. Gently fry for 3 to 6 minutes, until the underside of the fish turns opaque. Use a spatula to flip the fillets and cook until opaque throughout. Place on a paper towel-lined plate, drain the remaining oil from the pan, and repeat with 1 tablespoon oil and the remaining 2 fillets.
  • To serve, for each fish fillet, heat the 8 small corn tortillas in a clean skillet in batches with the 1 remaining tablespoon oil, flipping them once, then place them on a plate.

Assemble the tacos

  • Cut each fillet in half and divide the fish evenly among the tortillas. Toss the slaw to recombine and then add a spoonful to each taco along with some cilantro leaves, if desired.

    ☞ TESTER TIP: Chances are you will have leftover slaw. Just cover it, stash it in the fridge, and serve it alongside pulled pork, grilled chicken, or just about anything.

Notes

Gluten-Free Fish Tacos Variation

Simply skip the step where you dredge the fish in flour and instead sprinkle the fish with the chipotle powder and salt.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tacos | Calories: 614kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 331mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 14g