Fish tacos...what makes them authentic?
I love fish tacos and try to order them every chance I get. I want to make them at home...you know, the right way. Once I ordered them in a restaurant and they came out made with salmon. It didn't work. I've mostly had them with some type of white fish, preferring the fish to be grilled vs. fried.
But what is the traditional way? Grilled? Fried? Which fish to use?
I know corn tortillas are a must. Is the cabbage part of the traditional deal? I like it a lot, but was curious.
I'm calling on you foodies in the know, especially if you are from California, land of the fish taco.
Cheers,
Michelle
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11 Comments:
I was born and raised in Southern California and every fish taco I've ever had consisted of fried, white fish in a corn tortilla topped with pico de gallo and cabbage. The really good ones also come topped with a mayo-based sauce, a chili sauce and an avacodo sauce. It hits on all of the good stuff; creamy, crunchy, spicy, creamy- deliciouso.
PumpkinBear at 11:00PM on 08/19/08
or "delicioso." Mahi mahi is a great bet for an excellent fish taco. Wow - hungry just reading this thread.
pemabuk at 11:36PM on 08/19/08
Cabbage, white fish, and corn tortillas are all traditional. I've been in authentic SOCAL Mexican places where both fried and grilled fish were served, so that doesn't make a difference in my mind.
On a side note - I love grilled salmon tacos with a spicy chili rub. I'd give them one more try, maybe make them at home.
AliNC at 11:56PM on 08/19/08
I'm a SoCal native, and have had both fried and grilled with equal success. Fried is best in beer batter with that delicioso mayo-chili sauce and cabbage. My favorite taco stand serves up a mean grilled fish taco with white fish and a corn tortilla -- the fish is REALLY well seasoned and moist, and comes with a good healthy serving of avocado salsa. Yum yum yum!!
lonelyanchovy at 1:31AM on 08/20/08
Grilled tilapia is a good one for grilled fish tacos, with cabbage, crema (thinned sour cream) and a sprinkling of pico or even a fruit salsa is good.
maered at 3:14AM on 08/20/08
Real fish?
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Brownie at 7:57AM on 08/20/08
Definitely crema, I like mine thinned with lime juice.
AliNC at 11:09AM on 08/20/08
what everyone else said, plus don't forget to squirt some fresh lime juice on it!
joyyy at 1:45PM on 08/20/08
i would definitely have to say white fish. The consistency of white fish like flounder or tilapia along with the flavors that come with it I would say works best with the sauces and cabbage. So far I've only had fried, almost like fish and chips style fish. salmon's a surprise to me.
solusgecko at 4:18PM on 08/20/08
I make fish tacos at home with grilled tilapia or mahi mahi, cabbage, lime aioli, and tomatoes.
I've also used whole battered fillets (frozen, from a box) when I want the fried kind.
TaraTot at 11:48AM on 08/21/08
I make mine with whie fish grilled, with lime zest. I get shredded cabbge and add salt lots of lime jiuce, diced jalapenos, red onions, cilanto and tomatos mix it together and put in fridge. I then make a creme with sour cream, chipotle in adobo minced and a little lime juice.
pjracz10 at 5:02PM on 08/21/08