Baja Beach Tacos With Tequila Lime Salsa Recipes

BAJA-STYLE FISH TACOS

Steps:

• Make a marinade by whisking together the tequila, lime juice, water, 2 tablespoons salt, turbinado sugar, and 1 tablespoon chili powder in a large bowl. Set aside 1/4 cup of the marinade. Add the cod to the remaining marinade; cover and set aside.
• Stir together the reserved 1/4 cup marinade, black beans, and jalapeno; set aside.
• Mix together the mayonnaise, sour cream, 1 tablespoon chili powder, cider vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, sugar, and green onions in a large bowl. Add the coleslaw mix and green onion and mix until coated; set aside.
• Mix together the flour, 1 tablespoon chili powder, baking soda, and 2 teaspoons salt in a shallow dish. Remove pieces of cod from the marinade, shake off the marinade, and coat in the flour mixture.
• Heat the oil in a heavy skillet to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Gently lie the coated fish in the skillet without crowding the pieces. Cook in the hot oil, turning once, until browned on all sides, 5 to 7 minutes.
• While frying the cod, heat the black bean mixture in a saucepan over medium heat. Heat the reserved marinade in a separate small saucepan over medium-low heat.
• Assemble tacos by placing fish in the center of tortilla; top with coleslaw, black beans, and any other desired toppings. Drizzle some of the heated marinade over the fillings and fold the tortilla to close.

BAJA FISH TACOS

Steps:

• Toss the cabbage, red onion, cilantro, vinegar, oil and salt together in a medium bowl and set aside.
• Combine the mayonnaise, lime juice, chipotle chiles with sauce and garlic in a blender or mini food processor and blend until smooth. Set aside.
• Mix the flour, salt and pepper together in a medium bowl. Gradually add the beer, whisking until the batter is smooth with no lumps. Set aside.
• In a medium skillet, over medium heat, add enough oil to reach a depth of ½-inch. Heat the oil until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350 degrees F, or when the end of a wooden spoon sizzles when dipped into the oil.
• Working in batches so as not to crowd the pan, dip the fish strips in the beer batter and coat on both sides. Let the excess batter drip off, then fry the fish in the hot oil until golden brown and cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
• Smear each tortilla with a generous amount of the chipotle sauce, then top with the cabbage slaw. Lay one piece of fish inside each tortilla and serve with lime wedges.
• Note: 3 chipotle peppers and 2 teaspoons sauce will give you a spicy sauce. Use less for a milder sauce. You can freeze any leftover chipotle peppers from the can.
• Note: Nutritional information was calculated assuming that approximately 3 tablespoons of oil are absorbed into the fish when fried.
• Note: Nutritional Information does not include the chipotle sauce.

BAJA FISH TACOS WITH CHIPOTLE AIOLI ROJO SALSA

Steps:

• For the cabbage slaw: Add the cabbage to a mixing bowl and season with salt. Toss with your hands and gently massage the cabbage to tenderize. Add the cilantro and juice from the lime.
• For the smoky chipotle aioli: Combine the mayonnaise, chipotle and agave in a small bowl. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
• For the Baja fish tacos: Carefully cut the halibut into 12 even-sized pieces (each about 4 inches long). Combine the cornstarch, chili powder and 3/4 cup flour in a large bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Using a whisk, create a well in the center and slowly pour in the beer as you stir. Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the beer, forming a smooth batter.
• Heat 3 inches oil in a heavy pot to 350 degrees F. Line a tray with paper towels.
• Season the remaining 1/4 cup flour in a shallow dish with salt and pepper. Lightly dredge each piece of fish in it, shaking off any excess. Dip into the batter, then place in the hot oil. Cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on the paper towels and season with salt. Keep warm.
• To assemble, place a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Place the tortillas in the pan 2 at a time and lightly drizzle with oil. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and cook until golden and the Parmesan is crispy and stuck to the tortilla, 30 to 40 seconds on each side.
• To make each taco, smear a little chipotle aioli on the bottom of each tortilla. Top with some drained slaw, a piece of crispy fish and some Rojo Salsa. Serve with Tortilla Chips.
• Remove the stems and seeds from the dried chiles, then tear them into large pieces. Toast the chiles in a large saute pan over medium-high heat until they start to change color, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and add hot water to just cover the chiles (about 2 cups). Place back on medium-low heat and simmer until soft and tender, 13 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Place the tomatoes, garlic, jalapeno and onions on a baking tray, then broil until everything is charred well, turning once, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a blender along with the chiles and their cooking liquid and pulse until smooth but still with a little texture. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Set aside until ready to serve.
• Break down the salt into finer pieces in a mortar and pestle (so it sticks to the chips better).
• Heat 5 to 6 inches oil to 350 degrees F in a heavy pot.
• Stack up the tortillas and cut into 6 even pieces. Working in batches, sprinkle into the hot oil and cook, stirring so they don't stick together, until puffed and golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and place on a rack over a tray. Season with salt immediately. Serve warm with salsa.

FISH TACOS - BAJA STYLE

Steps:

• Make the batter: Whisk the flour, baking powder, garlic, cayenne, mustard,oregano, 1 teaspoons salt, and pepper until well blended. Stir in the beer until there are no lumps. (Batter may be made several hours ahead and refrigerated).
• Trim the fish of all blood lines, skin, and bones. Cut into pieces the size and shape of your index finger. Sprinkle with a few drops of lime juice and a little salt. (If not using immediately, wrap and refrigerate). Pour the oil into a deep, wide pan to a depth of 2 inches and heat over medium-high heat to 350 degrees. I use a thermometer, or you can drop a bit of batter into the oil and it should rise up quickly surrounded by little bubbles.
• Pat the fish dry with paper towels. Check the thickness of the batter by dipping in one piece of the fish. The batter should be the consistency of medium-thick pancake batter, coating the fish easily but dripping very little. Add a little beer if the batter seems too thick.
• Add the fish to the batter. Using tongs or chopsticks, swish each piece to make sure it is thoroughly coated, then lift out of the batter, let it drip once, and lay the fish gently into the hot oil. Cook a few pieces at a time until they float and the batter is set but still very light in color. If a piece sticks to the bottom, leave it alone and it will release itself.
• Remove the fish to a rack to drain; reserve the frying oil. (The fish can be prepared ahead to this point, cooled on a rack, and refrigerated uncovered. Cool the oil and reserve).
• When you are ready to serve, reheat the oil to 350-360°F and refry the fish a few pieces at a time until crisp and golden brown.
• To serve, hold a tortilla in your hand and add a spoonful of guacamole. Top with fish and squeeze lime over the whole thing. Then add the secret sauce, salsa, shredded cabbage, cilantro and onion as desired.

AUTHENTIC BAJA-MEXICAN STREET TACOS (CARNE ASADA)

Steps:

• Combine orange juice, 2 tablespoons cilantro, lime juice, garlic, salt, pepper, cumin, and cayenne in a large freezer bag. Submerge skirt steaks in the marinade. Seal the bag, squeezing out as much air as possible. Refrigerate, 1 to 8 hours.
• Preheat a grill to medium-high. Grill the steaks until hot and firm in the center or to your preferred doneness, 6 to 8 minutes per side. Transfer steaks to a flat work surface and slice as thinly as possible against the grain.
• Heat corn tortillas on the grill or in a microwave. Keep tortillas warm in a folded sheet of aluminum foil covered by a thick towel.
• Add steak to each tortilla and top with white onion and cilantro.

TEQUILA-LIME MAHI MAHI TACOS

Steps:

• In a resealable plastic bag, combine 3 tablespoons lime juice, tequila, 1 tablespoons cilantro, garlic and cumin. Add fish, seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate, turning once, 1 hour. In a bowl, combine vinegar, oil, 2 teaspoons honey, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add cabbage; toss well. In another bowl, combine sour cream, milk, zest, remaining 1 tbsp juice, remaining 3/4 teaspoon honey and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Heat grill. Remove fish from marinade; season with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Grill, turning once, until just cooked through and lightly charred, 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board; coarsely chop. Stir remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro into slaw. Grill tortillas, turning once, 30 seconds per side. To assemble, spoon 1 tablespoon sour cream mixture in center of each tortilla. Divide fish, slaw and avocado among tortillas. Garnish with lime wedges.