Avocado

Fish Tacos on the Grill

March 17, 2024
4.7
3 Ratings
Photo by James Ransom
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

My friend Guillermo is originally from Mexico City and is a great cook. Over the years, I’ve learned a number of authentic Mexican dishes by watching over his shoulder – including pico de gallo, savory sopes and killer huevos rancheros. But there's one recipe in particular that Guillermo taught me early on which I return to regularly for its freshness and simplicity: fish tacos.

I remember the first time someone told me about fish tacos, rhapsodizing about how great they were -- all I could picture was a hard taco shell, stuffed with ground seafood that had been flavored with taco seasoning. Needless to say, I was in no hurry to try them.

Years later, I showed up at a barbecue to find Guillermo manning the grill and making fish tacos. Of course, the reality was much different than what I'd originally imagined: tender chunks of grilled white fish nestled in a soft, warm flour tortilla among strips of sweet onion and green pepper, creamy slices of avocado and tufts of fresh cilantro. There were lime wedges for spritzing, and plenty of homemade salsa.

These particular fish tacos were a wake-up call of sorts for me, and now I seek them out wherever I go. I like versions where the fish is encrusted in cornmeal and then fried, and I like those that include some sort of zippy homemade slaw. But when I make them at home, I always return to the simplicity of Guillermo’s tacos. These take all of 20 minutes to throw together, and if you don’t have a grill, by all means use a pan. —Merrill Stubbs

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 medium sweet onion, peeled, halved and sliced 1/4-inch thick
  • 1 green pepper, seeded and sliced 1/4-inch thick
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 ripe avocados
  • small bunch cilantro, cleaned
  • 2 limes, cut into wedges
  • 1 1/2 pounds firm-fleshed white fish fillets (tilapia, bass, etc.)
  • 12 flour tortillas
  • Homemade salsa or pico de gallo for serving
Directions
  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, pepper and a generous pinch of salt, stirring to coat the vegetables in the oil. As soon as the onions start to brown a little around the edges, turn down the heat to medium low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions and peppers are tender but still have a bit of a bite, about 5 more minutes. Taste and add more salt if necessary, as well as a few grinds of pepper. Set aside.
  2. Heat a grill so that it is quite hot, but not blazing. While it’s heating, peel and cut the avocados into thin slices and arrange them with the cilantro and lime wedges on a plate. Rub the fish all over with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. When the grill is hot, gently lay the fish on it and cook, without fiddling with it, for 2 to 4 minutes per side, depending on how thick the fillets are. You want it cooked through, but not at all dry. Gently remove the fish to a plate and keep warm. (If you’re not grilling, just cook the fish in a non-stick pan over medium-high heat the same way.)
  3. Wrap the tortillas in a stack in aluminum foil and seal. Put the foil packet of tortillas on the grill and cover for a few minutes, until they are warm. Alternatively, you can heat the tortillas a couple at a time right on the grill, using tongs to flip them after about 10 seconds.
  4. To assemble a taco, break the fish into large chunks with a fork. Take a warm tortilla and put several pieces of fish in a line down the center. Top with a forkful of the onions and peppers, a few slices of avocado and a pinch of cilantro leaves. Add a generous spritz of lime juice and some salsa if you like. Roll and eat. Leave it up to your guests to make their own, and remind them that if they get messy in the process, they’re doing it right!

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Rebecca Cherry
    Rebecca Cherry
  • JanetFL
    JanetFL
  • Lucie Moulton
    Lucie Moulton
  • nutritioulicious
    nutritioulicious
  • Merrill Stubbs
    Merrill Stubbs

9 Reviews

Rebecca C. July 17, 2014
Before grilling, we seasoned the fish (used Opah) with the spices from Low-Maintenance Fish Tacos. That added a nice touch; plus, sour cream and the rest of this recipe's garnishes left no need for Salsa.
 
JanetFL May 21, 2014
Great summer recipe! Thanks, Merrill.
 
Malia April 27, 2014
I'm looking forward to making these for Cinco De Mayo. Do you have a recipe for the zippy homemade slaw that you mention? It is one of my favorite ways to eat fish tacos.
 
Merrill S. April 27, 2014
Hi Malia. I usually serve these with homemade salsa or pico de gallo. Here's a great recipe: http://food52.com/blog/6958-cooked-salsa-verde
 
Lucie M. March 1, 2014
Any chance you'll add the recipe for the salsa you have shown here in the pic? That's looks like a particularly yummy rendition of Pico do gallo.
 
Merrill S. March 16, 2014
Think this one may have been store-bought (yikes!), but here's a great version: http://food52.com/blog/6958-cooked-salsa-verde
 
AnnieHynes May 17, 2012
These are so good and easy. I think this is my go-to summer dish
 
aliciad May 4, 2011
This looks terrific -- and makes me want to see the Huevos Rancheros recipe!
 
nutritioulicious May 4, 2011
I was recently looking for a fish taco recipe - this one looks great! Thanks!