Low-Maintenance Fish Tacos

In Cooking from Every Angle, we hear from our fearless leaders: Food52 co-founders Amanda & Merrill.

Today: Amanda shares her recipe for low-maintenance fish tacos -- no frying required.

I came late to tacos, which I long associated with too many bowls and a marathon of chopping. And while I could eat a fish taco every day, the purist in me never wanted to make them at home. My god, you’d have to deep fry. For a taco. 

I also came late to the realization that I can do what I want in life. And in this life, I’m not going to fry the fish for my fish tacos, dammit! I’m also not going to chop much for them, nor am I going to be suckered into dirtying a bunch of bowls. And now we have delicious fish tacos every few weeks.

More: If you must chop, here's how to do it like a pro.

Roasted fish is the key to zen fish tacos. By roasting, you can control the speed of cooking and keep the fish moist. Lost crunch from the frying can be made up for with pickled red onion (I usually make a huge batch and then use the leftovers for lunches and any other excuse I can find). The onions get a bowl, as does the avocado, which turns out to be conveniently soft and sliceable by 7-year-olds. Cilantro sprigs and lime -- I put them in a pile right on the countertop for serving -- and Cholula hot sauce on the table make up the rest of it. 

If I make the onions ahead of time (using this magical recipe), I can have fish tacos ready in 15 minutes. While the fish, rubbed with cumin and ground ancho chile powder, roasts, I clean the cilantro and toast the corn tortillas in a dry pan. My kids slice the avocado and my husband pours lemonade and opens beers. You can guess who gets what. 

Low-Maintenance Fish Tacos

Serves 4

For the pickled onions:

1 red onion
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1 part water
2 parts cider vinegar

For the fish tacos:

3/4 pound pollack or hake or other good white fish
Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground ancho chile or chipotle 
1 tablespoon olive oil
Pickled onions
1 avocado, cut into 1/8-inch slices, lengthwise
1 bunch cilantro, washed and dried
2 limes, each cut into 6 wedges
12 corn tortillas 
Hot sauce of your choice (we like Cholula)

See the full recipe (and save and print it) here.

Photos by James Ransom