AUTHENTIC BAJA FISH TACOS WITH CHIPOTLE SAUCE & COLESLAW + BAJA SHRIMP TACOS!

Authentic Baja Fish Tacos and Baja Shrimp Tacos served with a spicy chipotle sauce and coleslaw

I have always been a big fan of Baja fish tacos but being pregnant has put my cravings for fish tacos into overdrive! I crave them and Baja shrimp tacos (I don’t discriminate) at least twice a week so when I went to Punta Mita, Mexico to visit my mom last month, I asked her housekeeper and cook to teach me how to make authentic Mahi Mahi fish tacos from scratch!

I don’t think I’ve ever tasted anything better! I mean, that week we were in Mexico we had tacos two or three times over the course of a week but the fish tacos we made at home were definitely my favourite. Maybe it was because the fish was fresh - we had gone to La Cruz that morning to the Mercardo del Mar to purchase the Mahi Mahi caught by local fisherman that morning - but they were out of this world!

View fullsize

View fullsize

Of course I didn’t leave Mexico without snagging the recipe for myself. I mean, now that I know how easy they are to make at home, I’ll definitely be making them whenever a pregnancy craving strikes!

* Please Note - Some links in this post may be affiliate links *

---

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM @ISTHATSOH

---

INGREDIENTS FOR BAJA MAHI MAHI FISH TACOS & BAJA SHRIMP TACOS:

SERVES 4 PEOPLE
- BATTER FOR BAJA FISH TACOS & BAJA SHRIMP TACOS -

2 Cups of Flour

2 x 355ml Cans of Beer (I used Corona!)

1 TBSP of black pepper

1 TBSP of Salt

- COLESLAW FOR FISH TACOS -

4 Cups of Green or Red Cabbage (shredded)

3 TBSP of Lime Juice

1/2 TSP of Salt


- BAJA FISH TACO SAUCE -

3 Chipotle Chilies - you can freeze any leftover Chipotle peppers from the can by placing them in a Ziplock bag.

3/4 Cup of Mayonnaise

A pinch of salt

A pinch of pepper

2 TBSP of lime juice


- ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS - 

1.5 - 2 lbs of Mahi Mahi cut into 1 x 3 inch strips 

20 pieces of Shrimps - de-veined with shell and tail removed 

Vegetable Oil for Frying

1 Lime cut into wedges for serving

Flour or Corn Tortillas - warmed
Guacamole *optional

Cilantro for Garnish *optional


---

CHECK OUT THESE OTHER SEAFOOD RECIPES

---

HOW TO MAKE BAJA FISH TACOS:

Begin by making the coleslaw for your fish tacos. Toss the cabbage, lime juice and pinch of salt in a bowl and mix well before setting aside to soak. The acidity in the lime juice will help soften the cabbage.

Next, begin making your Baja fish taco sauce. In a blender combine your chilies, lime juice, and mayonnaise with a pinch of salt and pepper. Blend and taste. Add more chilies if you want it spicier or mayonnaise to cool it down.

Fill your frying pan with vegetable oil (you’ll need about a 1/2 inch depth of oil) and slowly let it rise to temperature on the stove over medium heat. You want it to heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a deep fry thermometer if you have one or test the oil with a wooden spoon - if it sizzles when dipped in the oil, it’s ready.

While you are waiting for the oil to heat up you can make your batter for the Baja fish tacos and Baja shrimp tacos. Mix the flour, salt and pepper in a medium size bowl and slowly whisk in the beer, little by little until you have a smooth consistency with no lumps.

Once the oil in the pan is up to the correct frying temperature, dip the fish strips and cleaned shrimp in the beer batter, making sure to coat both sides well but letting any excess batter to drip off. Place battered fish and shrimp in the frying pan, a few pieces at a time so not to overcrowd the pan too much. Allow each piece to fry until golden brown and cooked through (approximately two minutes) before transferring the cooked pieces to a plate lined with paper towel. The paper towel will soak up all the excess oil. Repeat until all the fish is cooked.

Fry the battered fish and shrimp in a half inch of vegetable oil over medium heat until golden (approximately 2 minutes)

While you are cooking the fish you can also warm the tortillas in the oven for a few minutes.

When ready to plate, line the tortillas up on a plate and place a piece of fish or 2-3 pieces of shrimp in each taco shell. Top with some cabbage slaw and drizzle with some Chipotle fish taco sauce.

You can garnish the Baja fish tacos and Baja shrimp tacos with cilantro before servicing if you like but make sure to also include a wedge of lemon.

This dish also goes well with guacamole and chips or just guacamole on its own which you can always add on as an extra topping to your fish tacos.

Enjoy!

---

I hope you enjoyed this Baja fish taco recipe with Chipotle Baja fish taco sauce and coleslaw as much as I do. If you have any comments please leave them below and I'll be happy to answer them as soon as I can! Hasta Pronto!!!

---

PIN THIS POST

THE YUMMIEST AHI TUNA ALOHA POKE!

Did you know that one of the last few trips Adam and I took before the pandemic was to The Big Island of Hawaii, Kona? It was an extended family trip that consisted of 13 of us staying at a house we rented for a few weeks over Christmas and it was a BLAST! It wasn’t my first trip to Hawaii but it is where I fell in love and really indulged in authentic Hawaiian Poké for the first time! It’s such a staple Hawaiian dish that you will find amazing Tuna Poké in grocery stores and small family owned stores all over the islands!

If you have never heard of Hawaiian Tuna Poké, it is a traditional Hawaiian raw fish salad that consists of raw tuna (although I have used salmon and it taste just as great) marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, and onions. Ahi Poké may appear complicated or intimidating to recreate at home but let me assure you it is actually super easy to make Hawaiian Tuna Poké at home as long as you buy sushi grade fish. Unfortunately, not all fish will work for making a Hawaiian Poké recipe at home. Since the fish is not cooked it has to have been ‘flash frozen’ in order to kill any parasites that may exist inside the flesh. Because of this, it’s easier and safer to buy sushi grade fish when making not only this Tuna Poké recipe but any Hawaiian Poké.

In terms of accompaniments, a few essentials include sticky rice, edamame, and sliced carrots but I love eating this Tuna Poké Recipe with avocado, cucumber, a few pieces of nori (dried seaweed), and radishes. Sometimes I’ll even include a little pickled ginger as a little extra salty profile addition to the dish! Alternatively, a simple addition of popular poké sauces can turn this recipe into a Spicy Tuna Poké Recipe like the addition of some spicy mayo (ingredients to which I have included below)! The best part, you can make it as spicy or as mild as you wish and use whatever mayo you have in the fridge (full-fat, light, paleo, etc).

Before you begin, it is vital to note that you must marinate your Ahi Tuna Poké for a minimum of 2 hours prior to eating in order to get the full flavor. The marinade really only takes 10-15 minutes to prepare and is super easy (just combined everything in a bowl). If you are thinking of making this for dinner you may want to start the marinating process first thing in the morning or over your lunch break to ensure it is ready for dinner! Although the best time to eat this Tuna Poké recipe is the same day you marinate it, it will keep in the fridge for up to two days.

* Please Note - Some links in this post may be affiliate links *

INGREDIENTS:

SERVES 4

- Tuna Poké Marinade -

2 Lbs of Sushi Grade Ahi Tuna
3 TBSP of Soy Sauce
2 TBSP of Sesame Oil
1 TSP of Fresh Ginger - grated
1.5 TSP of Hawaiian Salt
1/2 Cup of Onion - sliced thinly
1 TBSP of Sesame Seeds - toasted
2 TBSP of Macadamian Nuts - toasted and chopped
1 CUP of Green Onion (green parts only) - chopped
1/4 TSP of Chili Pepper

- Accompaniments -

2 CUPS of Steamed Sticky Rice - can be substituted for short grain brown rice for a healthier choice
Dried Seaweed - cut into 2 inch strips
1 CUP of Edamame - steamed and than chilled
Cucumber - thinly sliced
2-3 Radishes - thinly sliced
1 Carrot - shaved
Pickled Ginger

- Poké Sauce - Spicy Mayo can be added to this dish to turn it into a Spicy Ahi Poké recipe

4 TBSP of Mayonnaise
4 TSP of Sriracha - can be altered to your desired spice level

---

LOVE SEAFOOD? CHECK OUT THESE OTHER RECIPES!

---

HOW TO MAKE POKÉ:

Using a sharp knife, skin your filet of tuna and cut away any tendon before cutting the remaining meat into 1 inch chunks.

In a large bowl, mix your marinade ingredients together with the tuna very well before wrapping and placing in the fridge to marinate for 2 hours.

30 minutes prior to eating, prep your accompaniments and steam your sticky rice.

When ready, assemble your tuna poke bowl and garnish with a few additional sesame seeds.

---

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM @ISTHATSOH

---

I hope you enjoyed this Tuna Poké recipe with avocado recipe as much as I do. If you have any comments please leave them below and I'll be happy to answer them as soon as I can! Happy eating!!!

---

PIN THIS POST

#FOODIEFRIDAYS EPISODE 2 - @CHEZLAVELLE'S PAN SEARED WILD BC SALMON

To kick of episode 2 of #FoodieFridays I teamed up with Executive Chef Romain Avril of Lavelle Toronto to show you have to make the delicious Pan Seared Wild BC Salmon of his fall menu.

For all of you who are not familiar with Lavelle they are an awesome contemporary restaurant located on the top floor of 627 King Street West in Toronto (Portland and King) with a beautiful patio area and pool. For more info on what else is on their menu and to make a reservation click -> HERE

If you haven't already read my restaurant review on Lavelle you can check it out -> HERE

I also would like to reiterate that creating this YouTube series has long been a dream of mine so I would like to again thank everyone who helped make it possible. Also thank you everyone who showed me love and support over my first year blogging! You guys rock!

SPANISH SHRIMP WITH YELLOW RICE

I was looking for some healthy meals online and came across this one of Spanish shrimp and yellow rice. I love Spanish dishes and flavors and you can probably tell from my paella recipe but this is a lot simpler and a great way to incorporate seafood into your diet. You can obviously switch up the shrimp for a piece of fish if you want more protein or are allergic to shell fish. I switched up the original recipe (I will post the link below) a little bit so here is what I did.

INGREDIENTS:

4 Cloves of Garlic (minced)
2 TBSP of Olive Oil
1.5 TSP of Smoked Paprika
1/2 TSP of Salt
1 Lbs of Shrimp (peeled and deveined)
1/2 Cup of Onion (chopped finely)
1.25 Cups of Spanish Yellow Rice
1/2 TSP of Turmeric
2.5 Cups of Water
1/2 Cup of Frozen Peas
1 TBSP of Fresh Parsley

DIRECTIONS:

First we are going to marinate the shrimp. Add half the olive oil, paprika and half the salt to a bowl and toss your shrimp in the mixture. Set aside in the fridge to marinate! The longer the better!

On medium heat add the remaining olive oil to your pan and once hot throw in your onions and saute until soft (about 3-4 minutes). Then throw in your garlic and continue to saute for 2 minutes till they soften.

Next add in your uncooked rice along with remaining salt and turmeric. Mix before adding in the water, cover and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for four minutes before removing from the heat and adding in the peas.

Warm up another skillet on medium heat and throw in your shrimp. Cook and flip until shrimp are cooked through (opaque) or pink. Remove from heat when ready and top the rice on a plate. Add parsley as garnish.

Original Recipe -> http://www.health.com/health/recipe/0,,10000001998494,00.html

I hope you enjoyed this recipe as much as I do. If you have any comments please leave them below and I'll be happy to answer them as soon as I can! Happy cooking!!!

BLACK COD AND CHORIZO PAELLA!!!!!

I found this recipe in the food and drink magazine at the LCBO and had to try it. I just went to Spain and I'm really craving some paella. Whats great about this dish is that it has a lot of protein and is also gluten free. Even though it isn't low in fat its still really good for you. Eating fish is an important source of omega-3 fatty acids - essential nutrients that keep our heart and brain healthy! Enjoy!

Yields 4 portions

INGREDIENTS:

Paella
½ TSP Saffron threads
2¼ Cups of Chicken stock - warmed
2 TBSP Olive oil
1 Chorizo Sausage (chopped) - about ¾ cup
1 TSP Garlic
½ Cup of Onion (chopped)
1 Cup of Chopped Canned Tomatoes in Juice
½ TSP Hot Smoked Spanish Paprika
¾ cup Spanish medium-grain rice or Italian arborio
1½ Cups of Shrimp (chopped)
Salt and Pepper (as desired)
2 TBSP Parsley (chopped)

Black Cod
4 black cod fillets, 6 oz each
1 TBSP of Olive Oil
1 tsp Mild Smoked Spanish Paprika
Salt (as desired)
2 TBSP Lemon juice

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 450°F

In a large skillet (on low heat) on the stove top heat up your saffron for a minute or two before removing it and crushing it over and into the chicken broth with your fingers where it will soften and melt.

Using the same skillet add in your oil and let it heat up on high heat before throwing in your Chorizo. Let it cook for 2 minutes or until it is cooked.

Reduce to medium heat before throwing in your onion, garlic and paprika. Let that cook for a minute or two before you add in the chopped tomato and juice.

Let that continue to cook for about five minutes or until the juice evaporates and the sauce thickens.

Next mix in your rice. Add 2 cups of chicken/saffron stock. Bring to a boil again by turning the heat up on high and then reducing to low or a gentle simmer so the rice can cook! Apx 15 minutes.

*You don't want to mix the rice after you put it in the pan so that a crispy crust can form on the bottom!

Place cod in an ovenproof dish - skin side down, add the olive oil in and make sure the cod is evenly coated. Next salt the cod so that it is evenly covered (you can salt the skin side too!). Sprinkle the paprika on the cod and rub it in then drizzle the lemon juice on top. Place in oven for 10-15 minutes until is is fully cooked.

Salt and Pepper the shrimp before continuing

Next add the shrimp just by placing it on top and the remaining chicken stock. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until the rice is tender and the shrimp is fully cooked.

When the cod is ready take it out of the oven and place on top of the ready paella. Sprinkle with parsley before serving.

I hope you enjoyed this recipe as much as I do. If you have any comments please leave them below and I'll be happy to answer them as soon as I can! Happy cooking!!!