Crispy, tender, and flavorful battered fish - topped with Baja white sauce, cabbage, and salsa. These beer battered fish tacos will put your favorite restaurant tacos to shame. I like to serve these with our salsa fresca and a side of refried beans.
Jump to:
What are Baja Fish Tacos?
These fish tacos originated on the Baja peninsula town of Tijuana where the cuisine highly focuses on ingredients from the sea. Baja-style fish tacos are made with fried white fish, shredded cabbage, and a creamy white sauce.
I can still remember the first time I ate a fish taco. It sounded terrible. I was resistant to try it. I was 14 years old, and I had traveled to San Diego, CA to visit my aunt. She picked me up from the airport and insisted we stop at Rubio's. All I can say is that it was love at first bite.
This version of fried fish tacos is inspired by Rubio's fish tacos. Now you can make them at home on your own!
Why You Will Love This Fried Fish Tacos Recipe
- Crispy Fried Fish: The beer batter makes a light and crispy coating for white fish!
- Family Favorite: Everyone is going to love the crispy fish stuffed into tacos with the best fish taco sauce and toppings.
- Enjoy At Home: Now you can enjoy fried fish tacos whenever you want -- in your own house! It's a budget-friendly option to dining out.
About The Ingredients
All of the ingredients in this fish tacos recipe can be purchased at your local grocery store. Here are a few items to note but be sure to check the full ingredient list and quantities in the recipe card.
- Firm white fish: Cod is a popular white fish for tacos that widely available. You can also use Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, halibut, tilapia or bass. The main thing to consider when choosing the fish is that you want a flakey white fish.
- Mexican beer: Beef adds depth of flavor to the batter and helps the fish cook up light and crunchy. The alcohol cooks off, so you don't need to worry about it being and adult only dish.
- Oil for frying: Peanut oil and canola oil are ideal for deep frying because of their high smoke points. You can also use avocado oil as well.
- Shredded cabbage: you can use pre-shredded cabbage or you can thinly slice a fresh head of cabbage. I like to use a mix of purple and green for more color!
- Red salsa: We love our salsa fresca, chipotle salsa, or pico de gallo for a chunkier option. All these salsas taste great on fish tacos. You can also use store-bought to save some time.
- Creamy white sauce: We use a combination of mayonnaise, plain yogurt, and flavored with garlic salt. You can also use sour cream if you prefer instead of the yogurt.
Pro Tip: If fresh fish is not available, choose frozen instead. Most frozen fish is frozen fresh and will give you the best flavor next to fresh from the market. You can find frozen cod in the freezer section of your grocery store.
Variations
- Gluten-free: You can easily swap the regular flour for your favorite gluten-free blend of flour.
- Crispy beer battered fish tacos no beer: If you prefer cooking without alcohol you can make crispy fish tacos without beer by subbing club soda.
How to Make Beer Battered Fish Tacos
Here's a look at the simple steps for making beer battered cod fish tacos. Be sure to check our tips right below for all our secrets for the best results.
- Step 1: Combine the flour, baking soda, egg, garlic salt, and pepper in a medium bowl.
- Step 2: Add the beer and whisk until all the ingredients are combined.
- Step 3: Dust each piece of fish with flour and then dip it in the batter. Make sure it is completely coated.
- Step 4: Heat the oil to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pro Tip: Use a versatile thermometer like Thermoworks. You can test the temperature of your oil, and your fish with it. You can also use this thermometer for candy making - so it saves money and space in your kitchen.
- Step 5: Deep fry the fish for a few minutes on each side until the pieces are golden brown, or until internal temp reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Transfer the fish to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
- Step 6: Make the white sauce and then set it aside.
- Step 7: Assemble the tacos by layering two warm corn tortillas.
- Step 8: Add the cabbage on top.
- Step 9: Add the fried fish on top of the cabbage.
- Step 10: Top with red salsa, pico de gallo, or your favorite salsa.
- Step 11: Drizzle with white sauce over the top.
- Step 12: Serve with a squeeze of lime juice.
Expert Tips
- Fresh vs Frozen Fish: If fresh fish is not available, frozen will work great in this Baja fish taco recipe You can find frozen cod in the freezer section of your grocery store as well as other types of frozen white fish.
- Hot Oil: It's important for the oil to heated up prior to adding the fish. You want it at 375° F before you add the fish. This ensures your fish is crispy and not greasy.
- Don't Overcrowd the Pot: Cook only a few pieces of fish at a time leaving plenty of room around each fillet. Adding too many to the pot may cause the temperature of the oil to drop.
- Serve Up with Any Fish Taco Toppings: We've included what you need for traditional Baja crispy fish tacos but you can top them with your favorites if you want.
Storage Directions
Crispy fish tacos are always best served freshly cooked. But don't waste leftovers. Store the fish, sauces, and cabbage separately in the fridge. The fish will last up to three days while the sauce and cabbage stay good for up to five days.
Reheat the fish on a baking tray in the oven at 400° F for 5-10 minutes to heat and crisp back up the breading. Unfortunately, the fish will not usually be as crispy as when it's freshly cooked.
What to Serve with Fish Tacos
For the perfect crispy fish tacos the traditional toppings of creamy white sauce, tomato salsa, and shredded cabbage are a must. Serve with a lime wedge and you'll feel like you're back in Baja. This also goes great with tortilla chips and all your favorite Mexican side dishes.
Here are some more ideas for a bit of inspiration:
- Beans: Complete you meal with Rubio's style refried beans. In our recipe, we tell you the secret ingredient to doctor up canned beans to taste just like the restaurant makes them. You can also try our pressure cooker pinto beans or black beans.
- Appetizers: Serve up your favorite Mexican appetizers like this queso blanco or homemade guacamole with chips is always a hit!
- Sides: Healthy fried plantains, Mexican rice, and corn salad are a few easy options.
Recipe FAQs
You want to use a deep pot or high sided saute pan for frying. You need enough room to safely cook with about an inch of oil.
Using beer batter in the batter for fried fish keeps the outer crust light, crisp and airy, rather than doughy. The natural sugars in beer creates that crispy golden-brown color of the beer battered fish.
On a skillet: Heat a dry skillet on the stovetop over medium to medium-high heat. Heat tortillas 30-60 seconds per side or until they warm and crisp.
On a gas burner: you can also heat them directly on your gas burner. This gives those nice charred edges.
Microwave: Another option is You can also heat your corn tortillas in a microwave or oven by wrapping your tortillas in a damp paper towel.
More of the Best Taco Recipes
If you like these Crispy Fish Tacos, you are also going to love these other dinner recipes:
We Want To Hear From You!
If you try this recipe or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave us a comment below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest to see what else we’re getting up to!
Baja Fish Tacos
Equipment
- food thermometer
- skillet
Ingredients
Beer Batter for Fish
- 4 filets firm white fish see notes
- ½ cup flour
- 1 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 beaten egg
- 1 cup Mexican beer
- peanut or canola oil for frying
White Fish Taco Sauce
- 1 cup mayo
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
Fish Taco Toppings
- 8 warm corn tortillas
- 2 cups shredded cabbage
- cilantro
- limes
- red salsa
Instructions
Making the Fish
- Combine 1 cup flour, baking soda, egg, garlic salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Add beer. Whisk until combined.
- Dust each piece of fish using the ½ flour. Dip in batter and make sure fish is completely coated.
- Heat oil to 375 degrees. Deep fry fish for a few minutes on each side - until golden brown. Transfer to a paper towel to drain.
White Sauce
- Combine yogurt and mayo in a small bowl and stir to combine.
Taco Assembly
- Assemble tacos by layering white sauce, fish, cabbage, and red salsa in a corn tortilla. Serve with lime and cilantro.
Video
Notes
- Fresh vs Frozen Fish: If fresh fish is not available, frozen will work great in this Baja fish taco recipe You can find frozen cod in the freezer section of your grocery store as well as other types of frozen white fish.
- Hot Oil: It's important for the oil to heated up prior to adding the fish. You want it at 375° F before you add the fish. This ensures your fish is crispy and not greasy.
- Don't Overcrowd the Pot: Cook only a few pieces of fish at a time leaving plenty of room around each fillet. Adding too many to the pot may cause the temperature of the oil to drop.
- Serve Up with Any Fish Taco Toppings: We've included what you need for traditional Baja crispy beer battered fish tacos but you can top them with your favorites if you want.
kathi Puplava says
Question:
Do I use Baking Powder or Baking Soda? Recipe says Baking Powder, but photo shows a box of Baking Soda. Thanks!
Kadee says
Hi there! Sorry for the mistake. It is baking soda. I've corrected the recipe card.
Emily Kemp says
These tacos sound amazing, proper comfort food!
Nikki says
This is the most delicious recipe! I made it last night for my family and every 10 minutes someone was saying how good it was! I owe don't drink so I was a little worried about using alcohol so I just used non-alcoholic beer and it still tasted amazing!
Kadee says
So glad you loved the recipe Nikki!
cheryl larimer says
I am making this recipe tomorrow for my husbands birthday party. We have a freezer full of fresh walleye caught just 2 days ago. I had no idea the white sauce was so easy and I hope mine turn out as good as yours look.