Blackened Fish Tacos

Name: Blackened Fish Tacos
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: ⅓ small cabbage ((4 cups shredded)); 3 scallions; 1 medium serrano ((optional)); 2 Tbsp cilantro; 2 Tbsp fresh dill; 5 medium radishes; ½ medium lime ((juiced)); ½ tsp sea salt; ¾ cup plain yogurt; 2 cloves chopped garlic; 2 Tbsp chopped cilantro; 1 small chopped serrano pepper; 1 medium cubed avocado; ½ medium lime; ½ tsp sea salt; 1½ lb cod loin fillets; ¼ cup avocado oil; carne asada seasoning ((recipe)); corn tortillas; 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

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This Blackened Fish Tacos recipe is absolutely delicious and takes less than 30 minutes to prepare! The cod is seasoned with my Mexican carne asada seasoning which really compliments the cod. I'm also including the recipes for my guacamole sauce and spicy slaw, which I always serve with these tacos!

blackened fish tacos with rice on a red plate

🧐Why This Recipe Works

Blackened fish tacos can be prepared with cod or any mild-flavored, flaky white fish.
Fish tacos only take 3-4 minutes to cook!
Blackened fish is not only low carb and keto friendly, but it's a great way to incorporate more fish into your diet!
The spices in the rub can be adjusted to suit most tastes.

🛒What You Need For This Recipe

🔖Recipe Ingredients & Substitutions

Fish: I prefer cod for fish tacos, but you can also use tilapia, halibut, catfish, or any mild-flavored white fish.
Blackened Seasoning: I recommend making my Mexican carne asada seasoning as a blackening spice. My spice blend includes chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, oregano, Tajin seasoning, cayenne pepper, cumin, black pepper, and chipotle pepper. You can use your favorite blackening spice, if you prefer.
Oil: I prefer using avocado oil to fry the cod but you can substitute butter or your preferred oil for frying.

*See recipe card for the other ingredients, including the recipes for the spicy slaw and creamy guacamole sauce.

🌮How to Make Blackened Fish Tacos

Prepare Spicy Slaw

Shred cabbage and add to a bowl along with chopped scallions, serrano, cilantro, dill, radishes, lime juice, and sea salt. Mix to combine and set aside to allow the flavors to meld.

Pro Tip: For a milder slaw, leave out the serrano pepper or make my oil and vinegar slaw instead.

Prepare Creamy Guacamole Sauce

Add yogurt, garlic, cilantro, serrano, and cubed avocado to a blender or a Ninja cup. Top with fresh lime juice and sea salt then blend until smooth.

Pro Tip: If you don't have enough yogurt, you can use mayo, sour cream, or a mixture of all three.

How to Cook Fish Tacos

Step 1: Dry fish filets with paper towels and brush with olive oil. Season the fillets generously with my blackening seasoning or my pork rub.

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Step 2: Heat cast-iron skillet over medium heat for a few minutes. Add a tablespoon of olive oil to the pan then add two seasoned fillets. Cover the pan with a lid and set a timer for 2 minutes.

Step 3: After 2 minutes carefully flip the fish with a spatula and cook for an additional minute or two, depending on the thickness.

Step 4: Char corn or flour tortillas over a flame then build your tacos by adding shredded cheese, fish fillets, creamy guacamole sauce, and spicy slaw.

tortillas with cheese plus rice and carrots on a red dish

mexican rice and tortillas with cheeses and green sauce

Looking for other cod recipes? Be sure to check out this delicious Nobu black cod recipe from CoupleInTheKitchen.com!

🍽 Serving Suggestions

Blackened fish tacos go great with Mexican Spanish rice, bean salad, cheesy chipotle chorizo beans, fire roasted salsa and tortilla chips.

I also love adding sour cream and pickled pink onions to my fish tacos!

🤷🏻‍♀️FAQs

Which fish are best for blackening?

Any mild white fish can be used in blackened fish recipes. This includes tilapia, halibut, and cod.

What makes fish blackened?

What makes fish blackened is a coat of heavy blackening seasoning and the way the fillets are seared quickly in a very hot skillet using melted butter or oil.

What fish is best for tacos?

Any mild flaky white fish can be used to make fish tacos. Some great choices include mahi mahi, cod, tilapia, flounder, and halibut.

What goes well with blackened fish tacos?

Blackened fish tacos can be served with tortilla chips, salsa, Mexican rice, and refried beans. Fish tacos are almost always served in corn tortillas topped with cheese, shredded cabbage, sour cream, and pico de gallo.

👩🏼‍🍳Pro Tips

If you want to this blackened cod recipe to be more authentic, use cotija cheese instead of shredded cheddar.
Tortilla chips and tomatillo salsa can be served as a quick, easy side with blackened fish tacos.
Fish is better the first day it's cooked, however, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Pineapple salsa or mango salsa pair really well with this blackened fish taco recipe.

blackened fish tacos with rice and pickled carrots

If you enjoy this blackened fish tacos recipe, you may want to check out my blackened swordfish recipe and these other seafood recipes too!

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Blackened Fish Tacos

🧐Why This Recipe Works

🛒What You Need For This Recipe

🔖Recipe Ingredients & Substitutions