Mexican Fiesta Fish Recipes

MEXICAN BAKED FISH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease one 8x12 inch baking dish.
• Rinse fish fillets under cold water, and pat dry with paper towels. Lay fillets side by side in the prepared baking dish. Pour the salsa over the top, and sprinkle evenly with the shredded cheese. Top with the crushed corn chips.
• Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until fish is opaque and flakes with a fork. Serve topped with sliced avocado and sour cream.

CATFISH TACOS

Steps:

• For the catfish: Whisk together the buttermilk, 1 tablespoon of the seafood seasoning, 1 teaspoon of the chipotle and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Add the fish, cover and let soak, refrigerated, for 10 to 15 minutes.
• For the fiesta slaw: While the fish is soaking, whisk together the mayonnaise, crema, lime juice, paprika, salt, pepper and hot sauce. Add the cabbages, cilantro, carrots and green onions and toss to coat.
• Whisk together the cornmeal, flour and remaining 1 tablespoon seafood seasoning and 1 teaspoon chipotle in a shallow dish or paper bag. Drain the catfish, shaking off any remaining marinade (discard the remaining marinade). Place 3 to 4 pieces of fish in the cornmeal mixture and shake/flip until they are coated. Remove the fish to a clean plate or baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining fish.
• Add about 1 inch of canola oil to a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and heat to about 375 degrees F.
• Add the fish to the skillet a few pieces at a time. Fry on each side until golden brown all over, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to a baking sheet with a cooling rack. Repeat with the remaining fish.
• Toast the tortillas in a cast-iron skillet or over an open flame. Add 2 pieces of fish to each tortilla and top with the fiesta slaw. Serve with lime wedges, cilantro and red onions.

MEXICAN FIESTA FISH

Steps:

• Lay the fish fillets in a single layer in a greased 8"x12" baking dish.
• Pour the salsa over the top, and then sprinkle evenly with the shredded cheese.
• Top everything with the crushed corn chips.
• Bake, uncovered, at 400°F for 15 minutes, or until fish is opaque and flakes with a fork.
• Serve with choice of garnish: sliced avocado, green chiles, olives and sour cream.

WHOLE GRILLED FIESTA FISH

Steps:

• Add the cilantro, jalapeno, garlic, orange zest, lime zest, lemon zest, grapefruit zest, orange juice, oil, lime juice, lemon juice, grapefruit juice, agave, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 tablespoon pepper to a large re-sealable plastic bag and mix well.
• Add the fish and turn to coat, allowing the marinade to get inside the fish as well. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes, flip over and refrigerate 15 minutes more.
• Preheat the grill to a low heat setting. Using a paper towel, rub the grill grates liberally with the canola oil 7 to 10 times.
• Remove the fish from the marinade and stuff the cavity with the lemon slices, if using, and a couple tablespoons of the marinade and place on the hot grill. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, carefully turn over using a fish spatula and cook for an additional 10 to 12 minutes, or until the fish is flaky.
• While the fish is cooking, place the lemon halves cut-side down on the grill until lightly charred.
• Remove from the grill and cut the meat from the bones. Serve the fish with grilled lemons squeezed over top.

CRISPY CERVEZA BATTERED FISH

Steps:

• For the crispy battered fish: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Fit a wire rack in a baking sheet; set aside.
• In a large pot, heat 2 inches of vegetable oil over medium-high heat to 375 degrees F.
• Make the batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, salt, cayenne, paprika, baking powder and pepper. Add the beer and whisk until smooth.
• Working in 2 to 3 batches, coat the fish in the batter. Carefully transfer the battered fish to the hot oil. Fry each batch for 4 minutes, flipping halfway through. Remove the fried fish to the wire rack on the baking sheet to allow the oil to drain away. This will ensure it stays crispy. Transfer the baking sheet with the fish to the oven to keep warm while you get everything else ready. The fish can sit in the oven up to an hour staying warm.
• For serving: Wrap the tortillas in foil and place in the oven to warm for 10 minutes.
• Unwrap the tortillas and serve alongside the fish and all the fixings: cabbage, red onion, cilantro, lime wedges and Charred Lime Crema.
• Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
• Toss the jalapenos and onion rounds in the olive oil in a bowl. Grill the jalapenos and onion rounds until charred all over, turning as needed, about 5 minutes total. Place the jalapenos in a bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap for 10 minutes. Set the onions aside.
• Cut the jalapenos in half, remove the stems and seeds and gently scrape off the charred skin. Roughly chop the grilled onion rounds.
• Combine the jalapenos, onion, cilantro and some salt and pepper in a food processor. Pulse in 2-second increments until finely minced.
• Whisk together the crema and lime zest and juice in a medium bowl. Add the jalapeno-onion mixture to the bowl with the crema and fold everything together until fully incorporated.
• Pour into a serving dish and garnish with cilantro leaves. Serve as a flavorful topping on your favorite tacos.

GRILLED MEXICAN FISH FOIL PACK

Steps:

• Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat. If fish fillets are large, cut into 6 serving pieces. Place fish in heavy-duty aluminum foil bag. Mix olives, capers, tomato, onions and garlic; spoon over fish. Drizzle with lemon juice. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Double-fold open end of bag.
• Cover and grill bag 5 to 6 inches from medium heat about 15 minutes or until fish flakes easily with fork. Place bag on serving plate. Cut large X across top of packet; fold back foil. Serve fish with lemon wedges.

TILAPIA WITH FIESTA RICE

Steps:

• Place tilapia in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Mix chili powder, salt, cumin and pepper; sprinkle over fish. Broil 3-4 in. from heat until fish just begins to flake easily with a fork, 10-12 minutes., Meanwhile, prepare rice according to package directions. Transfer to a microwave-safe bowl; stir in beans, corn and salsa. Microwave, covered, on high until heated through, stirring once, 2-3 minutes Serve with fish.

SPICY MEXICAN FISH

Steps:

• In a dish, arrange fish in a single layer.
• Pour lime juice over fish.
• Let stand for 15 minutes.
• Combine the flour, taco seasoning, cumin and cayenne.
• Remove fillets from juice and pat dry with paper towels and discard lime juice.
• Coat fillets with flour mixture.
• In a large skillet, cook fillets, in batches, over medium-high heat in oil for 6-8 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily with a fork.