The Original Baja Fish Taco
Original Baja Fish Tacos
This recipe involves several steps and a merging of a few recipes before you get the final tacos, but the end result is well worth it. One taste will convince you why these are a Baja California favorite.
Only the Secret White Sauce recipe is slightly different, because chef Eric Nelson doesn’t really want to see the secret in print. But he will give it to you over the phone. So, give him a call at (210) 241-2006 and ask. Your family will thank you for it.
Nelson, corporate executive chef at Zachry, demonstrated this recently at the Pearl Farmers Market.
Herb Garden Mexican Oregano Beer Batter
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 eggs
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 (12-ounce) beer
1/4 cup Mexican oregano
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
Water to thin batter
Mix flour, baking powder and sugar with eggs, melted butter, beer and Mexican oregano. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Thin out with water if needed.
Makes 1 quart.
Secret White Sauce
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
Juice of 2 lemons
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
Mix mayonnaise, sour cream and lemon juice. Salt and pepper to taste.
Fire-Roasted Texas-Grown Red Tomato Salsa
4 fire-roasted tomatoes, preferably Texas grown
2 white or yellow onions
4 cloves garlic
3 serrano chiles
1/4 bunch cilantro
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt, to taste
Rough chop tomatoes, onions, garlic, serranos, cilantro, olive oil and salt, and pulse with hand blender.
Makes 1 quart.
Tacos:
1 quart oil for frying (canola, soybean or peanut) or Fry Daddy
8 ounces mahi mahi or cod, cut into strips 2 ounces each
2 ounces flour seasoned with salt and pepper
8 ounces Herb Garden Mexican Oregano Beer Batter
4 white corn tortillas (use 2 per taco if they are thin)
8 ounces Secret White Sauce
4 ounces Fire Roasted Texas Grown Tomato Salsa
4 ounce green cabbage, shredded like coleslaw
1 lime quartered
Eric Nelson demonstrates how to make fish tacos at the Pearl Farmers Market.
Heat oil in a fryer to 350 degrees.
Dredge mahi mahi in seasoned flour.
Dredge fish in beer batter and fry until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Drain.
Warm corn tortillas in skillet.
To assemble: Place 1 corn tortilla on a plate with 1 piece of fish in center. 2 ounces Secret White Sauce on fish, 1 ounce salsa on top of white sauce, then 1 ounce shredded cabbage. Squeeze 1 quarter of lime juice on cabbage.
Makes 4 tacos.
From Eric Nelson
