Go Back Email Link
fish tacos
Print

Grilled Chili-Marinated Rockfish Tacos with Green Mango Salsa & Avocado Crema

Pour a glass for the chef! We suggest: Sonoma Vineyard Sauvignon blanc Pacific Rockfish is a really beautiful, sustainable variety of ocean perch available on the West Coast. If Rockfish is not available it’s fine to substitute Tilapia or, seek out other sustainable, local sources for your fish. This recipe will work with any mild-flavored white fish.

Ingredients

Fish, Tortillas, and Garnishes

  • Pacific Rockfish 2 Sides 1.5-2# skinned
  • Corn Tortillas 6” (Corn, Water, Lime, Salt: that’s it!)
  • Purple Cabbage 1 cup thinly sliced
  • 2 Mandarins Cutie brand, peeled and broken into wedges, then cut in half.
  • Radish 1 cup thinly shaved
  • Cilantro leaves 1 cup
  • 2 Limes cut into wedges

Chili Marinade

  • Chili Cobanero powdered 1 Tbsp
  • Paprika powdered 2 Tbsp
  • Cumin ground ½ tsp
  • Lime Zest from 2 limes
  • Lime juice ½ Cup about 3 limes
  • Garlic cloves 2 cloves Micro-planed or finely minced
  • Cilantro Stems ½ Cup, finely cut (reserve the leaves for the Salsa)
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil ½ Cup
  • Salt 2 tsp

Green Mango Salsa

  • Small Red Onion cut in half to brûlée, then finely diced
  • Jalapeño pepper blistered, peeled and seeded, minced finely
  • Green Mango 2 Cups about 3 diced
  • Roma Tomatoes ¾ Cup about 2 diced
  • Zest & Juice of 1 Orange
  • Small Garlic clove Micro-planed or finely minced
  • Cilantro Leaves 1 Tbsp finely chopped
  • Salt to taste

Avocado Crema

  • 2 Avocados
  • Mexican Crema or Sour Cream 1 cup
  • Lime Juice from ½-1 Lime
  • Water 1 T (to thin the crema)
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  • For the marinade, simply mix all the ingredients together and put it into a 1- gallon Ziploc bag containing the filets of rockfish. Massage the bag to coat the fish evenly, then squeeze out the excess air and place the bag in the refrigerator for a minimum of two (but no more than four) hours.
  • The Marinade can be prepared ahead of time, though lime juice loses its zest if squeezed too far ahead of time.
  • Chili Cobanero is a smoked, sweet Guatemalan chili. If unavailable, Ancho Chili powder of the same volume should be substituted.
  • Before cooking the fish, remove from the marinade onto a towel to wick away any excess moisture and allow to return to room temperature. Light the clean, seasoned grill and allow to preheat.
  • To grill the rockfish, place the filets of rockfish on the grill and sear over high heat until nicely colored, flipping to finish cooking. Just before the fish is fully cooked, remove the filets to a plate (they will finish cooking). Once cool, the rockfish should be able to be flaked apart, with no opaque flesh.
  • As the fish is cooling, warm the tortillas over a flame, on a Comal, or in a microwave. Hold in a towel to maintain their heat.
  • For assembly place some flaked rockfish in the bottom of a tortilla then top with green mango salsa, cabbage, mandarin, radish, crema and cilantro. Finish by squeezing one wedge of lime over top and enjoy!

Green Mango Salsa

  • To bring not only depth but a counterpoint to the bright, acidic flavors of the mango, brûlée the onion using an old French technique. If a cast iron pan or a Comal is available, use this, (though any heavy, conductive pan will do). Place the onion halves in the pan, side down, and bring to a medium heat, allowing the them to sizzle away. The onions will be ready when fully burnt on that one side, when they release from the pan easily. If you encounter difficulty with the onions sticking, move off the heat for a few minutes and allow the steam from the onion to help in the release. Allow these halves to cool then dice.
  • For the Jalapeño: blister over a flame then place in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap to allow the pepper to steam. Once cool, rub the skin off using a paper towel, then cut in half and seed before finely mincing.
  • Combine all ingredients, then season with salt to taste.
  • The Avocado Crema, which serves as a sauce, brings some healthy fat and a welcome unctuousness to the dish. Add all of the ingredients to a food processor and pulse until smooth. Season to taste. If using sour cream, more water may be needed to bring the sauce to the correct consistency.