Fried Fish Tacos With Mango Salsa

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These crispy fried fish tacos topped with mango salsa are perfect for celebrating the warm weather. They’re light, fresh, healthy, and packed with tropical flavor. Plus they come together in just 30 minutes and pair perfectly with our pineapple coconut water mocktail for an easy weeknight summer dinner under the sun.

When we have fish, we want to feel the sand between our toes and hear the waves crashing on the shoreline. In other words, we want to be on vacation somewhere tropical. And while we know there are many non-tropical locations to get good fish, we’d rather be at the beach (but that’s almost always true anyway). 

So we wanted to share a bright, citrusy, and tropical flavored fish taco recipe that we enjoy all summer long when we’re dreaming of the ocean. And thankfully, these tacos are a (sea) breeze to make, so they’re perfect for weeknight dinners too, so you can make them just for the halibut.

Key Ingredients

• Fish – We like fried fish tacos best when they’re made with a flaky white fish like cod or rockfish. The mild flavor and “melt-in-your-mouth” feeling is what we’re aiming for to pair with the bright flavors of mango salsa and lime crema. 
• Mango salsa – We make a mango pico de gallo that gives these tacos a much needed hero flavor. The sweetness of the mango in the pico adds a tropical flair that makes us feel like we’re sitting by the beach.  
• Lime crema – When we first made this recipe, we didn’t use a crema, and quickly determined that something was missing. The crema adds a much needed moisture to each bite, while the citrus brightens the fish and elevates the whole experience. 
• Corn tortillas – To be quite honest, we haven’t been able to find store-bought corn tortillas that are worth buying – they tend to be very dry and bland. So if you want proper corn tortillas, we recommend making them at home. They’re surprisingly easy to make, especially with the right equipment – learn how to make homemade corn tortillas. Alternatively, look for a local brand, or check a local Mexican market if you’re lucky enough to have one nearby.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How To Make Fried Fish Tacos With Mango Salsa

Step 1: Make the mango salsa by combining diced mango, tomato, onion, jalapeno, lime juice, and salt in a bowl. Also make the lime crema, just combine the Greek yogurt (or sour cream) in a bowl with lime juice and salt – sorry we forgot to take a picture of that… 😬

Step 2: In a mixing bowl, beat an egg well and set it aside.

Step 3: Combine flour and the seasonings in a mixing bowl and set aside.

Step 4: Dry off the cod fillets with a paper towel.

Step 5: Slice the cod fillets into about one inch cubes.

Step 6: Coat the chunks of cod in egg. Make sure to let excess egg drip off the fish before you transfer it to the flour.

Step 7: Dredge the egg coated fish in the flour mixture to coat well.

Step 8: Fry the fish in a deep, thick-walled pan in about a half inch of hot oil over medium-high heat flipping once or twice to cook evenly.

Step 9: Once the fish is golden brown and crispy, and has reached an internal temp of at least 145F, remove it from the oil and let it drain on a cooling rack over a paper towel. Note: The fish will likely be cooked through before they are fully golden brown.

Step 10: Assemble your tacos with a layer of lime crema, a couple pieces of fried fish, a scoop or two of mango salsa, and a sprinkle of cotija cheese.

Serving Suggestions

• Appetizers – Try some of our favorite Mexican appetizers like our easy bean dip or crockpot street corn dip for a fun start to your dinner or gathering. 
• Sides – Tacos should always be served with chips and an assortment of sides. We love having these tacos with some homemade guacamole and cottage cheese queso. And sometimes our sides even end up in our tacos too! 😋
• Drinks – And you can’t forget the drinks when you’re enjoying a warm summer night dinner on the patio. Choose from something alcoholic like our pineapple coconut margarita or our tequila pina colada. Or check out one of our non-alcoholic options like our pineapple coconut water mocktail.