It doesn’t get any tastier than using fresh seafood in tacos, and here along the Florida Panhandle we have an abundance of the best in the Gulf.

One of my favorites has become the invasive species called lionfish. They need to be speared by a pro, but can be bought and cleaned at the local fish market.

Wherever you live, just choose something fresh, firm in texture, white and flaky, and buy it from your trusted local fishmonger. 

Fish Tacos

Ingredients

2 pounds lionfish ( or snapper, mahi-mahi, grouper, flounder) , skinned, boned and cleaned, cut into 1-ounce strips
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 eggs, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons cold water
2 cups fine panko bread crumbs
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Vegetable oil, for frying
1/2 head purple cabbage, finely shredded
1 bunch cilantro, leaves picked
1 bunch chives, chopped
3 limes, cut into wedges for garnish
Cotija cheese crumbled (optional)

Preparation

Cut the pieces of fish into 1-ounce strips.

Set up a cooking station of flour, lightly beaten eggs with water added, and then the seasoned bread crumbs.

Season each station with salt and pepper.

Dredge the pieces of fish in flour, egg, and then bread crumbs and set aside on a clean dish.

Once all the fish is breaded, deep-fry in small batches in (375 degrees F) vegetable oil, and set fish on paper towels on top of a brown paper bag. (Tip: I keep my brown paper bags for this purpose. Great to absorb oil when frying bacon too.) Keep warm until ready to serve.

Serve the tacos family style where everyone can add as much or as little to their taco as they wish. Assemble the fish in a pile on a plate; the chile sauce in a bowl; the Cotija cheese in a bowl; and the salsa in another. Set a pile of shredded purple cabbage, cilantro leaves, chopped chives and lime wedges next to the fish. Toast the corn tortillas lightly over an open flame, or warm in a skillet and serve.

Chili Sauce

Ingredients

1 cup Greek yogurt
1 cup mayonnaise
2 chipotles in adobo, plus 2 tablespoons of adobo sauce
1/2 lemon, juiced
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

To prepare the chile sauce,  put the chipotles in a blender and puree until smooth. Add the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, adobo sauce and lemon juice and continue to process until the mixture is  creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste and refrigerate until ready to use.

Mexican Caviar

Recipe for Mexican Caviar, AKA the best crowd pleasing salsa here.