Baja fish with lime sauce (Printable version)

Golden fried white fish topped with cabbage, creamy lime sauce, and fresh tortillas for a vibrant meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fish Batter

01 - 1 lb firm white fish fillets (cod or halibut), cut into 1-inch strips
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1/4 cup cornstarch
04 - 1 tsp baking powder
05 - 1 tsp kosher salt
06 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
07 - 1/2 tsp paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
09 - 1 cup cold sparkling water
10 - Vegetable oil, for frying

→ Creamy Lime Sauce

11 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
12 - 1/4 cup sour cream
13 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
14 - 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
15 - 1 tsp lime zest
16 - 1 tsp hot sauce (optional)
17 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Toppings

18 - 2 cups finely shredded green cabbage
19 - 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
20 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
21 - 1–2 ripe avocados, sliced
22 - 8 small corn tortillas (6-inch)
23 - Lime wedges, for serving

# How-To Steps:

01 - Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, lime juice, lime zest, and hot sauce in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper and refrigerate until use.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper. Gradually add cold sparkling water and mix until smooth.
03 - Pour about 1 inch of vegetable oil into a deep skillet or Dutch oven and heat over medium-high until it reaches 350°F.
04 - Pat fish strips dry and lightly dredge in flour. Dip each piece into the batter, allowing excess to drip off.
05 - Fry fish in batches, turning occasionally, until golden and crisp, about 3 to 4 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels or wire rack.
06 - Heat tortillas in a dry skillet or oven until pliable and warm.
07 - Place fried fish on each tortilla. Top with cabbage, cilantro, onion, and avocado. Drizzle with creamy lime sauce and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The sparkling water creates the lightest, crunchiest batter youve ever had, like eating fish clouds
  • Everything comes together in under an hour but tastes like you studied at a coastal roadstand for years
02 -
  • Keep the sparkling water ice cold until the moment you mix it in, warm water kills the bubbles that make your batter light
  • Let the fried fish rest on a wire rack instead of paper towels so air circulates and it stays crispy on all sides
03 -
  • If your batter seems too thick, add more sparkling water a tablespoon at a time, you want it to coat a spoon but still drip off
  • A candy thermometer takes all the guesswork out of oil temperature, but if you don't have one, the handle of a wooden spoon should bubble steadily when inserted
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