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These easy cilantro lime fish tacos are made with broiled chili-lime white fish, fresh cilantro, sliced avocado and a quick yogurt sauce!
Guys, I love fish tacos.
In the past, when we'd try a new Mexican restaurant, my eyes would immediately scan the menu looking for the seafood section.
Or the taco section.
You never know where the fish tacos will be hiding.
Happily, restaurants aren't the only place to get fish tacos. They're extra-easy to make at home
Really, so incredibly easy.
These easy cilantro lime fish tacos are made with chili-lime white fish, a quick yogurt-lime sauce, and piled high with lots of tasty taco toppings.
Want more taco ideas? Try making halibut tacos, rockfish tacos, shrimp + pineapple tacos and potato tacos. You can even make fish tacos while camping!
What Can I Use Instead of Cilantro?
If you (or someone you're feeding) doesn't like cilantro, they can still eat these tacos!
Swap the cilantro for diced green onion.
Want more taco bar ideas? Try making fire-roasted salsa, homemade hot sauce, Instant Pot refried beans, mango habanero salsa, fish nachos, crab nachos or black bean nachos.
What's the Best Fish to Use?
Use your favorite type of white fish. Or whatever white fish you have on hand.
The fish in the photos is rockfish, but these tacos work perfectly with cod, halibut, flounder or even tilapia.
If you're buying tilapia, I recommend buying BAP Certified tilapia that is harvested within the United States.
What if My Oven Doesn't Have a Broiler?
I love to broil fish for tacos because it's so easy and hands-off, but still tastes amazing.
If your oven doesn't have a broiler, you could bake your fish for about 10 minutes per 1-inch thickness. These tacos also work perfectly with pan-seared fish and grilled fish.
How to Broil Chili-Lime Fish
Start by seasoning your fish with chili powder, lime zest and salt.
Place the fish in an oven-safe pan (or a sheet pan). I use this Lodge 12" carbon steel skillet.
Drizzle oil over the fish, and rub in the seasoning.
Broil the fish until it's tender and flakes apart easily with a fork.
Next, you can either flake the fish apart or slice it.
I tend to slice firm fish (like rockfish) and flake more tender or thin fish like flounder.
While the fish cooks, warm tortillas. You can use either flour or corn tortillas, whichever you prefer.
Stir together a little plain yogurt, lime juice and lime zest.
Top your tortillas with the fish, sliced avocado, shredded cabbage (or sauerkraut), fresh cilantro and the yogurt sauce. Dig in right away!
Cilantro Lime Fish Tacos
Ingredients
Lime Yogurt Sauce:
- ⅓ cup plain yogurt (whole milk preferred)
- 1 lime, zested + juiced Half the zest will be used on the fish
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
Fish:
- 6 ounces white fish such as rockfish, cod, flounder or tilapia
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
Taco Shells:
- 4 tortillas (corn or flour) Use corn tortillas for gluten-free tacos
- a few drops of oil (for brushing the pan)
Taco Toppings:
- 1 avocado, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup shredded raw cabbage or sauerkraut (drained + patted dry)
- ¼ cup tomato salsa (use fire-roasted if possible) Or swap diced tomato
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
Extra Toppings (Optional):
- 1 lime, cut into 8 wedges
- hot sauce
Instructions
Prepare the Toppings:
- Mix the yogurt, lime juice, half the zest and salt. Stir to combine. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Prepare + Cook Fish:
- Brush an oven-safe pan with half the oil (½ tablespoon). Alternatively, use a sheet pan.Add the fish to the pan, and season the top of the fish with the chili powder, lime zest and sea salt.
- Drizzle the remaining ½ tablespoon oil on the fish, and use your fingers to rub the oil into the seasoning.
- Move an oven rack to about 4" away from the broiler.Preheat broiler to high.Slide the pan into the oven.Cook fish for 5 minutes per ½" thickness, or until the fish is tender and easily flakes apart with a fork.Do not flip the fish halfway through cooking.
Assemble Tacos:
- While the fish broils, heat the tortillas.Brush a non-stick or cast-iron pan with oil. Heat the pan over medium-high heat, and cook the tortillas one at a time. Heat about 30 seconds on the first side and 15 seconds on the other side, until each side begins to bubble up.Keep tortillas warm by placing on a plate and covering with a towel.When the fish is done cooking, slice or flake apart with a fork.
- To assemble the tacos, divide the fish, cabbage (or sauerkraut), salsa and sliced avocado among the tortillas. Top each taco with a dollop of yogurt sauce and a little cilantro. Alternatively, arrange all the ingredients as a taco bar and let everyone build their own tacos.Serve right away while the fish and tortillas are still warm.
Suchi
My husband just yesterday ate this style of tilapia is a restaurant and was asking if we can make it at home. Guess there it was in my email in the morning! Looking great! I like the idea of customizable tacos so people eat what they prefer and like. And added its great for vegetarian people like me!
champagne-tastes
haha that's awesome! I love love love fish tacos. I'm glad I had good timing!!
Simon
Nice Recipe + I like the style of cooking! Charcoal grill and tacos = you got me!
Awesome to see how passionate you speak about your charcoal grill! I understand what you're talking about! Have you tried grilling in winter time? You can't believe how great it is 🙂 The smell is even better! I love BBQ in summer times but I love it even more in winter time (maybe I'm just strange haha)
champagne-tastes
Haha thanks!! Nooo I haven't.. But maybe I will next winter! I bet it would taste amazing!
Jolina - The Unlikely Baker
We love fish tacos. There was a time when that's all we ate for an entire week I kid you not. We don't have a proper grill so we fry our fish but we will definitely try everything else on here. I think we'll end up eating fish tacos for TWO whole weeks 🙂 (which is not bad at all).
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
LOVE fish tacos! They're so healthy, but so so good! I think I'll have a taco Monday.....and Tuesday 😉 !
champagne-tastes
Let's make every day Taco Tuesday!
Nicole Vorpagel
This was a good, easy weeknight dinner with enough leftovers for lunch today. I feel like it was a good base recipe but it needed something, not sure what though. I added a bit of red pepper to the yogurt sauce since we like spice. Still needs something else though, maybe a mango or other fruit salsa would be good with it? We used Tilapia so maybe i just needed to do a more flavorful fish? Maybe I’ll try salmon next time.
Sarah Trenalone
A fruit salsa would be great! I've added a tomato salsa to the recipe toppings to help add a little acidity and flavor balance. (It probably does matter more with less flavorful fish.) Thanks so much for the feedback!!