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Baja California fish tacos with a Creamy Chipotle sauce

ByEvelyn Osborn Hours Posted on Hours Updated on
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Baja California fish tacos are breaded fish tacos with a creamy chipotle sauce and topped with pico.  These Baja tacos are amazing with our homemade Baja sauce recipe.

Baja California Fish Tacos
This Baja Tacos Recipe is one we created while in southern California.  The Mexican food there is so very different than the Mexican food we grew up with in West Texas but we learned to love both equally. When I was first introduced to fish tacos Baja style I was skeptical and frankly scared to even try them.
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Fish Tacos

But then several deputies that I worked with returned from fishing in the Sea of Cortez in Mexico and hosted a fish fry featuring fresh fish Baja tacos. I was actually brave enough to try them that day and I was amazed.  They were wonderful!   And during my years living in Southern California, I  fell in love with these breaded fish tacos topped with this creamy chipotle sauce.

What are Baja tacos?

Baja tacos consists of breaded and fried fish chunks,  a creamy dressing, cool crunchy cabbage and spicy pico de gallo all folded into a soft warm corn tortilla.

What you need to make Fish Baja Tacos (breaded fish tacos):

Equipment:

Ingredients for the Creamy Chipotle Sauce (Baja sauce recipe):

  • 3/4 cup of Ranch Dressing
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 chipotle diced with 1 teaspoon of the adobo sauce

Instructions for creamy Chipotle Sauce:

In a small dish mix ranch dressing, sour cream and the diced chipotle well.  Place in fridge while preparing the fish

Instructions for Pico de Gallo

Ingredients for the breaded fish tacos

  • A cup of green cabbage, shredded
  • 1 cup of red cabbage, shredded
  • A medium onion, minced or chopped finely
  • 1 1/2 pounds of fresh sea bass, cod or halibut, cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 1 cup of flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 12 corn tortillas
  • Oil for frying

How to Make Baja tacos:

  • Mix the cabbages and onion, set aside.
  • Combine flour, salt, and pepper in a bowl or fish breader dredge fish cubes in flour mixture until well coated.
  • Heat 2 to 3 inches of oil in a skillet or use a fish fryer until temperature reaches 350 F. degrees.
  • Gently drop fish chunks in hot oil and fry 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
  • Heat corn tortillas on a comal.  Fold the fish into the warmed tortilla, top with some of the cabbage mixture, add a couple of spoonfuls of chipotle sauce and top with pico de gallo
Being from West Texas, I had not had much exposure to seafood prior to our transfer to California.  But this dish soon became one of my favorites and always reminds me of our years in Southern California.
baja fish tacos with creamy chipotle sauce
 These Baja tacos are easy and we often make them here at the Ranch.  Our recipe is a little different than the fish tacos served in this area but they will rock your taste buds.

Mexican Food Recipes:

Click HERE to save these Baja California fish tacos to Pinterest

Baja Fish Tacos

5 from 24 votes
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baja fish tacos
Baja Tacos are breaded fish tacos with a creamy chipotle sauce and pico.  These Fish tacos Baja style are amazing with this Baja sauce recipe
Evelyn Osborn
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 6
Calories 482 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 lbs fresh sea bass cod or halibut , cut in 1 inch cubes
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 12 corn tortillas
  • 1 cup green cabbage shredded
  • 1 cup red cabbage shredded
  • 1 med onion minced
  • olive oil

For the Creamy Chipotle Sauce

For the Pico de Gallo

  • 2 tomatoes seeded and diced
  • 2 jalapeños diced
  • 1 serrano chile seeded and chopped
  • 1/2 small onion chopped
  • 4 green onion finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro
  • juice of 2 limes
  • salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the chipotle dressing (below) and the pico de gallo (below) , refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • Mix the cabbages and onion, set aside.
  • Combine flour, salt, and pepper in a bowl or fish breader dredge fish cubes in flour mixture until well coated.
  • Heat 2 to 3 inches of oil in a skillet or use a fish fryer (or deep dutch oven with enough oil to cover fish fillets) until temperature reaches 350 F. degrees.
  • Gently drop fish chunks in hot oil and fry 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
  • Heat corn tortillas on a comal. Fold the fish into the warmed tortilla, top with some of the cabbage mixture, add a couple of spoonfuls of chipotle sauce and top with pico de gallo

Chipotle Creamy Sauce

  • In a small dish mix the ranch dressing, sour cream and the diced chipotle well, set aside

Pico de Gallo

  • In a medium bowl mix the tomatoes, jalapeños, Serrano chile and both onions. Season with fresh cilantro, juice of the limes and salt to taste. Set aside

Nutrition

Calories: 482kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 27gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 10gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 104mgSodium: 581mgPotassium: 673mgFiber: 6gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 843IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 109mgIron: 3mg
Keyword Baja Fish Tacos, Baja sauce recipe, Baja Tacos, Creamy Chipotle Sauce, Fried Fish Tacos, tacos Baja
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61 Comments

  1. New follower of yours! I LOVE fish tacos – and I grew up in Lubbock. Never had them until I was on vacay in Puerta Vallarta years ago. So yum! I make mine with tilapia and I make the homemade pico, too. We put shredded cabbage and monterey jack cheese on them and people here lick their plates. Looking forward to exploring your blog

    Reply

  7. These look so good. And, funny coincidence, I tried my first fish taco while on a whale watching cruise in…the Sea of Cortez. I am going to have to whip up a batch in memory of that trip.

    Reply

  8. We love fish tacos at our house. Have tried them fried yet though. I usually blacken tilapia with a southwest rub. I'm going to have to try your recipe! I'm going to pin it to my recipe board on Pinterest. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe

    Reply

    1. Thank you for visiting. Yes, grilled fish would be a healthier alternative and I am loving the idea of a southwest rub:) Thanks for pining it.

      Reply

  9. Love fish tacos! I first had them when honeymooning in Florida a few years ago. I've only made them a few times at home, but they always take me back to our honeymoon days! I'll have to try your recipe! 🙂

    Reply

  10. Ooh, all the way down to the chipotle dressing. Mmmmmm. This looks amazing and has now made me hungry. lol Thanks for sharing

    Reply

    1. Oh, you have just got to try one (or two or three) they are so delicious. Thank you for hosting "See Ya in the Gumbo" each week. (I just love saying that!)

      Reply

  14. My husband has been on me for months wanting me to make fish tacos. They have never sounded appealing to me. Looking over your recipe, they actually sound pretty good. I just might have to break down and give it a go.

    Reply

    1. I wasn't brave either about trying fish tacos. I am not a big fan of fish but these are so delicious. You go girl and just give them a try:) Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply

  18. I love the fish tacos at Granite City. I will have to give yours a whirl. They look delish. Thanks for sharing

    Reply

  19. I have never tried fish tacos, I've always been a little scared. I may just have to try these, they look good! Thanks for sharing

    Reply

  31. Hi Evelyn! I've never made fish tacos, but totally want to try them. These sound delicious!! Thanks for sharing your recipe with us and pinned! Happy Monday and hugs!

    Reply

  36. I have never had a fish taco but I know I would love them as I love fish… This sounds so good and I will be trying it soon. Pinning. coming over from bloggers on Blogger

    Reply

  41. 5 stars
    These were delicious and they look so pretty too! They were wonderful with fresh caught fish! Thanks for sharing them

    Reply

  43. Hi Evelyn,
    Your Fish Tacos look so fresh and delicious. Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with Full Plate Thursday and hope you have a great week!
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

    Reply

  44. 5 stars
    I too was skeptical about fish tacos but this is a great recipe and we have been eating it ever since.

    Reply

  45. 5 stars
    Those were delicious, I've never had fish tacos before but have always wanted to try them. Thanks for sharing a great recipe!

    Reply