Mexican street food has always been my favorite, particularly because of the bold flavors but especially because it is easy to cook. So when you are craving a fancy dinner but are short on time, just make these Air fryer fish tacos, serve with a slide of fries and pesto dip, and Voila! A dinner meal that is everyone’s favorite.
Ingredients Required
You will need:
- Tilapia fillet
- Olive oil
- Spices
- Lime juice
- Garlic clove
- Red cabbage
- Green onion
- Red wine vinegar
- Sour cream
- Sriracha sauce
- Coriander
- Tortillas
- Salt and black pepper
Ingredient Notes and Variations
For Fish Filling
Fish: The best one to make fish tacos is always the Tilapia fillet. The reason is that it has a mild flavor and the fish is readily available. If you can’t find tilapia, any white fish could work. Another choice for fish is the white Mahi Mahi fish, which makes a delicious filling for tacos.
Oil: To make the marinade, you can use any vegetable oil which you like. I prefer to use olive oil because it is the healthiest and has a slightly distinctive flavor.
Spices: In my recipe, I have used chipotle powder and jalapeno pepper to spice up the fish. You can use a variety of spices such as red chili powder, cayenne, cumin and coriander powder, garlic, and onion powder, etc. These lend a distinctive flavor and aroma to the tacos. You can also use smoked paprika instead of chipotle powder.
Lime Juice: Lime juice enables the spices to blend in their flavors and adds a touch of citrus and freshness to the tacos. If you don’t have lime juice, swap it with a similar amount of white vinegar.
Garlic: fresh chopped garlic lends the finest and freshest bold flavor. You can alternatively use garlic powder.
For pickle
Red Cabbage: Red cabbage is what makes the pickle crunchy and refreshing. You can use a green one too, but the color vibe is too much to miss!
Green Onion: The green stalk of green onions makes the best pickle with its crunch and color. It has a mild onion-like flavor.
Red wine vinegar: Red vine vinegar has preservative properties and lends a citrusy tone just needed for the pickle’s true flavor. You can use white vinegar too.
Salt: Salt lends flavor to the pickle.
For Taco Sauce
Sour Cream: Sour cream makes a creamy sauce to hold all the filling ingredients together. You can also use Greek yogurt or low-fat mayo.
Sriracha sauce: this gives a spicy kick to the otherwise bland sauce. Alternatively, you can add chili garlic sauce or hot sauce.
Fresh Coriander: Chopped fresh coriander makes the sauce refreshing and tasty. You can also use fresh basil or mint for a better flavor.
Tortillas: I have used plain wheat tortillas to make my Fish tacos. If you want to opt for a gluten-free meal, look for gluten-free tortillas or make yours at home using oat flour or almond meal.
How to make Air fryer Fish Tacos?
1: Air Frying Tuna Steaks
- In a mixing bowl, add lime juice, olive oil, fresh chopped garlic, spices, chopped cilantro, salt and pepper.
- Mix them well to prepare a marinade.
- Marinate the fish in this mixture and allow it to rest for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400F for 4 minutes.
- Line the air fryer basket with a parchment paper.
- Place the fish fillets in the lined basket and air fry them for 8 minutes. Flip sides in between to ensure they are evenly cooked and get a nice golden color.
- When the fish is air-fried, take it out on a plate and cut it into small chunks.
2: Preparing the Pink Taco sauce
- In a ramekin, add sour cream and mix in one tablespoon of sriracha sauce.
- Mix well and add chopped cilantro. Set aside.
3: Making the Pickle
- In a mixing bowl, add chopped purple cabbage, green onion, and salt.
- Add vinegar to the vegetables. Mix with your hands to allow vegetables to release their juices. Set aside for at least 30 minutes.
4: Assembling
- Toast your tortillas slightly either in the air fryer or in a pan.
- Place the toasted tortilla on the serving splatter. Layer with the pickle and air-fried fish chunks.
- Drizzle some lime juice and add pink taco sauce. Lightly season with black pepper or red chili flakes.
- Fold the tortilla in half. Repeat with all the tortillas.
- Serve with guacamole dip, salsa, air-fried potato chips, or fried rice.
Tilapia Tacos (Air Fryer)
When you are craving a fancy dinner but are short on time, just make these Air fryer fish tacos, serve with a slide of fries and pesto dip
- 4 tilapia fillets
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Spices (e.g., cumin, paprika, chili powder)
- Juice of 2 limes
- 1 garlic clove (minced)
- 2 cups red cabbage (shredded)
- 4 green onions (sliced)
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce
- 8 small tortillas
- Fresh coriander (chopped)
- Salt and black pepper (to taste)
- Coat tilapia fillets with olive oil, spices, lime juice, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Let it marinate for 15 minutes.
- Place marinated tilapia fillets in the air fryer. Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 8 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and cooked through.
- In a bowl, combine shredded red cabbage, sliced green onions, red wine vinegar, and a pinch of salt. Toss well.
- Mix sour cream and sriracha sauce in a small bowl to create a spicy sauce.
- Warm tortillas. Place air-fried tilapia on each tortilla. Top with slaw, spicy sauce, and fresh coriander.
- Serve the fish tacos immediately. Enjoy the burst of flavors!