Best Grilled Fish Tacos With Vera Cruz Salsa Recipes

WHOLE SNAPPER WITH GRILLED VERA CRUZ SALSA

Steps:

• For the salsa: Preheat a charcoal grill for medium-high heat.
• Brush the bell peppers, tomatoes and chiles with oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Grill the bell peppers until charred on all sides and just cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Remove to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let steam for 15 minutes. Remove the skin and seeds and dice.
• Grill the tomatoes until charred on all sides and just cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Remove to a cutting board, let rest for 10 minutes and coarsely chop.
• Grill the chiles until charred on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Remove to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let steam for 10 minutes, and finely chop.
• Combine the bell peppers, tomatoes, chiles, olives, cilantro, capers, thyme, oregano, vinegar and oil in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper. Let the mixture sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
• For the snapper: Combine the achiote, coriander and oregano in a small saute pan and toast over low heat until just fragrant, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, let cool slightly and grind in a coffee grinder. Combine the ground spices with the paprika, salt and pepper in a large baking dish. Add the lime juice, garlic and oil, and whisk until the consistency a smooth paste. Sprinkle the fish all over with salt and pepper. Rub one side of each fish generously with some of the paste. Cover and marinate for 20 minutes.
• Preheat a charcoal grill for direct medium-high heat and indirect grilling.
• Grill the fish, paste-side down, over the direct heat, until the paste is nicely charred, 5 to 7 minutes. Carefully flip the fish over using a large, heavy duty spatula and move the fish to the opposite side of the coals. Cover the grill and continue cooking until just cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer the fish to a large platter. Spoon the salsa on top and garnish with the fresh herbs.

FISH VERA CRUZ

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, boil the tomatoes, jalapenos, oregano, and garlic salt for about 8 minutes, or until tomatoes have cooked down to a liquid. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. *Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth. Return sauce to pan, add chopped onion and cilantro, and stir well. Heat through and keep warm until ready to serve.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat (you can use as little as 2 tablespoons oil to up to 1/2-inch deep). Season fish with salt and pepper and then carefully place in the pan; this may require adding the fish in 2 batches if your skillet is not large enough to hold all 4 fillets. Saute or pan-fry the fish until cooked on 1 side (fish will be opaque on that side). Carefully flip fish and continue cooking until cooked on second side and cooked through in the middle; the fish should be opaque in the middle. Cooking time will vary based on thickness of the fish fillets and the type of fish, but it should not take more than 3 to 5 minutes on each side. Transfer fish onto a serving platter or each of 4 dinner plates and top with the sauce. Serve immediately.

GRILLED FISH TACOS

Steps:

• Directions for slaw:
• Combine apple cider vinegar, cilantro, lime zest, lime juice, sugar, salt and pepper in a medium bowl; mix until smooth and creamy. Add cabbage and toss to combine. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Directions for tacos:
• Combine ingredients for the basting sauce into bowl and mix. Set aside. Oil the grill rack and Preheat grill to medium high. Grill Mahi filets until they are cooked through approximately 3 minutes per side. Continuously baste Mahi- Mahi, turning fish over only once.
• While Mahi is on the grill, heat tortillas until soft in the microwave or in the oven. Option 1: In the Microwave, wrap stacks of up to 12 tortillas in barely damp paper towels; microwave on High for 30 to 45 seconds. Wrap tortillas in a clean towel to keep warm. Option 2: In the Oven, wrap stacks of 6 tortillas in foil; place in a 375 degrees F oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Wrap tortillas in a clean towel to keep warm.
• When Fish is white and flakey, remove from heat. Carefully cut fish into large chunks. Place fish into tortillas and build your taco, starting with fish, and slaw and toppings of your choice.
• Combine all ingredients. Season with salt and pepper.
• Mix diced tomatoes, onions and cilantro in a large bowl. Add the lime juice and salt stir.
• Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Set aside and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

FISH TACOS WITH FRESH SALSA

Steps:

• Make the salsa: Mix the tomatillo, tomato, onion, cilantro, lime juice and jalapeno in a bowl and season with salt.
• Heat 1/2 inch vegetable oil in a deep skillet or pot over medium-high heat. Season the fish with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, then toss with the flour in a bowl. Fry the fish in 2 batches, turning as needed, until golden brown and just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per batch. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain; season with salt.
• Fill the tortillas with the fish, lettuce and salsa. Serve the tacos with lime wedges.

GRILLED SALMON TACOS WITH AVOCADO SALSA

Steps:

• Heat the grill to high and line a large baking tray with foil. Mix the smoked paprika and cumin in a small bowl. Rub the spices over the salmon fillets and put them on the baking tray. Pop under the grill for 8-10 mins until cooked through.
• While the salmon cooks, combine the yogurt with the garlic and season to taste. In another bowl, combine the avocados, onion and tomatoes. Add the lime juice, season and scatter with coriander.
• Warm the taco shells in the oven, following pack instructions. Flake the salmon and serve with the tacos, avocado salsa, yogurt and lime wedges.

RICK BAYLESS' GRILLED SALMON VERA CRUZ WITH LEMON-AND-THYME-SCENTED SALSA

Steps:

• 1. Prepare the sauce: Place oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until just beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Raise the heat to medium-high and add the tomatoes, chopped thyme, lemon zest, and half of the olives, capers, and peppers. Simmer briskly, stirring, for about 5 minutes to evaporate some of the liquid. Reduce the heat to medium-low, stir in 1 cup water and simmer for 15 minutes. Taste and season with salt. Cool.
• 2. Preheat a gas grill to medium-high or light a charcoal fire and let it burn just until the coals are covered with gray ash and very hot. Reduce the heat on one side of the gas grill to medium-low or set up the charcoal grill for indirect cooking by banking all of the coals to one side, leaving the other half of the grill empty. Set the cooking grate in place, cover the grill and let the grate heat for 5 minutes.
• 3. Oil the grill and both sides of each salmon steak; sprinkle fish with salt. Cook the salmon over the hottest part of the grill for about 4 minutes, until nicely browned underneath. Carefully flip over the fish onto the cooler side of the grill; cook 2 to 4 minutes more for medium-rare.
• 4. Spoon the sauce into a deep platter and nestle the fish in it. Let stand at room temperature for about an hour to bring together the flavors of the fish and the sauce.
• 5. To serve, sprinkle the fish with remaining olives, capers, and peppers; garnish with the thyme sprigs. Serve immediately.