BLACKENED FISH TACOS WITH CHILI-SPICED SLAW AND CHARRED SCALLION SALSA

Blackened Fish Tacos with Chili-Spiced Slaw and Charred Scallion Salsa image

Provided by James Briscione

Time 50m

Yield 6 generous servings

Number Of Ingredients 26

Previous Next

Ingredients

6 fillets snapper, striped bass or other firm white fish (2 pounds total)
Canola or vegetable oil, for drizzling and cooking
Kosher salt
One 1.25-ounce packet taco seasoning
12 soft corn or flour tortillas, warmed
Charred Scallion Salsa, recipe follows
2 limes, quartered
1/2 head green cabbage, finely shredded
2 medium carrots, finely shredded
1 bunch scallion, thinly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
One 1.25-ounce packet gluten-free chili seasoning
1 bunch scallions, trimmed
1 jalapeno, left whole
1 cup olive oil, plus more for drizzling
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 bunch cilantro, bottom 2 inches of stems trimmed
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoons granulated garlic
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Juice of 2 limes

Steps:

For the fish: Drizzle each fish fillet with oil and sprinkle lightly with salt. Dust both sides of each fillet with a thin, even layer of the taco seasoning.
Heat a large cast-iron pan on the hottest part of a grill or on the stove over high heat. Add a thin layer of oil to the pan and heat until the oil just begins to smoke. Carefully add the fish and cook, undisturbed, until blackened, about 3 minutes. Gently turn the fish over with a spatula and blacken on the second side, another 3 minutes. Remove the fish to a rack to cool slightly before plating.
For the slaw: Combine the cabbage, carrots and scallion in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and mix well. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the jalapeno, mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, sugar and chili seasoning in a medium bowl. Add to the cabbage mixture and mix well to combine. Taste for seasoning and add more salt, pepper or sugar if desired.
Place a few strips of the blackened fish on a warmed soft tortilla and drizzle with Charred Scallion Salsa. Top each taco with slaw and serve with a wedge of lime.
Preheat a grill for cooking over medium-high heat. Place the scallions and jalapeno on a large plate or baking pan. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Place the vegetables on the grill and cook until charred on all sides, about 10 minutes total.
Combine the cilantro, scallions and jalapeno in a blender or food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the paprika, garlic, cumin, lime juice and olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Store tightly covered in the refrigerator up to 10 days.