10/28/2011

Recipe for the weekend?
Fish Tacos

TOTAL TIME:40 min

Prep:35 min

Inactive Prep:--

Cook:5 min

YIELD:4 to 6 servings

LEVEL:Intermediate

Ingredients

AVOCADO CREAM:

• 2 cups/500ml plain thick yogurt or sour cream
• 4 avocados, pitted, peeled and chopped
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
• Zest and juice of 1 lime

• A handful fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
• A few drops green hot sauce, such as Tabasco
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

PICO DE GALLO:

• 2 tablespoons/30ml olive oil
• 2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
• Juice of 1 lime
• A handful fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

FISH:

• 3 cups/750ml all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup/60ml cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon/15ml baking powder
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 2 1/2 cups/625ml beer (2 bottles)
• 2 eggs, beaten
• Canola or peanut oil, for frying
• 1 pound haddock fillets, cut into large cubes (450 grams)

SERVING:

• Homemade Tortillas, recipe follows
• Iceberg lettuce, finely shredded

• Spicy Green Chili Sauce, recipe follows

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HOMEMADE TORTILLAS:

• 2 cups/500ml very fine corn flour (masa harina)

• 1 teaspoon/5ml salt

SPICY GREEN CHILI SAUCE:

• 24 hot green chile peppers, such as jalapeno, poblano, hatch or Cubanelle
• 1/4 cup/60ml olive oil
• Salt
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons/30ml distilled white vinegar

• 1 tablespoon/15ml coriander seeds, ground
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• Pinch sugar
• 1/4 cup/60ml chopped fresh cilantro
• Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

For the avocado cream: Puree the yogurt, avocados, jalapeno, lime zest and juice, cilantro and hot sauce to taste in a food processor until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.

For the pico de gallo: Combine the oil, tomatoes, garlic, onions, bell peppers, jalapeno, lime juice and cilantro in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.

For the fish: Combine 2 cups flour, the cornstarch, baking powder and some salt in a bowl. Quickly stir in the beer and eggs (don't worry if there are a few lumps).

Heat the oil in a deep fryer to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).

Put the remaining 1 cup flour in a shallow dish. Dredge the fish lightly in the flour. Dip the fish in the beer batter to coat, and then fry until crisp and golden brown, about 1 1/2 minutes. Drain on paper towels and season with salt and pepper.

For serving: Spread some avocado cream on a Homemade Tortilla. Top with 3 pieces of fish and some shredded lettuce. Finish with pico de gallo and Spicy Green Chili Sauce.

Combine the flour, 1 1/2 cups water and the salt, and then knead to form the dough. Pinch off a golf-ball-size piece of dough and use your hands to flatten it into a round shape. Set the round on a piece of plastic wrap and cover with another piece of plastic. Use the back of a heavy cast-iron skillet to flatten the dough. (You can use a tortilla press if you have one.)

Transfer the tortilla to a hot, dry skillet. Cook for about 30 seconds on each side. Remove and keep warm. Repeat with the remaining dough.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (225 degrees C).

Put the peppers on a baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil and season with salt. Roast until the skins are charred, about 30 minutes. Transfer the peppers to an airtight container and let cool (this will make them easier to peel). Peel off the skins, remove the seeds and cut the peppers into chunks.

Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Saute the onions until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the roasted peppers, vinegar, coriander, garlic and sugar and cook for 1 minute. Add 2 cups (500 ml) water and lower the heat to medium-low. Cook until almost all the liquid has evaporated, about 30 minutes. Stir in the cilantro and season with salt and peppe