Recipe: Fish Tacos with Cucumber Salsa

Fish Tacos

We like our fish tacos soft, juicy, and overflowing with luscious chunks of fish and bits of vegetables. If you don't have time to make the special Cucumber Salsa that we suggest to go along with these tacos, you can just add chopped cucumbers, chiles, and tomatoes, along with a squirt of lemon or lime juice and some olive oil.

Special tool: Charcoal or gas grill
Preparation time: 10 minutes, plus 50 minutes for the Cucumber Salsa
Yield: 3 servings

1-1/2 pounds salmon, snapper, bass,
or halibut fillet
Extra-virgin olive oil for drizzling
Salt and pepper to taste
12 6-inch corn tortillas, warmed
6 lettuce leaves
Cucumber Salsa
Lime wedges for squeezing
Garnishes: Avocado, radish slices

1. Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal or gas grill.

2. Drizzle the fish with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and grill until barely done, for 2 to 5 minutes per side, depending on the thickness. Remove the fish from the grill, let cool slightly, and then pull apart into large flakes.

3. Place the tortillas on a work surface. Line each with a piece of lettuce and top with chunks of fish. Top each with a generous spoonful of Cucumber Salsa, a squirt of lime, and a drizzle of olive oil. Garnish with avocado and radishes and serve.

Variation:
You don't have to start this recipe with uncooked fish. Tacos are a terrific way to use leftover fish. Just warm the fish first and then pull the flesh apart into large flakes.

Cucumber Salsa

You can store this salsa in the refrigerator up to 48 hours.

Preparation time: 20 minutes, plus 30 minutes marination
Yield: 3 cups

4 pickling cucumbers, diced
1/2 small red onion, diced
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped (1/3 cup)
1 small tomato, seeded and diced
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 serrano chiles, stemmed
and sliced in thin rounds

Place all the ingredients in a bowl, combine well and let stand, covered, for at least 30 minutes.

Buy the Book!

Mexican Cooking for Dummies
By Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken
IDG Books, 1999
Paperback, $19.99
Color photographs
ISBN: 0-7645-5169-8
Recipe reprinted by permission.