Halibut & Shrimp Tacos

Years ago when I heard someone mention how delicious the fish tacos were they had eaten at a restaurant downtown, I thought it was the most appalling thing I’d heard in a long while.

Fish tacos? Ugh.

But then…

I realized I had the form of a traditional taco stuck in my head, with fish. No one would like that.

Finally, I was talked into trying them and there was no turning back.

I was hooked.

Ha, no pun intended.

Fish tacos when made correctly, are bright and light and absolutely full of fresh flavors.

There’s texture and flavor contrasts, which are an absolute must in a fabulous fish and shrimp taco.

A lightly fried corn tortilla brings all of the flavors and textures together.

Just a couple of seconds in avocado oil  is all it takes. If you’ve never fried corn tortillas, you’re missing out on fabulous comfort food.

They are fried quickly, just a couple of seconds on each side in very hot oil. This leaves them soft and supple and they have such an amazing aroma and flavor. I make traditional tacos like this as well.

The halibut is steamed so it turns out flaky and gorgeous.

Once it was finished steaming, I gave it a good squeeze of fresh lemon.

The shrimp is sautéed quickly in olive oil and pressed garlic, and finished with fresh parsley.

 

It may look labor intensive, but the entire meal comes together very quickly.

Make the broccoli slaw and pico first. Then while the shrimp is sauteing and the halibut is steaming, fry your tortillas. Keep a close eye on your shrimp though, it cooks very quickly and you don’t want it being over done. It will cook faster than the halibut.

When it was just at the done point I quickly removed it from the heat and set it on the back burner while the halibut finished and the tortillas fried.

You can make it as casual or as fancy as you’d like. We went casual. Served it right off the kitchen counter and we ate while watching a movie.

This is a great summer meal for company as well. Larger quantities of course, but you could make a taco bar on the deck or patio and enjoy an outdoor meal. A Lemon Lime Margarita would be the perfect touch.

Broccoli Slaw

1 10 oz bag of Organic Broccoli Slaw

About 1/2 Cup of Olive Oil Mayonnaise

About 1/8-1/4 Cup of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

A Generous Pinch of Organic Coconut Sugar Crystals

Ground Pepper

Whisk the mayo, vinegar, and sugar together. Pour over slaw and add ground pepper. Toss well to coat. Refrigerate.

Pico De Gallo

14 Organic Cherry Tomatoes (I used red and orange), chopped with seeds and juice

About 3 Tablespoons of Organic Red Onion, chopped

1/4 Cup of Fresh Pineapple, chopped

2 Tablespoons of Organic Fresh Cilantro, chopped

1 Large Clove of Organic Garlic, minced

1 Whole Jalapeno, diced (if you don’t like spicy, remove the seeds and membrane before dicing)

Juice of 2 Organic Large Fresh Limes

Pinch of Organic Coconut Sugar Crystals

Add all ingredients to a bowl and toss. Refrigerate.

Fried Corn Tortillas

*Be careful to check the ingredients on the tortillas, I ran across a bag the other day that was a combination of flour and corn and they looked exactly like the plain corn tortillas

1 Package of Corn Tortillas, they are small…I would do 3-4 per person

Avocado Oil

Medium Saute Pan

Tongs

Several Paper Towels

*Hot oi is extremely dangerous and of course, children and pets should be kept out of the kitchen while making the tortillas

Place a plate next to the area where you’re going to be frying. Tear off several layers of paper towels and set aside. (Don’t catch them on fire with the gas flame like I did…Ha.)

Fill the saute pan 1/4 to 1/2 way with the oil. Heat on medium high. When oil is hot, carefully dip the tortilla in the oil and fry for about 2 seconds. Quickly flip the tortilla with the tongs and fry for another 2 seconds. Remove tortilla to paper towel and cover with another paper towel. Repeat until all tortillas are cooked. It’s important to make sure the oil is hot. The tortillas should start frying immediately when they touch the oil.

Allow the oil to cool completely and then dispose. I pour mine in the garbage can…not a good idea to pour it down the sink.

Halibut & Shrimp Tacos

1 lb of Wild Caught Halibut

1 lb of Wild Caught Shrimp, shelled and cleaned

1 Tablespoon of Freshly Chopped Parsley

Garlic Powder

Sea Salt

Olive Oil

2 Cloves of Fresh Garlic, pressed

Fresh Lemon for Squeezing

1/8-1/4 cup of Water

Oil two medium-large skillets with olive oil and heat to medium. Add the shrimp to one and the halibut to the other. Add the pressed garlic to the shrimp and a pinch or two of sea salt. Saute for just a few minutes until the shrimp curls and is pink. While the shrimp is sauteing, sprinkle garlic powder across the top of the halibut and add a pinch or two of sea salt. Add about 1/8 cup of water and cover, steaming for 10 minutes. If you’re using very large shrimp, slice them down the middle as if you were butterflying them but all the way through. After sauteing, cut them again, but in half.