Ensenada-Style Shrimp & Tilapia Tacos with Pico de Gallo and Spicy Avocado Sauce

0 comments

Earns commissions on purchases

Experience the vibrant flavors of Baja California with these delicious Ensenada-style seafood tacos. Featuring crispy deep-fried shrimp and fish, these tacos are paired with a range of homemade accompaniments: pickled red onion with habanero, a creamy avocado sauce, and refreshing pico de gallo. Get ready for a burst of flavor and color that will transport your taste buds to the streets of Ensenada.

Ingredients

Pickled Onions with Habanero

🧅 1/2 Red Onion thinly sliced in half-moons
🌶️ 1 Habanero Chili sliced
🧂 Salt to taste Brand: Tone's Sea Salt
🍋 3 Limes juiced
🥤 White Vinegar enough to cover ingredients

Creamy Avocado Sauce

🌶️ 3 Serrano Chilies
🌶️ 2 Morita Chilies or chipotle
🥄 2-3 tablespoons Mayonnaise Brand: McCormick
🥛 2-3 tablespoons Sour Cream Brand: Daisy Sour Cream
🍶 2 tablespoons Mustard Brand: McCormick
🥑 2 Avocados ripe
🌿 1 handful Cilantro
🥤 1 splash White Vinegar
🧂 Salt to taste Brand: Tone's
🌶️ Black Pepper freshly ground, to taste
🧄 Garlic Powder to taste Brand: Tone's
💧 Water from boiling chilies

Shredded Cabbage

🥬 1/2 head Red Cabbage finely shredded
💧 Water to cover
🥤 1 splash White Vinegar
🧂 1 pinch Fine Salt

Batter for Frying

🍞 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
🍶 1 to 1.5 tablespoons Baking Powder Brand: Clabber Girl
🧂 Salt to taste Brand: Tone's
🧄 Granulated Garlic to taste Brand: Tone's
🌶️ Black Pepper freshly ground, to taste
🥚 1 Egg
🍺 12 oz (355 ml) Beer Brand: Modelo Especial

Seafood

🍤 ~18-20 pieces Shrimp peeled, deveined, tails on
🐟 2 Tilapia Fillets cut into strips
🧂 Salt to taste
🌶️ Black Pepper to taste
🧄 Garlic Powder to taste

Frying Oil

🥜 Peanut Oil enough for deep frying

Pico de Gallo

🧅 1 White Onion diced
🌿 Cilantro chopped
🍅 1 Tomato diced
🌶️ 1 Red Jalapeño diced
🥒 1 Cucumber diced
🍋 1-2 Limes juiced
🧂 Salt to taste
🌶️ Black Pepper to taste

Tortillas

🌽 Corn Tortillas

Optional Quesadilla

🫘 Refried Beans
🧀 Shredded Chihuahua Cheese
🌯 Flour Tortilla

Instructions

1- Prepare Pickled Onions with Habanero (2 days in advance):

Thinly slice the red onion into half-moons and slice the habanero chili into rings.
Place onions and habanero in a glass container.
Season with sea salt and squeeze lime juice over the mixture.
Pour white vinegar until ingredients are submerged.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours, ideally 2 days.

2- Creamy Avocado Sauce (Same day):

Boil serrano and morita chilies in water for 5 minutes.
Remove stems and place chilies in a blender. Add some boiling water.
Add mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, avocado flesh, cilantro, vinegar, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to the blender.
Blend until smooth, adding more water for consistency.
Pour into a squeeze bottle using a funnel.

3- Shredded Cabbage (Same day):

Finely shred cabbage and place in a container.
Cover with water, add vinegar and salt. Let soak for 15 minutes, then drain well.

4- Batter for Frying (Same day):

Sift flour into a large bowl.
Add baking powder, salt, granulated garlic, and pepper; whisk well.
Add an egg and slowly whisk in beer until smooth.

5- Prepare Seafood (Same day):

Season shrimp and tilapia with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

6- Pico de Gallo (Same day):

Dice onion, cilantro, tomato, jalapeño, and cucumber. Combine in a bowl.
Add lime juice, salt, and pepper. Mix well.

7- Fry Shrimp and Fish:

Heat peanut oil to 320°F (175°C) in a deep pot.
Dip seasoned shrimp in batter and fry for ~5 minutes until golden. Drain on paper towels.
Repeat for tilapia, frying for ~6-7 minutes.

8- Assemble Tacos:

Heat tortillas on a comal.
Add fried seafood, shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, pickled onions, habanero slices, and a drizzle of creamy sauce.
Serve with lime wedges.

9- Optional Shrimp Quesadilla:

Heat flour tortilla with refried beans and cheese.
Add fried shrimp, pico de gallo, pickled onions, and creamy sauce.

Prep Time: 1.5 - 2 hours (exclude advance prep)
Cook Time: 30-40 minutes
Total Time: 2 days (including advance prep)
Servings: 6-8 tacos
Equipment: Oster Blender, Clabber Girl Baking Powder, Tone’s Seasonings
Calories, Proteins, Fats, Carbohydrates: Not specified