Beer Battered Crispy Cod Fish Tacos
Crispy beer-battered cod fish tacos with a delicious, fresh, and vibrant salsa, along with a silky yoghurt and sour cream coriander sauce.
Both the crema and the salsa can be made in advance to cut down the pressure, and frying the fish takes just a few minutes!
Crispy Beer Battered Fish Tacos
As a Brit, I was raised with chip shop battered fish; battered food is part of our DNA.
So how could I resist putting my slant on a Californian favourite recipe?
My version of crispy cod tacos runs with the crispiest of beer batters, which is very similar to the one that I make for my spam fritters.
It also receives a quick and vibrant salsa, infused with a touch of piquancy from a dash of chilli and red wine vinegar.
Finally, they are finished with lashings of delicious coriander and cumin crema and wrapped in a tortilla of your choice!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different type of fish?
Yes, any firm and meaty white fish would be fine.
I use cod, but everything from haddock to coley and pollock to hake would be fine.
What beer should I use?
I use a Leffe blonde Belgian Weiss Beer.
Mainly because I love the stuff, but it also has a citrus edge that works well with seafood, which is why it is my beer of choice for my beer steamed mussels recipe!
You can use whatever you like, and APA or IPA would work well, as would a pilsner-style lager. However, you want to avoid anything too dark.
Can I make this in advance?
Both the salsa and the coriander benefit from being made in advance. Both will sit in the fridge for 3-4 hours with no problems.
The fish and batter need to be prepared and cooked when you are ready to eat!
Do I have to use a deep-fat fryer?
I personally think that a fryer is both the safest and best method to cook these fish tacos.
However, you could fry them in either a wok or a saucepan, but make sure that you do not fill the pan more than a third full of oil.
Serving Suggestions
I usually take one of two approaches to sides for these delicious beer-battered cod tacos.
The first keeps it all very light with a side salad, something like this cherry tomato and onion salsa or my spicy mango salad would be perfect.
The second doubles down on the fried stuff and goes full-on indulgent with some fried potatoes.
It doesn't matter whether it is my chippy chips or crispy straw potatoes.
If you wanted to move away from the fryer, then these baked sweet potato fries would be superb!
Equipment Used
I only name-check brands of equipment if I think that they make a material difference to a recipe. But if you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below the recipe.
- Deep fat fryer or large saucepan/wok for frying.
- Slotted spoon.
- Chopping board.
- Kitchen knife.
- Mixing bowls.
- Whisk.
- A combination of weighing scales, a measuring jug, measuring cups and spoons.
Beer Battered Cod Tacos Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 Small Corn Tortilla
- 250 g Cod Fillet 9oz
- 1 Baby Gem Lettuce
- Oil (for deep frying)
For the Salsa
- 1 Medium 1 Tomato 125g
- 1 Small Red Onion 50g
- 1 Small Green Pepper
- 1 Red Chilli Pepper (go as hot or mild as you wish)
- 1 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Sugar
For the Coriander Sauce
- 2 tablespoon Plain Yoghurt
- 2 tablespoon Sour Cream
- 1 Lime
- 1 teaspoon Cumin Seeds
- 10 g Coriander Leaves ½ Cup
- 1 Pinch Salt (be generous)
For the Batter
- 100 g Plain Flour ¾ Cup
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 175 ml Beer ¾ Cup
Instructions
Step 1: Make the Salsa.
- Deseed and cut the tomato into a 5mm (¼") dice.
- Remove the seeds and the membrane from the green pepper and cut into a 5mm (¼") dice.
- Peel and cut the red onion into a 2-3mm (⅛") dice.
- Remove the seeds and membrane from the chilli pepper and dice as finely as possible.
- Place the diced vegetables in a bowl and mix with the sugar and red wine vinegar.
- Have a taste and season with salt.
Step 2: Make the Crema.
- Mix together the yoghurt and sour cream.
- Heat a dry frying pan over medium heat. Add the cumin seeds and toast until they release an aroma. Grind the seeds in a pestle and mortar and add to the sour cream mix.
- Chop the coriander and add to the sauce.
- Zest the lime and add it to the sauce, then squeeze in juice to taste.
- Finally, add salt to taste.
Step 3: Batter and Cook the Fish.
- Heat the oil in your deep fat fryer to 180°C or 350°F.
- Whilst the oil is cooking, cut the fish into strips around 4-5cm (1¾-2") long and 1.5cm by 1.5cm (½!) in profile.
- When the oil is hot, mix the ingredients for the batter until it is all combined.
- Dip the fish into the batter, then straight into the hot oil. Cook for 3-4 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking. You will need to cook this in two batches.
Awesome, making them again tomorrow night - by request! thanks again Brian!!
This was just gorgeous, thank you for the recipe, I added a little bit of salad cream, garlic powder & chipotle to the sauce... I used Blue Grenadier fish from NZ as I’m located in Australia. Family loved it, the whole lot was gone very quickly and will now be a regular dish. The batter was just perfect - I used Kirin beer as that’s what I’m drinking at the moment ? worked a treat in my deep fryer. Thank you again ❤️
Wow! That looks like tempura fried fish. I love that you used a Belgian Weissbeer in your recipe. I was just in Berlin, that beer's so good.
Mmm, sounds like some great flavors. I order fish tacos fairly often but for some reason haven't made them at home...this is a good nudge to change that!
Oh your beer battered fish tacos look glorious! Like little golden precious nuggets engulfed by a perfect taco. I really should try to make more tacos at home!!
I rarely think about using fish in tacos but you are right that it's a classic dish and your beer battered version looks so good. Loving the freshness and colour.
This was just gorgeous, thank you for the recipe, I added a little bit of salad cream, garlic powder & chipotle to the sauce... I used Blue Grenadier fish from NZ as I’m located in Australia. Family loved it, the whole lot was gone very quickly and will now be a regular dish. The batter was just perfect - I used Kirin beer as that’s what I’m drinking at the moment ? worked a treat in my deep fryer. Thank you again ❤️
Thanks for taking the time to write to me and let me know... I love hearing from people who have used my recipes as a base for their grub, makes the bashing away on the keyboard and stirring the kitchen all worthwhile! I love the idea of adding a little chipotle to the sauce.
Awesome, making them again tomorrow night - by request! thanks again Brian!!
Thanks Lea... So glad you and your enjoy them, they are great fun 🙂
Wow! That looks like tempura fried fish. I love that you used a Belgian Weissbeer in your recipe. I was just in Berlin, that beer's so good.
Always my favourite type of beer and so popular across much of Europe... Has a great flavour perfect for using in a batter.
Mmm, sounds like some great flavors. I order fish tacos fairly often but for some reason haven't made them at home...this is a good nudge to change that!
Finding anything other than home cooked fish nuggets out here in Rural Hungary is a challenge 😀
Oh your beer battered fish tacos look glorious! Like little golden precious nuggets engulfed by a perfect taco. I really should try to make more tacos at home!!
Thanks Helene, they really are just like grown up fish nuggets 😀
I rarely think about using fish in tacos but you are right that it's a classic dish and your beer battered version looks so good. Loving the freshness and colour.
Thanks Kavita... We love this in summer when the ingredients are so bright and fresh.
This recipe looks and sounds so fresh and tasty! Looking forward to giving this a whirl tonight. Just wondering if you think Grolsh beer would work?
I think the batter will keeps it's crunch a little less with Grolsch, I have made lots of batters with pilsner type lagers (although not with Grolsch) and they taste great but always find the peak crispness comes from a weiss beer or wheat beer 🙂 Have fun I am sure they will be tasty.
Another gorgeous dish, Brian. I'm not big on corriander, but that fish looks too light and fresh not to dig in. Heck, I bet it would be great taco-less and served with some FRENCH FRIES too! 😉 Great job, mate!
You mean like CHIPS :p yeah that's a great idea... The beer batter is amazing, it is weissbeer all the way for me now when it comes to a western style batter.
It's been ages since I've had a good beer battered fish taco! I have to try this recipe asap!
The batter is spectacular, the weissbeer really makes it so airy and light!
Fish tacos are a favorite thing of mine... product of growing up in Florida. These sound delicious and easy enough to make at home since there aren't really any good seafood places around here. Gunna give these a go soon!
Enjoy 🙂
I love beer batter - seems to make anything taste incredible! And the bubbles make it perfectly light and crispy 🙂
Definitely and the weissbeer seems to make it even more airy and light.
Love it !! Coriander Sauce and mango Salsa is just my kind of thing !!
Thanks Sandhya
Oh! I'm the king of beer batter & love fish tacos. Mango salsa is a nice compliment to the dish, too.
Cheers Dan
We love battered fish tacos! So good with a mango salsa or slaw on them too.
Cheers Dannii.
Super yum Brian - I've not battered my fish tacos before but they do look great. Love the sound of the coriander sauce in particular.
Thanks Jo, I may live in Central Europe but I am a Brit at heart so fish and batter go together like a horse and cart 😀