Blackened Tilapia Tacos with Jicama Coleslaw and Avocado Aioli Recipe
Blackened Tilapia Tacos with Jicama Coleslaw and Avocado Aioli
Fourth of July in Atlanta was a wash. Literally! The rains moved in on Thursday and lingered throughout the day on Friday. Any plans for a cookout went down the drain. Fortunately we didn’t have big plans for the day so I decided to stay inside and make tacos along with my quick and easy version of chipotle black beans.
Most of our friends were travelling for the Fourth, so our low-key evening included tacos at home, a 7:30 showing of World War Z at Midtown Promenade, Centennial Park fireworks on Channel 2, and pillow time at 11:00. Boring? Nah! Sometimes it’s great having a laid back holiday.
Tacos these days are ubiquitous and almost every restaurant that we frequent includes some variety of them on the menu. Fish tacos always grab my attention and I’ve got to admit that I opt for the fried variety on occasion. However, if you make wise choices with ingredients, tacos can be quite healthy. Sauteed shrimp, grilled chicken, and pork tenderloin all make great taco ingredients. Add some vegetable or fruit accompaniment and a little dressing and it’s a self contained meal.
I really love the combination of ingredients in these tacos. The slight heat of the tilapia is cooled with the jicama coleslaw and avocado aioli. A side of black beans makes this a great Mexican meal.
These tacos come together quick enough for a week night family dinner or they make a festive main course for a Latin style dinner party. Serve these tacos with ice cold margaritas and your guests will be very happy. Salud!
Blackened Tilapia Tacos with Jicama Coleslaw and Avocado Aioli
Ingredients
- For the Avocado Aioli:
- 1 Hass avocado, peeled and pitted
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon sour cream
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- For the jicama coleslaw:
- 8 cups sliced napa cabbage
- 2 cups grated carrot
- 2 cups grated jicama
- 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Chipotle seasoning (2 teaspoons if you want more heat)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup grapeseed or canola oil
- 1/2 cup roughly chopped cilantro
- For the tilapia:
- 1 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1.2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 4 tilapia filets
- 2 tablespoons grapeseed or canola oil
- For the tacos:
- 8 to 10 corn or wheat tortillas
- For the chipotle black beans:
- 2 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cans black beans
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (more if you want more heat)
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
Instructions
For the avocado aioli:
Place avocado, mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, lime juice, and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
For the jicama coleslaw
1. In a large bowl, combine cabbage, carrots, jicama, and onion.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, honey, vinegar, chipotle seasoning, and salt. Slowly add oil and whisk until well combined.
3. Fifteen minutes before building the tacos, add the dressing to the coleslaw. Mix well and set aside. Add cilantro immediately before serving.
For the tilapia:
1. In a small bowl, combine paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and oregano.
2. Slice tilapia filets in half, lengthwise. Slice thick side of filets crosswise at a diagonal. Liberally season both sides of tilapia with spice mixture.
3. Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet. Cook tilapia two to three minutes on each side. Fish will start to flake when pressed when it is done. Thicker pieces may take longer.
To assemble:
To assemble tacos, spoon coleslaw on one side of tortilla. Top coleslaw with one or two pieces of fish and avocado aioli.
For the black beans:
1. In a large pot, brown bacon over medium high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the bacon. Saute for 4 to 5 minutes.
2. Add black beans, tomatoes, chipotle peppers, salt, and cumin. Mix well, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes.
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