I read somewhere that one of top 10 things that Americans miss the most when overseas is Mexican food. I completely get this...in fact it frightens me a bit. I think we are a bit spoiled and used to eating a variety foods here in the US....chinese, mexican, thai, italian and vietnamese in the same week is pretty normale. While you can definitely find more variety in larger cities while traveling, it's a bit more difficult in smaller towns. My mom made Thai food all the time growing up so it's definitely one of my favorites, but after just two weeks in Thailand eating only Thai food, I was craving anything in the world that was not Thai food. There was definitely never a mexican restaurant to be seen.
Rumor has it that Mexican restaurants are a bit few and far between in Italy as well. While I know I will happily eat all of that fresh seafood that's abundant near Italy's shores, I also know I will miss my Mexican, and well, let's be honest here, TexMex. I've been gorging myself on brekkie burritos, enchiladas, chile rellenos and my favorite...fish tacos.
How traditional are fish tacos? I have no idea but in my mind they fall somewhere in the Mex or TexMex category also known as bites of heaven on earth. They have to be one of the most perfect foods because they encompass just about every ying and yang out there: sweet salsa with savory fish, crunch cabbage with soft, chewy tortilla shell and of course spicy hot flavors with creamy cooling yogurt.
Fish tacos are also about one of the easiest things to throw together too. I think it's all about the mango salsa.
Mango, tomatoes, cilantro, onion, lime juice and a bit of salt. I used frozen mangoes that I thawed out because my freezer is bursting with food to be finished off. Fresh mangos are obviously better but the frozen kind are still pretty good if you are in a hurry or not in the mood to peel and dice fresh ones.
I've used mahi mahi, salmon and halibut and all were fantastic. Just sprinkle with your favorite blackening spice and grill or bake.
I add a bit of fresh chipotle or chipotle powder to my greek yogurt but if you think the spice in the salsa is enough, you can top with just plain 'ole greek yogurt.
I'd packed away most of my baking pans and tools and thrown out my masa, so needed to pick up tortillas. I found these at Sprouts--flour and corn all in one?! They were awesome--soft and tender and slightly chewy like a flour tortilla with all the flavor of a corn tortilla. Who knew such magic even existed?
Store bought tortillas, blackened fish, chopped cabbage, yogurt and salsa...it doesn't get any easier or better than this.
Rumor has it that people who go to Italy also miss puppy kisses and snuggles. A lot.
Ingredients
2 c chopped pitted peeled mango
2 c chopped tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 cup chopped onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 jalapeño, seeds removed and finely diced
salt to taste
Mix all ingredients in small bowl. Serve at room temp or chilled.
salt to taste
Mix all ingredients in small bowl. Serve at room temp or chilled.
12 comments:
We were in Italy for 3 weeks last summer and I wanted Mexican food like nothing else. I would have sold my husband for Mexican food. :) It's funny that we love it so much but I totally hear you on this one! And this looks super duper yummy and easy to make. I think it's dinner some night this week since I have frozen mangoes for smoothies!
This looks amazing like everything else you make! Are these photos taken with your Fuji?
I love mango salsa on just about everything but always buy from Whole Foods. There mango texture is just different but now that I look at yours, I wonder if I might like it better made with frozen mangos. This looks marvelous!
When we were stationed in Germany, I'd get the craziest mexican food cravings. Luckily the commissary stocked up familiar ingredients so we were able to make it a lot but I once bought local "salsa" that was just ketchup. Salsa is easy enough to make yourself in any country and you are right, fish tacos are the best!
Mary, Mary, Mary!!! Hey beautiful girl, this looks absolutely yummy! Do you remember the fish tacos we had in Provincetown? Those were NOT yummy, but the look on your face when you spit them across the beach was priceless. Who'd have thought anyplace on Cape Cod would have rotten fish? :) Miss you!
I'm more of the cook in my house than my wife is and she recently was asking for fish tacos. I hate cutting mangoes so it's good to know frozen works as well! I love the tortilla recommendation too. I'll be looking for these.
We call salsa awesome sauce especially mango salsa! I like that yours has tomatoes in it to cut some of the sweetness of all mangoes. Yumny!
My kids eat mangos like crazy so we always have them and I made this last night. My kids don't really like fish so I made theirs with chicken while my husband and I had mahi mahi but let's just say it was one really happy family. My husband said kudos on the greek yogurt and he didn't miss sour cream at all!
Totally hungry right now. Dang. :)
My husband made this for dinner tonight because we saw your post yesterday and have both been thinking about it since then. He surprised me by picking up whitefish and fresh mangos to make this tonight. Soooooo yummy!
Looks absolutely delicious as always! I love fresh fruits and fresh salsas!
Yummy, looks like I'm making this this weekend! We made a pineapple salsa last weekend but I think mango is definitely better for fish tacos. I'm already hungry.
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