Grilled Blackened Tilapia Tacos

I've made fried fish tacos many times and even blogged about it here.
Until recently I hadn't thought (or maybe wanted to) try them any other way.
With the new year, I'm trying to be extra healthy and make good food choices,
so I thought I'd be a good girl and stay away from frying the fish.

After some quick online research, I decided to grill the fish and make
GRILLED BLACKENED TILAPIA TACOS!!!

The Goods:

Tilapia

Corn Tortillas

Blackened Seasoning

Cabbage

Tomato/Onion Relish*

Avocado Cream Sauce**

Fresh Limes

I like to cut my fish into smaller pieces.

It's up to you, but I feel it makes it easier to eat.

Next, coat both sides of the fish with blackened seasoning.

Get your grill (or grill pan in my case) nice and warm over medium-high heat.

Once heated, I spray it with a lil cooking spray to prevent sticking.

Now it's time to cook your fish. 

Each side will take about 4 to 5 minutes.

Your fish is ready when the outside is blackened and flakes easily.

Next, simply assemble your tacos to your liking, serve and enjoy!

And if you have extra and feel like sharing,

 package up a to-go container for your neighbor to enjoy too!

*To make the tomato onion relish, I diced tomatoes and onions,

then combined and mixed in a bowl with fresh lime juice.

**This recipe is great, but I only used it for the sauce - not the entire meal! 

Fried Fish Tacos

One of my best friends went to Maui last summer and fell in love with Taco Tuesday's at Fred's Mexican Cafe. She especially loved their Chipotle Mayo and told me about it more than once! Recently she invited me over to try to make the Mayo and fry our own fish to make delicious tacos. In fact, they were so good I don't know if delicious is a good enough word to describe them!

We didn't take pictures, so I just HAD to make them again to show all my wonderful readers how to make these amazing tacos! I made them last weekend and devoured them with a friend. I wanted them again while editing the pictures a few days later. Oh and I'm sure I'll want them yet again before I'm done writing this blog! 

Now onto the fun part - showing you how to make the tacos.

The Goods!

Corn Tortillas, Vegetable Oil, Tilapia, Panko and Bread Crumb Mixture,

Limes, Avocado, Homemade Chipotle Mayo, Shredded Cabbage & Red Onion

Cover the Tilapia with the Panko and Bread Crumb Mixture.

I forgot to photograph this step - I'm sorry!

Heat oil in a large stock pot. 

Test the oil temperature with a tiny piece of Corn Tortilla.

Then do a final test with one piece of fish.

Once you know the oil is at the right temperature,

throw in (gently place really) the rest of the fish! 

Turn them after about 2 or 3 minutes. 

Cook a few more minutes - until they're golden and crispy.

Finally, take out one piece to make sure the fish is cooked through.

NOTE: Be careful folks - the oil is VERY hot and will probably start to pop at some point. 

Don't be like me and burn yourself...

Please be smarter and more safe than I was!

Nom nom fried Tilapia! 

Put the Mayo and Toppings on!

Now time to enjoy the amazingness.

And if you're nice - share the yummy tacos with someone else!