15-30 min4 servingsair fry

Duo Crisp + Air Fryer - Baja Fish Tacos

By Alexis Mersel

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4 servings

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15-30 min

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Easy

Duo Crisp + Air Fryer - Baja Fish Tacos
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Recipe Details

Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Dishes

Difficulty: Easy

Prep Time: 10 min

Cook Time: 18 min

Total Time: 15-30 min

Cooking Technique: Air Fry

Cuisine: American

Diet: Pescatarian

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup cornstarch
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp granulated garlic
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 large egg
  • 2/3 cup light beer
  • 1 lb firm
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 2 plum tomatoes
  • 1/4 white onion
  • 1 serrano or jalapeño chile
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • Corn tortillas and shredded cabbage
  • Cilantro and lime wedges
Lots of fresh toppings—lime crema, homemade pico de gallo, shredded cabbage, and cilantro—brighten up beer-battered fish fillets in these Mexican-inspired tacos. Warm the corn tortillas over an open flame on the stove for a few seconds for a charred effect

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, cornstarch, 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, granulated garlic, and cayenne. In another medium bowl, whisk together the egg and beer.
  2. Set a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Pat the fish dry with a paper towel. Cut into strips about 3 inches (7.5 cm) long and 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide. Working with a few strips at a time, coat the fish in the flour mixture, shaking off the excess. Dip in the egg mixture, letting the excess drip off. Return the fish to the flour mixture and coat well, shaking off the excess. Place the coated fish on the wire rack as you go.
  3. Coat the Instant Pot air fryer basket with canola oil spray. Working in batches, coat the fish strips generously with canola oil and arrange a single layer of strips in the basket, making sure they don’t touch. Insert the basket into the pot and attach the air fryer lid. Press the Air Fry button and set the cook time for 15 minutes at 375°F (190°C), then press Start. Flip the fish strips when prompted, coating again with oil.
  4. Meanwhile, make the lime crema: In a small bowl, stir together the sour cream, half the lime juice, 1/4 tsp salt, and a few grindings of black pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
  5. To make the pico de gallo, in a small bowl, stir together the tomatoes, onion, chile, cilantro, lime juice, and 1/2 tsp salt. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
  6. When the cooking time is up, use tongs to carefully transfer the fish to a plate and season to taste with salt and black pepper. Repeat to cook the remaining batches.
  7. Spread some lime crema on the tortillas and top with the fish, cabbage, pico de gallo, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges alongside.

About the chef

Alexis Mersel

Alexis Mersel

Alexis Mersel is an author, baker, and recovering corporate executive who lives in Columbus, Ohio with her husband, daughter, and giant cookbook collection. When she's not cooking in or writing about her Instant Pot (she has authored 3 cookbooks on this subject and another on the air fryer), she is in the kitchen making sourdough bread, which she fell in love with first when studying at Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland and again when she returned stateside to her then-home in San Francisco. Read more about Alexis's cooking and travel adventures at: whatisinmypurse.com

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