Description
Southern Catfish Tacos with Crunchy Slaw bring a bold, crispy twist to taco night! Lightly breaded and fried catfish (or your favorite white fish) is perfectly seasoned, golden-crisp, and paired with a creamy, zesty cilantro ranch slaw. Serve in charred tortillas with avocado, lime, and your favorite toppings for a fresh, Southern-style bite that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
For the Fried Fish:
-
Frying oil (vegetable, canola, or peanut oil)
-
1 lb white fish (catfish, flounder, tilapia, etc.)
-
3 tbsp taco seasoning (or one 1-ounce store-bought packet)
-
½ cup rice flour
-
2 large eggs, beaten
-
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
-
Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
For Serving (as desired):
-
Charred corn tortillas
-
Mashed avocado (1 avocado + juice of 1 lime) or guacamole
-
Chopped fresh cilantro
-
Lime wedges
Instructions
-
Make the Cilantro Ranch Slaw:
In a large bowl, whisk together sour cream, buttermilk, mayonnaise, and garlic. Add shredded cabbage, cilantro, and red onion. Toss to coat evenly. Refrigerate until ready to serve. -
Prep the Fish:
Pat the fish dry and season lightly with salt and pepper. Cut into taco-sized strips if needed. -
Set Up Dredging Stations:
Place rice flour in one shallow dish, beaten eggs in another, and panko breadcrumbs mixed with taco seasoning in a third. -
Bread the Fish:
Dredge each fish piece in rice flour, then dip into eggs, then coat in seasoned panko. -
Fry the Fish:
Heat about 1 inch of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry fish in batches for 2–3 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate. -
Assemble the Tacos:
Warm or char tortillas. Add a layer of slaw, a few pieces of fried fish, mashed avocado, and desired toppings. Serve with lime wedges.
Notes
Rice flour makes the fish extra crispy, but you can substitute all-purpose flour.
To make it lighter, bake or air fry the breaded fish instead of deep-frying.
Buttermilk can be made by combining ¼ cup milk with 1 tsp vinegar or lemon juice and letting it sit for 5 minutes.
You can use pre-made slaw mix to save time.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern, Tex-Mex
Keywords: catfish tacos, fried fish tacos, Southern tacos, cilantro ranch slaw, crispy fish tacos