Have the winter blues? Need something fresh? The answer to your worries is fish tacos with mango salsa.
Most of the time during the winter months I want to bundle up, wear layers of wool and eat warm, cooked foods. Soups, stews, curries, you name it. Every few days, however, I want something fresh! I crave it. We could get all technical and talk about enzymes, access to nutrients in raw foods, and so on… but no. I just want fresh food… and dare I say it?
I want to feel like it’s summer again!
Tacos. What’s more fresh and Summer-themed than tacos? What better fix for my winter SADness? Especially fish mango tacos with a fancy sprig of mint, it provides a je ne sais quoi to lift those winter blues back to the sun.
Fish tacos are a lighter alternative to using ground beef or pork, and I would argue a lighter alternative to legumes/beans, too, if you have trouble digesting those (if you know what I mean…). With the mango salsa, you get a burst of fresh flavours, colours, nutrients and the ingredients are also so light and fun to eat. As long as you like to play with your food and eat with your hands, that is. Count me in!
The recipe below is one of my favourites because it is so easy to make, and it’s customizable without any risk of ruining the meal (like you might with baking, for example). As long as you have at least some of the fresh ingredients listed below, you cannot go wrong.
Just a few tips, before you start your salsa extravaganza:
- Chop the ingredients for the salsa finely. It’ll be easier to scoop and stay in place in your taco.
- If you can, let the salsa sit for a little bit at room temperature. This will allow the flavours to come out a little more as the acids from the lime juice express each ingredient.
- Soak the chopped Spanish white onion in some cold water, and rinse after about 5-10 minutes. This will help to remove its pungency and will allow it to taste a bit sweeter and juicier (yes, an onion can be described as juicy).
- Alternatives to taco shells (soft or hard) could be nachos, collard green wraps, on some quinoa or rice, on salad, in a burger, with corn bread, in a gluten-free panini…
- I’ve tried this recipe using fresh cilantro and another time using fresh mint. I enjoyed both, but personally I think that the mint adds a whole other level to the meaning of “fresh,” and it really brings me back to Summer time.
- Sometimes I make this recipe spicy, other times not, and that’s why I love it’s versatility. I hope you will, too!
- Try pairing this with a beautiful pink summer beverage, my Rose Hibiscus pink lemonade.
Enjoy, my Spoonie friends 🙂
Fish tacos with mango-capsicum salsa
Ingredients
Salsa
- Fresh mint leaves or cilantro your choice
- Mango
- Bell peppers orange, red and/or yellow
- Spanish white onion rinsed or soaked in water
- lime juice
- olive oil (EVOO) for the salsa
Grilled fish
- Sole fish or other white fish, grilled
- fresh crushed garlic
- coconut oil for the fish (or use olive oil)
Other assembly pieces
- ground coriander seed
- chili flakes optional, for a spicy touch
- camelina seeds optional
- salt, pepper
- corn tortillas
- avocado
Instructions
- Start by grilling the sole (or other white fish of your choice) with some coconut oil, salt and pepper, and a couple cloves of garlic, chopped and crushed. Grill this for about 10 minutes (fish is quick to cook!).
- For the mango salsa, finely chop all of the ingredients (mango, bell peppers, herbs, etc) and place into a bowl. Soaking the chopped white onion prior to adding it to the salsa is recommended, so that it's pungent taste is reduced.Add some fresh or store-bought lime juice and olive oil. Add either chopped fresh cilantro or fresh mint (whatever you prefer).
- Options: Spice up your salsa with a bit of chilli flakes, camelina seeds and ground coriander seed.
- In a pan or on a baking sheet in the oven, gently heat the corn tortillas (or other forms of wraps, such as collard greens or flour wraps), with the option to brush on a bit of olive oil.
- Assemble your taco and add avocado (or guac), fresh mint or cilantro or any other toppings that you like.
- Enjoy!
