Spiced Fish Tacos with Avocado Crema

Full disclosure: I’m borderline drooling writing this blog right now.

I could eat fish tacos for every meal for the rest of time – and be pretty happy with my life decisions.

They are one of my absolute favourite things to eat ever. I love how fresh and flavourful they are. I mix up the ingredients here and there but this is one of my favourite combos.

Spiced cod.

Cabbage slaw.

Avocado crema.

It gives me all the good vibes in one bite.

I also loveeee topping it with my Pineapple Salsa & Homemade Pico de Gallo. They give a little extra crunch of pop of flavour — cause why not?

Why Your Skin Will Love This

As with any blog, I always explain why the ingredients I chose are great for your skin and the body systems involved in keeping it clear. Today’s fish tacos blog is no different – so let’s get to it.

Benefits of Cod

• Rich in Omega-3 fatty acids that have potent anti-inflammatory properties for your skin and body. [1]
• Contains vitamin D that helps regulate oil production in the skin. [2]
• Full of the antioxidant, selenium, that helps protect your skin and body from acne/disease-causing oxidative stress. [3]
• Source of collagen-boosting nutrients like vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids that can help fade acne scars over time. [4)

Benefits of Cabbage

• High in fibre to help promote healthy digestion and regular bowel movements.
• Contains sulphur compounds that aid in liver detoxification processes.
• Supports the production of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that helps liver health.
• Supports estrogen metabolism and balance in the body.

Benefits of Avocado

• Rich in vitamin E, which protects the skin from oxidative damage caused by free radicals.
• Good source of dietary fibre, which helps maintain regular bowel movements and promotes a healthy gut microbiome.
• Contain glutathione, which plays a crucial role in liver detoxification and helps protect liver cells from damage. [5]
• Source of healthy monounsaturated fats, which are essential for hormone production.

Sourcing Safe Fish

The fish world can be a confusing place. I always refer to Seafood Watch to make fish shopping easier.

According to Seafood Watch, the following cod is a safe and sustainable source:

• Pacific cod caught in Alaska — this is your Best Choice option.
• Pacific cod caught in California, Oregon, Washington, or British Columbia, Canada — these sources are Good Alternatives.

We love rotating in cod as it’s eco-friendly and a rich source of omega-3s. Keep in mind, cod is considered a moderate mercury fish. It can safely be consumed six times or less per month for adults. For our clients inside The Clear Skin Solution, we use a Hair Trace Mineral Analysis to help us identify heavy metal excess (including mercury).

If you are unable to source safe cod, opt for another white fish and double-check it on Seafood Watch.

Spiced Fish Tacos with Avocado Crema

Fresh & flavourful spiced fish tacos with rich avocado crema and crunchy cabbage slaw. And good news. These tacos are great for skin health.

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Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes minutes

Servings: 3

Author: Katie Stewart

Ingredients

For the slaw

• 2 cups purple cabbage (shredded)
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley (chopped)
• 1/4 cup fresh chives (finely chopped)
• 2 limes juiced
• 2 tbsp honey
• sea salt (to taste)

For the crema

• 2 large avocados
• 2 tbsp unsweetened plain coconut yogurt (can sub mayo)
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley (finely chopped)
• 1 lime (juiced)
• sea salt (to taste)

For the fish:

• 1 tbsp avocado oil
• 1 lb cod (skin removed/deboned)
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

For the tacos:

• 6-8 tortillas (see notes for recommendations)
• pico de gallo (optional)
• pineapplen salsa (optional)

Instructions

For the slaw:

• Add all ingredients to a medium-sized bowl and mix until well combined. Set aside.

For the crema:

• Add all ingredients to a mini food processor and pulse until well combined and smooth.
• If you don’t have a food processor, mash the avocados in a medium bowl. Mince the garlic and add to the avocado alongside the remaining ingredients. Mix until well combined (can be a little chunky!).

For the fish:

• In a large pan, warm the avocado oil over medium-high heat.
• While the oil is warming up, mix together the spices in a small bowl.
• Coat the cod with the spice mixture on both sides of the fish.
• Place in the hot pan and sear for about 3 minutes a side. The fish is cooked when it starts to flake.

To assemble:

• Warm your tortilla up in a pan (about 15-20 seconds).
• Place the tortilla on your plate and spread avocado crema on top.
• Layer the cabbage slaw, fish and any other desired toppings.
• Serve immediately.

Notes

I used Siete’s Almond Flour Tortillas. I’ve also used:

• Siete’s Cassava Tortillas
• Sana’s Coconut Flour Tortillas
• La Tortilla Factory’s Cauliflower & Cassava Flour Tortilla

Sources:

1. Rhodes, L. E., et al. (2015). Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid, an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, on UVR-related cancer risk in humans: an assessment of early genotoxic markers. Carcinogenesis, 36(3), 413-422.
2. Yang, H., et al. (2017). Acne vulgaris, mental health, and omega-3 fatty acids: a report of cases. Lipids in Health and Disease, 16(1), 1-7.
3. Wesołowska, M., et al. (2017). Biological activity of selenium-containing peptides isolated from selenium-enriched black cod (Anoplopoma fimbria) muscle. Marine Drugs, 15(11), 337.
4. Stamatiadis, D., et al. (2019). Oral isotretinoin for acne scars. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 12, 59-64.
5. Wu, G., et al. (2004). Glutathione metabolism and its implications for health. The Journal of Nutrition, 134(3), 489-492. doi: 10.1093/jn/134.3.489