Fish Tacos - Banh Mi style!

It was time for an experiment in our efforts to eat 'clean'.  I've been seeing fish tacos everywhere on the 'net, but haven't had the chance to try one - nor have I been losing my mind over it.    However, 'Tac -O-The Town'  Taco Fest is right round the corner and that has got me thinking...... about making a soft taco that has lots of bright, lovely flavours that aren't trying to be a fajita.

Banh Mi!!!!  and Tacos!  I love this sandwich so much.  I don't care what the protein is, it's the cilantro and the spice and the ....etc, etc.

So here goes.  There are a couple of elements to this, that you can do the day before, making this light work.  Make some sriracha mayo.  Easy Peasy.  Add a couple of tablespoons of sriracha to a 1/4 cup of mayonnaise.  Like it less hot?  add less.  Set this aside.

Then you need some pickled carrot.  I am not talking pickles like your gram made.  Just grate up a carrot or two (if they're small) add half a chili, seeded and minced, a tablespoon or two of rice vinegar, a tablespoon of sugar and a minced clove of garlic.  It would be great to add some daikon radish, but I didn't have any, so I used a regular radish - just one - that I peeled and shredded. You can do this ahead as well and just keep it in the fridge until you're ready to assemble.

Then you need to marinate your, whatever.  Steak, pork, chicken, tofu....I chose cod because of the whole 'fish taco' thing and also because it was really inexpensive and I've never eaten cod before.  The marinade is simple as well. 

Marinade - adapted from Gordon Ramsay's Great Escapes

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 stalk of lemongrass

2-3 tablespoons veg oil

1 tablespoon fish sauce

1 teaspoon dark soy sauce

solid grinding of pepper

*original recipe called for ginger, but I left it out for The Mister

To get ready for your taco eating, have ready; 

~hot (steamed or grilled) soft tacos

~your pickled carrots and spicy mayo

~fresh cilantro leaves

~thinly sliced cucumber

~fresh salad greens

~thinly sliced chili - if you like it hot!

~and a finished pan of hot, marinated yummy whatever

Fry, grill or broil your fish or chicken or steak however you like. Warm up some little soft corn tortillas. Spread them with your spicy mayo and start layering your ingredients.  Fish, roughly chopped cilantro, thinly sliced cucumber, field greens, pickled carrots. 

 Fold it in half and ENJOY!

as an addendum.....The Mister really didn't like the cod.  I was neither here nor there about it, but I am definitely trying this again, perhaps with some steak....lol