Rachael tosses tilapia in a blend of spices, lightly fries it up and layers it with fresh pico de gallo. Hints of jalapeno throughout this meal create a powerful fusion of flavors.
ingredients
Fish
Red Rice
Black Beans
Pico de Gallo
To Serve
directions
Cut the fish into 3-by-1-inch batons and place in shallow dish or plastic bag. Cover with milk.
Combine flour with salt, pepper and dry spices in shallow dish or metal pan and set aside.
Place very large shallow skillet on stove with thin layer (about ⅛ inch) of neutral oil, about ¼ cup. Place foil-lined tray and wire rack near stove for cooked fish.
Peel and finely chop onion and grate or chop the garlic. Grate the tomato.
Heat a 2- to 3-quart saucepot over medium to medium-high heat with oil, 2 turns of the pan; add onions and garlic and stir a minute or 2, then add rice and salt, pepper and spices. Stir a minute or 2 more, then add stock and chiles and bring to boil; cover and reduce heat to low. After 12 minutes or so, add peas and tomatoes and cook 3 to 4 minutes more until rice is just tender. Let stand a few minutes, adjust salt and pepper, fluff with fork.
Peel and finely chop the onion and grate or chop the garlic. Seed and finely chop the jalapeno pepper.
Heat oil in a skillet, 1 turn of the pan, over medium-high heat; add onions, jalapeno and garlic, salt and pepper, cumin, bay and cinnamon. Stir a minute or so, then add about ½ cup water and let it absorb. Add black beans and hot sauce, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until ready to serve.
Seed and finely chop chile peppers, put in a bowl and wash hands. Finely chop and add half an onion; reserve the rest. Add grated or chopped garlic, salt, juice of 1 lime. Seed and chop tomatoes; add to bowl. Chop and add cilantro; toss.
Halve the cabbage, remove core and very thinly shred; reserve the other half for another use.
When rice and beans are about ready, heat skillet with oil over medium-high heat. Remove fish from milk and shake off excess, then coat fish in flour. Fry to crispy and brown, then remove to rack and serve with lime wedges.
Char tortillas over gas burner or in a stainless pan preheated over high heat to blister and soften.
Build tacos: Tortilla, fish, cabbage, pico, crema, hot sauce and pickled jalapenos. Add juice of 1 lime to beans. Serve tacos with rice and beans.