Fish tacos are a beloved culinary delight. They’re not just packed with the flavors of the sea that offer a treat for your taste buds, but they also provide a healthier way for you to indulge in eating tacos.
What truly sets apart an exceptional fish taco, however, is the combination of toppings you choose.
And the great news is there are endless options for fish taco toppings that can serve as your ticket to taco perfection. Continue reading below to find out what they are!
The Best Fish Taco Toppings: Flavorful Options for a Culinary Adventure
The mild flavor of a fish taco makes it versatile enough to accommodate any topping of your choice. This means you can customize it to suit your unique tastes!
To help you choose good fish taco toppings, we've put together a list of the most sensational topping options that will enhance your fish's taste and texture!
Creamy Toppings
Greek Yogurt Sauce
Rich in protein and calcium, Greek yogurt is a popular ingredient commonly used in dips and dressings to provide nutritional value while ensuring a lower sugar content.
And as a companion for fish tacos, a velvety Greek yogurt sauce excels, giving you the perfect blend of creaminess and tanginess.
This creates a delightful contrast with the fish’s flakiness and offsets its fishy flavor.
Recipe: Combine one cup of Greek yogurt, a squeeze of lemon, and a pinch of salt, then stir thoroughly.
Guacamole
Guacamole, a universally beloved condiment, brings a unique dimension to fish tacos. Its key ingredient is avocado, which is rich in healthy fats that contribute to its creamy and rich nature.
With a blend of mashed avocados, diced onions, lime juice, and salt, it’s a delightful choice as a Baja fish taco topping, elevating the crunchiness of Baja-style fried fish with its freshness and flavor.
Recipe: Mash two ripe avocados, then add in small diced onions, a squeeze of lime, and salt to taste; mix well.
Chipotle Crema
Chipotle crema provides a smoky and spicy creaminess to your fish taco.
The smokiness of chipotle peppers adds depth to the dish, making it more complex and satisfying without overwhelming your palate.
And because of its impressive balance between tanginess and spice, it makes a flavorful addition to your tacos.
Recipe: Blend sour cream with chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, lime juice, and a pinch of salt.
Crunchy Toppings
Tortilla Strips
The crispy darling of toppings for fish tacos, tortilla strips deliver an irresistible crunch that contrasts with the fish’s tenderness, making each bite more enjoyable.
To ensure they pack a flavor punch, season them with salt, cajun seasoning, garlic powder, and chili powder.
Recipe: Cut tortillas into thin strips and bake until crispy.
Sliced Cucumbers
With their hydrating and refreshing crunch, sliced cucumbers heighten the appeal of fish tacos.
They work best as a topping for blackened fish tacos or soft-shell fish tacos, as their cool flavor intensifies the smokiness of blackened fish, while their crisp texture brings out the slight chewiness of soft tortillas.
Recipe: Simply thinly slice cucumbers.
Corn Slaw
Marrying the crunch of corn and cabbage with the smoothness of mayonnaise, corn slaw is the perfect fish taco topping for a truly satisfying meal.
The slight sweetness corn brings also makes this topping pop, especially when paired with beautifully seasoned white fish.
Plus, you can add a bit of mustard to the topping to create depth in your taco.
Recipe: Combine corn, red cabbage, green cabbage, brown mustard, mayonnaise, brown sugar, green onion, salt, and pepper.
You can also make this fish taco topping with no cabbage by substituting it with iceberg lettuce.
Sweet Toppings
Mango Cubes
Mango cubes introduce a tropical sweetness to your fish tacos, harmonizing with the savory flavor of the fish.
This sweet and easy fish taco topping helps give your tacos a more complex and exciting flavor profile.
Plus, if you’ve accidentally made your fish too salty or spicy, mango cubes can help offset it and restore a wonderful balance of flavors.
Recipe: Peel and cube one ripe mango.
Apple Salsa
Want a salty-and-sweet topping-and-taco combo? Try adding apple salsa to your fish tacos! This gives your fish tacos a sweet crunch for a dynamic flavor contrast.
Aside from complementing grilled fish tacos, it also works amazingly well as a topping for fried fish tacos.
Not only does it amp up the fish’s crispy goodness, but it also cuts through its greasiness with a refreshing feel.
Recipe: Dice one apple, then add a tablespoon of honey and a squeeze of lemon. Mix well.
Tangy Toppings
Cilantro Lime Sauce
Easy to make and equally easy to love, cilantro lime sauce is an incredible fish taco topping choice. Its zesty tang helps give your taco a brighter flavor that’s truly addictive.
Make sure to chill it before drizzling it all over your fish taco for that much-needed explosion of coolness!
Recipe: Mix lime juice, fresh cilantro, mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, salt, and pepper to whip up this sauce. Add in a few jalapeños if you want a bit of a kick.
Pickled Radish
Sticking to the most common fish taco toppings can get boring. So if you want to try a uniquely zesty topping, try pickled radishes!
These are tangy enough to work well as a topping to liven up a beer-battered fish taco and bright enough to balance out the deep flavor of a grilled or blackened fish taco.
Recipe: Thinly slice radishes and immerse them in a mixture of vinegar, sugar, and salt, then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using.
Mild Toppings
Cheese
The velvety texture of mild cheese, whether it’s mozzarella or cheddar, introduces a creamy richness to fish tacos.
It pairs well with any type of fish taco, complementing crunchy fried fish and smoky grilled fish with its gooey quality.
Recipe: Grate your favorite mild cheese like mozzarella or cheddar.
Mild Salsa
Have a low spice tolerance? No worries — you can go for mild salsa instead!
Thanks to the mix of sweet tomatoes, sharp onions, and bright cilantro, this traditional fish taco topping infuses every bite with a burst of freshness.
Recipe: Combine diced tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and a small amount of lime juice in a bowl.
Spicy Toppings
Kimchi
To introduce an exciting twist to your fish tacos, consider using kimchi as a fish taco topping.
Bold and unique, it strikes the perfect balance between sour and spicy. And the mild flavor of a fish taco is the perfect canvas on which kimchi can truly shine.
Recipe: Mix Napa cabbage, Korean chili flakes, garlic, ginger, and fish sauce, then ferment until it’s flavorful and slightly tangy.
Jalapeño Slices
Pickled jalapeño slices are a versatile addition to fish tacos, providing a spicy and tangy kick.
They pair seamlessly with different types of fish tacos, offering a delightful contrast in taste and texture.
They’re a particularly popular topping choice for breaded fish tacos or fried fish tacos, as their grassy flavor and intense heat give these tacos layers of new flavors.
Recipe: Slice pickled jalapeños.
Elevate Your Tacos With These Creative Combo Ideas
Now that you have a list of fish taco toppings to try, your next step is to pair different options up to elevate the flavors of your fish taco.
Can’t decide which toppings to put together? Check out this table of combinations guaranteed to satisfy your taste buds.
| Topping 1 | Topping 2 | Topping 3 | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimchi | Pickled Jalapeño Slices | Chipotle Crema | A trio of toppings like no other, this brings together tangy, smoky, and spicy flavors for depth and dimension that bring your fish taco to new heights. |
| Tortilla Strips | Cheese | Guacamole | Crunchy and creamy come together to create a delightful contrast in textures and flavors for a fish taco that’s simply indulgent. |
| Mango Cubes | Mild Salsa | Sliced Cucumbers | The hydrating crunch of cucumbers, the juicy sweetness of mangoes, and the fresh taste of salsa form a complex and balanced flavor profile that makes your fish tacos even more tender. |
Feel free to mix and match so you can find your perfect combo!
Tips and Tricks for Creating Delicious Toppings
Creating the ultimate fish taco toppings is an art!
So how do you ensure your toppings always taste scrumptious enough to impress your family and friends — especially on taco night?
We’re here to help. We've compiled some foolproof tips to make you the go-to taco topping master in your family.
Ready, set, let’s taco 'bout it!
1. Prioritize Freshness in Your Ingredients
Fresh ingredients are a must when it comes to your taco toppings. The vibrant color and crisp texture of freshly sliced cucumbers or the juiciness of mango cubes can transform your taco experience.
So the extra effort to visit your local farmer’s market or specialty store to ensure you get fresh produce is well worth it.
Pro Tip: If you want a particular fruit or vegetable that isn’t in season, you can go for a chilled, precut produce instead.
2. Be a Meal Prep Maestro
How do you turn a chaotic dinner prep into a smooth operation? Simple: prepare your fish taco toppings in advance.
Whether it's dicing, grating, or marinating, do it ahead of time and store everything in airtight containers.
Pro Tip: Label your containers to make assembly even more of a breeze.
3. Remember That Balance Is Key
To achieve balance with fish taco toppings, pair tender grilled fish tacos with crunchy toppings like radishes and cucumbers and crispy fried fish tacos with creamy components like avocado and yogurt sauce.
Pro Tip: Toppings that have both crunchy and crispy elements — such as corn slaw — can go with any type of fish taco.
4. Cater to the Spice-Challenged
If your family has varying spice tolerance levels, offer mild options like cheese or salsa without spices.
This ensures that everyone can enjoy the meal regardless of their spice preference.
Pro Tip: You can let those with a higher heat tolerance in your family add hot sauce or chili flakes to their toppings.
5. Embrace the Sweet Side
Add a surprising twist to your good fish taco toppings with something sweet. Think mango cubes or apple salsa. It can elevate the traditional flavors to new heights.
Pro Tip: To balance the sweetness, incorporate a touch of heat with jalapeño slices for a sweet-and-spicy contrast.
6. Go for a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Topping Bar
Lay out all your toppings for fish tacos and let the family build their dream taco. It adds a layer of fun and interactive dining that everyone will love.
Pro Tip: For younger family members, use smaller taco shells so they can experiment with more flavor combinations without getting too full.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There a Way To Make My Fish Tacos Healthier Without Sacrificing Taste?
Of course! You can opt to grill your fish instead of frying it to cut down on calories and fat.
As for your toppings, consider using Greek yogurt for a creamy texture but with more protein and less fat. You can also use more toppings with veggies and use whole-grain or corn tortillas as a healthier alternative to flour tortillas.
What Can I Do With Leftover Toppings?
Leftover toppings don't have to go to waste; they can be repurposed into other meals.
For example, you can use leftover corn slaw in sandwiches or salads. Sauces like guacamole or salsa can be used as dips for chips or veggies.
Just be sure to store them properly to maintain their freshness.
What Sides Do I Serve With Fish Tacos?
Aside from choosing toppings, it’s also crucial to pick out the right sides for your fish tacos. These include nachos, fries, Mexican rice, refried beans, green beans, tortilla soup, grilled corn, and jalapeño poppers.
Some of the options listed above can double as toppings and sides for fish tacos, such as kimchi and apple salsa.
It's Time To Host the Ultimate Fish Taco Night
Ready to enjoy fish tacos like never before?
Then it's time to get creative in the kitchen with the fish taco toppings above. Try any of the options we’ve listed and experiment with different combinations to see which ones will tickle your fancy.
Don't be afraid to get a little crazy — that's where the magic happens!
Make every taco a celebration with these fish taco toppings!
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