My husband and I moved to San Diego one year ago. We absolutely love it here. Since San Diego is so close to the Mexican border, it has many Mexican restaurants. In May many of them celebrate Cinco de Mayo. The Mexican dishes in the US tend to be heavy and loaded with beef, cheese, and guacamole. In contrast, the Mexican dishes served in Mexico are light and fresh. My husband sails in the Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race every year and he always eats fish tacos when he arrives in Ensenada. It’s his consolation prize for not taking home the trophy :) Below is a fresh and light fish taco dish that is high in flavor but low in calories. The salsa, cilantro and lime give the fish tacos their authentic flavors. Fresh salsa instead of guacamole keeps the calorie count low without compromising taste.
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Serving size:
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2 tacos
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Number of servings:
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2
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Calories per serving:
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230
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.JPG "Low Calorie Fish Taco Ingredients")
Ingredients
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| 4 white corn tortillas
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200
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2 (4 oz) tilapia fish fillets
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200
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8 Tbsp salsa
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20
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1 cup thinly sliced red cabbage
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28
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2 Tbsp chopped cilantro
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4
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2 tsps freshly squeezed lime juice
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8
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non-stick cooking spray
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0
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salt
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0
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pepper
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0
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Pre-heat a nonstick skillet pan on medium heat for about 3 minutes. Spray the skillet pan with nonstick cooking spray. Cook fish fillets in skillet until brown on both sides (approx 1-2 minutes per side). Salt and pepper fish fillets to taste. In a separate bowl, finely shred 1 cup of red cabbage. Place 1/4 cup of cabbage on one tortilla. Add 1/2 tilapia fillet. Add 1/2 tsp of lime juice. Top with 2 tablespoons of salsa and a sprinkle of cilantro. Repeat for other tacos. Serve.
Make sure the fish fillets are dry before being added to the pan. This will ensure that they brown instead of steam. This is especially important if you are using frozen fish fillets. Make sure you pat them well with a paper towel to remove all the moisture.
You can make your own salsa or buy it already prepared at any grocery store. Opt for the fresh salsa that you find in the refrigerated section (not the jarred kind). Adding cilantro and lime will give the salsa a “homemade” taste.
A nonstick skillet and non-stick cooking spray are a great way to brown meats and fish without adding a lot of calories from butter or oil. Non-stick cooking sprays are available in different flavors (butter, olive oil, canola oil, etc ) and can be found in any grocery store.
Essential Flavor Ingredients
Salsa is a great low calorie way to add flavor to any Mexican dish. It is low in calories but high in flavor. Salsa typically includes tomatoes, onions,and jalapeño or Serrano peppers. It ranges from mild to hot and can really spice up a dish.
Cilantro is a common herb used in Mexican dishes. It has a refreshing lemony flavor and provides a fresh pop of flavor for very little added calories. Cilantro looks a lot like parsley but has a very different flavor.
Lime juice adds flavor and zing to any dish. It pairs especially well with white fish which can otherwise be bland.
