Nothing says Summer like a Gluten-Free Crispy Fish Taco Bowl loaded with fresh Cabbage Slaw & Sriracha Aioli! (These are equally delicious when you're dreaming of warmer weather!). This easy meal comes together in just over 30 minutes and can be entirely made ahead of time!
What says Summer more than Crispy Fish Tacos or a Crispy Fish Taco Bowl?
It just makes you feel the warmer weather!
And since we’ve been on a fish kick recently, we turned our favorite gluten-free Fish Tacos into a bowl for yours truly!
Not being a big fish eater , I wanted something with a bit more veggies but still a few pieces of crispy fish and this hit the spot!
Plus it’s super adaptable and works well with a family where everyone has slightly different tastes and nutritional needs (hello teen boys!)
I started with a big bowl of crisp lettuce, added a large scoop of the pickled cabbage slaw (I’ve been obsessed with red cabbage lately!), then a few pieces of Crispy Fish, a dipping bowl of sriracha aioli and finished it with some creamy avocado and a gluten-free tortilla on the side….
SO good!
It’s super flavorful and satisfying, and allows me to have more slaw and veggies and the boys to have more fish…
Recipe adapted from Cooking Light fish tacos, the bowls look impressive but are quite simple. Best kind of cooking, right?
It’s simply:
crispy fish (super easy to make and can be made ahead and reheated) +
a quick cabbage slaw (which we like lightly pickled but can also be seasoned with simply lime juice which is super fresh tasting! Details below) +
sriracha aioli
and your favorite gluten-free flour tortilla (we used Siete almond flour tortillas).
Let’s start with the slaw because the entire dish comes together quickly and the slaw should sit sit in the lime juice and vinegar to soften and absorb the flavors.
Here’s what in it:
red or purple cabbage
tomatoes (grape, cherry, plum or whatever you have on hand)
red onion
and jalpeno (seeded, so not spicy but great crunch and flavor).
And it’s all seasoned with fresh lime juice, red wine vinegar (optional but our preference), salt and a touch of sugar.
It’s a fresh, tangy and delicious flavor and a great contrast to the crispy fish and Sriracha aioli.
All you do is gently toss the ingredients with the salt and sugar, then pour in the lime juice and vinegar, gently mix and let stand which you make the fish.
Now on to the fish!
We made them with tilapia, a very light, flaky fish, though my fish market told me that cod would also work well.
As I’ve said before, as I don’t eat a lot fish and I don’t personally eat meat (though my family does), I always ask my butcher or fish counter what is the freshest and best for a particular recipe.
The tilapia are deep fried after being lightly coated with egg, then dipped in a mix of Gluten-Free GFJules all purpose flour (affiliate link) garlic powder, onion powder & red pepper which gives them the best flavor!
As an aside, you may have noticed that we are affiliate for GFJules. To learn more about why we love GFJules flour and why we have used it for 10 years, click here.
Bonus: at the bottom of that post is a one-time use affiliate Discount Code.
And importantly, purchasing through an affiliate link does not change your cost at all. It generates a small percentage of the sale for me, and purchasing through an affiliate link helps me fund this website and all the recipes I share, so thank you!
Back to the fish...
I deep fried the in our Cuisinart Compact Deep Fryer (amazon affiliate link) which I absolutely adore! It makes everything super crispy but not greasy at all!
I have made these in the past with a cast iron skillet equally well.
I don’t own an air fryer but if you make these with an air fryer, please leave a comment and let me know how it works and how long you cooked them for!
Finally, while the fish cooks (just 4-5 minutes each batch and I did it in 3 batches), I mixed together the sriracha aioli.
The aioli is:
mayo of choice (vegan, avocado, canola, classic)
sriracha (use more or less for greater kick)
and a touch of sesame oil (sub your favorite oil).
It’s easy, creamy and packed with flavor!
When the fish is cooked, you just assemble the bowls.
Pro tip: As things can get busy during “dinner time” even when you’re all at home, I often make everything ahead of time, then simply reheat the fish in the oven, in a skillet or microwave, making it an easy dinner!
Hope you love it as much as we do!
Scroll down for the recipe and leave a comment if you try.
These Gluten-Free Crispy Fish Tacos with Cabbage Slaw are a perfect Summer meal! Fresh, flavorful and satisfying, these easy tacos comes together in just over 30 minutes and can be entirely made ahead of time
Keyword: Easy Dinner, easy gluten-free dinner recipe, gluten-free crispy fish tacos, crispy fish tacos, gluten-free fish recipe, gluten-free taco recipe
Servings: 8tacos
Author: Healthy Gluten-free Family
Equipment
1 Personal fryer OR deep skillet OR air fryer (though I don't have an air fryer so can't provide exact cooking directions. ) Cuisanart Compact Fryer - affiliate link
Ingredients
Crispy Fish
just over 1 lb tilapiacut into 24 -28, approximately 3 inch pieces
While oil heats, set up an "assembly line" so you can coat the fish. In one shallow bowl, whisk the eggs. In a second shallow bowl, mix together the flour, salt, onion powder, garlic powder and cayenne pepper. Dip the fish first in the egg shaking off any excess, then dredge in the flour mixture. Set aside.
When oil is heated, carefully place the coated fish in either the fryer basket or skillet. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until golden and crispy.
If using a fryer, remove basket from fryer oil, remove fish. If frying in a skillet, use a slotted spoon to remove fish from oil, and place on a wire baking rack (this will keep them crispy). Repeat until all the fish is fried.
Can be made ahead, stored in the refrigerator and heated up in a skillet, oven or even a microwave but it won't be as crispy if using the microwave.
Cabbage slaw
Toss sliced cabbage and carrots in a large bowl.
Whisk mayo, lime juice, honey and vinegar until well combined. Toss with cabbage mix.
Can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator. For maximum freshness, mix the cabbage, make the dressing but don't combine until day of.
Assemble
For tastiest tacos, heat your gluten-free tortilla in microwave or skillet.
In each tortilla, add a big spoonful of cabbage slaw and 2 pieces of crispy fish.
I made this dish for my family and everyone loved it! I took a short-cut and got the pre-breaded tilapia (some with Parmesan breadcrumbs and some with pecan-crust) from Fresh Market because I was rushed for time. We cut it into pieces and deep-fried the fish, but I think it could easily be pan-fried as well. Followed the recipe – slicing the cabbage and onion VERY thin is important! The Sriracha aioli was to die for and I will use that for many applications. The whole thing came together very quickly and was savored by all!
Hi! My name is Karen, and I’m the mom in our Healthy Gluten-Free Family. My posts and pictures here and on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter are labors of love that allow me to share a very personal journey with you, one our family has taken together — learning, experimenting and sharing how to raise a healthy happy gluten-free family. Read more ...
I made this dish for my family and everyone loved it! I took a short-cut and got the pre-breaded tilapia (some with Parmesan breadcrumbs and some with pecan-crust) from Fresh Market because I was rushed for time. We cut it into pieces and deep-fried the fish, but I think it could easily be pan-fried as well. Followed the recipe – slicing the cabbage and onion VERY thin is important! The Sriracha aioli was to die for and I will use that for many applications. The whole thing came together very quickly and was savored by all!
Thanks so much Lisa! So happy you all loved it! And love your adaptations!