Cajun Catfish Tacos with Chipotle Mayonnaise

Name: Cajun Catfish Tacos with Chipotle Mayonnaise
Yield: serves 12; 2 tacos per person
Ingredients: 12 large catfish or other white fish fillets; 1/4 cup Cajun seasoning (such as Paul Prudhomme’s Seafood Magic); 2 (7-ounce) cans chipotle chiles in adobo sauce (reserve 2 whole chipotle chiles for the mayo, recipe follows); 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 2 medium lemons); 1 cup olive oil; 24 medium corn or small flour tortillas; 1 head red or green cabbage, thinly sliced, for accompaniment; 2 large limes, cut into wedges, for accompaniment; Cucumber-Tomato-Avocado Salad (recipe follows), for accompaniment; 2 cups mayonnaise; 2 reserved chipotle chiles; 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (about 1 1/2 medium limes); 1 tablespoon Creole mustard; 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt; 1 medium cucumber, peeled, quartered lengthwise, and cut into 1-inch cubes; 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved; 2 large ripe avocados, peeled, pitted, and cut into bite-size pieces; 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar; 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard; 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; Freshly ground black pepper; 1/4 to 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil; (makes twelve 1/3-cup servings)

December 14, 2011

My spicy, tangy catfish tacos are a great way to feed a hungry beach crowd without the hassle of frying or grilling. Load up a rimmed baking sheet with fish fillets, pour on the marinade, refrigerate overnight, and just before serving, bake for less than 30 minutes. Heat flour or corn tortillas in a tortilla warmer along with the fish, and set it all out on the table with a bowl of chipotle mayo and a platter of thin-sliced cabbage. Now everybody chow down! The fish is just the way I like it—juicy and flavorful thanks to long marination (at least 6 hours) and oven baking. I’ve allowed two tacos per person to ensure you’ll have enough even for man-size, sun-fueled appetites. (What is it about playing on the beach that makes men so hungry?) If you have a smaller crowd or guests with smaller stomachs, halve the recipe.

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