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Teach a Man/Woman to Fish
Some of my fondest summer memories are fishing right off our dock and being able to eat freshly caught seafood. One of my favorite things is knowing where my food is coming from, and I’d say straight out of the water into my kitchen is pretty fresh. Rockfish are abundant in the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding waters of the Maryland Eastern Shore. Striped bass is another popular fish in the Chesapeake Bay, known for its delicate flavor and versatile cooking methods. These rockfish tacos with slaw are made with rockfish fillets caught from our dock. You can use store-bought Rockfish; make sure they are ethically raised and caught.
Responsible Fishing
Rockfish season in Maryland runs from late April to Mid May. At this peak, season hand caught Rockfish have to be 35 inches or larger, and you can only keep one fish. Outside of the season, the rockfish size changes to 19 inches, and you can keep two fish to ensure the Rockfish are not overfished.
Ingredient List
Let's make a list of all the ingredients that you'll need to make these tacos. I can't emphasize enough that the higher quality of the ingredients, the better the meal. I have to admit that I am a bit spoiled. When I want fresh Rockfish, I call my friend Willie and ask if he's out fishing. The happiest days cooking on the shore are with fish and the green egg! That's usually a cue to him that I am looking for a piece of fish.
To make this dish, you'll need the following:
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cabbage
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salt and pepper
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lime juice
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cilantro
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Rockfish filets
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corn tortillas
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olive oil
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white wine vinegar
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garlic
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red pepper flakes
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Old Bay (optional)
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garlic powder (optional)
You can make these tacos in 4 easy steps!
One: Make the slaw.
Combine all the ingredients for the slaw and set aside at room temperature.
Two: Marinate the rockfish fillets
Mix the marinade for the fish, including lemon juice, and coat the fish; let stand for 10-20 minutes.
Three: Cook the fish in olive oil
Pan-saute or grill the fish for 4-5 minutes on each side. Place fish on the grill or in the pan after seasoning it with your preferred herbs and spices. If pan-sautéing, use a large frying pan to ensure even cooking. If baking, cover the fish with aluminum foil to retain moisture and enhance the cooking process.
Four: Serve the tacos with slaw.
Heat the tortilla and plate. Place the cooked fish in the center of the tortilla. Garnish with slaw, pickled onion, Pico de Gallo, avocado slices, and whatever else you like! Serve the tacos with cocktail sauce as an optional dip.
Rockfish tacos with slaw are a true Eastern Shore specialty. Serve the tacos with all of these accompaniments for a beautiful treat.
- pico de gallo sauce
- sliced avocado
- chopped cilantro
- sliced tomato
- lemon slices - squeeze the lemon juice on top
- These easy-pickled onions
- If you are from Maryland, you know you need some old bay seasoning!
Crab cakes are another popular Maryland seafood dish that pair well with rockfish tacos.
Try these easy pickled onions on top of a salad or these tacos. They add depth to any meal and taste special! You can make a batch of these and store them in a glass jar in the fridge for weeks.
Explore new ways to prepare today's catch:
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This fish dish that we call Bee Inspired Fish is fool-proof
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Our sweet spicy salmon can easily work within this recipe
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Honey lime shrimp can also be substituted in this fish taco recipe
For a crispy texture, try coating the fish with seasoned bread crumbs before baking or broiling. Additionally, incorporating crab meat into your fish recipes, such as stuffed rockfish or a hot rockfish dip, can add a delightful twist.
If you decide to try these rockfish tacos, take a photo and share them with us using #beeinspired on . We love seeing your photos!
