Growing up in a land-locked state in the Midwest, it wasn’t until my mid 20’s that I first tried a few things. Boogie boarding in the ocean, sushi, wearing flip flops in January, and of course, FISH TACOS! Today I combined my favorite restaurant/fast food loves into one. If a Chipotle burrito bowl salad and a restaurant-favorite fish taco had a baby, it would be this blackened fish taco salad bowl.
Can I just venture off for a second and tell you a little story? No? Ok well I’m going to tell you anyway. The first time I tried sushi I was with my BFF Jess. We were gabbing away and I took the entire glob of wasabi in my clumsily-manuevered chopsticks and popped it in my mouth. Jess’ jaw dropped as my eyes started watering and my nose was running profusely.
“OMG what IS that?!” I said through tears.
“CHRISSA! That is wasabi!!” Jess said with her hand covering her mouth.
“What the H is wasabi?! I thought it was avocado. I feel like I might die, like here and now (cue deep breaths and coughing)”
I didn’t die. But I’m a bit scarred. And now that you now what an ignorant scatterbrain I can be, you can (sort of) understand my hesitation to try new things.
Flash forward a few years when my husband and I were newlyweds, living in San Diego. He encouraged me to try fish tacos. I was nervous. “Are they hot?” “Are they like, really fishy” “Will I almost die?”
I didn’t almost die, but I almost went to heaven. Fish tacos are DA BOMB. Not too fishy, not too hot, but the perfect lunch or dinner for any occasion, any craving. They have now become my go-to choice whenever I dine out.
So I decided to lighten my favorite fish feast up, and make the perfect blackened fish taco salad bowl for lunch. Not just lunch, THE lunch of all lunches. This bowl is epic people.
The blackened fish is so easy to make, and only requires searing 2-3 minutes on each side. Lunch in a flash. Adding sweet mango, creamy avocado, the fresh bite of cilantro, along with diced tomatoes and shredded romaine to this fish with a kick? Heavenly. Top it with a simple olive oil and lime drizzle for the perfect finish to every bite.
No wasabi here, although if you are so inclined, you could sub the avocado for it. I wouldn’t recommend it, unless you are clinically insane.
Time Saver Tip
Cut the mango and tomatoes beforehand and store in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. To take it an extra step, you could add all the components of the salad into their own container and refrigerate. Then when you are ready to assemble the salad, everything is cut and ready to go! As an options, double the tilapia in the recipe and refrigerate. Use the other half the the mango and avocado, along with extra tomatoes, romaine, and cilantro to assemble another salad a different day.
PrintBlackened Fish Taco Salad Bowl
- Yield: 1 1x
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tilapia fillets
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup romaine lettuce
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/2 mango, sliced
- 1/2 small avocado, sliced
- 4–5 sprigs fresh cilantro
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- juice of 1/4 lime wedge
Instructions
- In a medium skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium/high heat
- Combine the chili powder, cumin, paprika, onion powder, and salt in a large bowl. Pat the tilapia fillets with a paper towel to remove any moisture, then add the tilapia to the bowl, coating both sides evenly with the mixed spices
- Place the tilapia into the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes per side
- Meanwhile, arrange the salad in a large bowl. Add the romaine lettuce, diced tomatoes, mango slices, avocado, and cilantro
- Once the fish is done, let cool slightly then add cut into large pieces and add to the salad bowl
- Combine the olive oil and lime juice, then pour over the salad
Love, love, love! Fish tacos are one of our favorite recipes ever, and I bet they’re even better in the form of a big, filling salad bowl with ALL of the toppings! Pinned! And I bet you’ll never eat a glob of wasabi by accident again…LOL!
Wasabi is NOT my friend, STILL. But sushi still is. And fish taco ANYTHING totally rules my world!
Yes please YUM. Love taco anything. I always get a fish taco like item on a menu when going out 🙂 Def need to start making them more at home.
and I def do NOT do any wasabi, as I am a baby when it comes to spicy!
Tacos are a STAPLE in our house. Fish ones, beef ones, vegetarian ones, Chipotle ones…. 😉 Oh girl I knew we were connected. I’m SUCH a wuss with it comes to spicy too! Must be our Midwest roots!
Bahahaha, that was a surprise 😉
But these taco bowls…YUM!!! I love burrito/taco bowls! And blacked fish…so so good!!!
Surprise/regret/pain/shock…yes so many emotions in one dining experience 😉 Thankfully this taco bowl has all the GOOD emotions attached when I devoured it!
Well doesn’t this just sound amazing! 🙂
Might have to add this to next weeks menu
I think that is a GREAT idea Britnay!
Sounds delicious, and I love your wasabi story, I grew up in Asia so i’ve had a few of my own -shove-something-in-my-mouth moments that I wasn’t too sure what it was. Makes for a funny story! Definitely writing this recipe down 🙂
HA! You are so brave! But I bet you learned a TON. To experience food of a different culture, totally immersed in it, would be a total foodie-lover dream of mine!
Oh no! That story about mistaking wasabi for avocado… I can’t imagine what a whole glob of wasabi would feel like, other than I imagine it burning like crazy…yikes! But YES to fish tacos! Love fish tacos and these fish taco salad bowls look so delicious. I love colorful meals, and all of the veggies here are some of my fave!
Yeah, burning is an understatement. Also embarrassment. Emotional and physical pain! But hey, we all gotta start from the bottom and work our way up to culinary greatness, right?! Thanks Marylnn!
Just tried fish tacos for first time. My new favorite thing to eat now.
Aren’t they SO fun and tasty! Same goes for this salad! 😉
I have a secret… I have never tried a fish taco… There, I have admitted it, and now that I have seen this recipe I think I am going to have to change that fact. This looks absolutely delicious.
WHAAAAAT?! Well the first step is admitting it. Now that we can move forward, it’s time to try the famous fish taco. Come join our world, fish-taco-lovers-united. Your life will never be the same!
Yummy, that looks really amazing! I’d love to eat that.
It’s super easy to make Angie. Yummy and easy? Win Win!
I LOVE fish tacos! And blackened fish! This recipe looks divine. I’ll definitely be making it; thanks for sharing!
Euriental
You are so welcome Kamara! Enjoy all this fish taco goodness, in a bowl!
I have been looking for some more fish recipes during Lent and I will be adding this one to the list!
Perfect lent recipe! Actually after I posted this I was like, “Shoot! I should have saved it for Friday!” But I guess it gives you some time to go to the grocery store and get all the goodies, right?!
Fish tacos are one of my favorite dishes, and this salad is so colorful and delicious looking! Sorry for the bad experience with wasabi! 🙂
Fish tacos – such a simple concept but such a fav by many! This salad bowl is pretty bomb too.
Wow, this looks so delicious! I love Chipotle bowls and fish tacos, so this is right up my alley. Yum. Thanks for posting the recipe! 🙂
Amanda – TheFashionToFollow.com
Like, the two best things on the planet (aside from chocolate and wine of course). Thanks Amanda!
This looks so delicious !! I need to start buying more avocados , that looks yummy . I love tilapia ☺️ Great recipe !
Danielle Greco | AccordingtoD.com
Luckily living in California, avocados are everywhere, and cheap!! I love it! Thanks Danielle!
Oh my goodnes, you’ve convinced me! I was sitting here cringing over your wasabi story while thinking this recipe looks SO good, but I don’t know how to make blackened fish?! Then you said it was the easiest thing ever and I got SO excited! Pinning this & making this!!! 🙂 Drooling already!
Penn&Quill || Robin
HA! Maybe I should not start out with gross stories and save those for AFTER I brag about how yummy the recipe is. NOTED 😉 I’m glad you kept reading, because this one is worth it. And yes, the blackened fish is SO darn easy!
This is why I am so happy that I grew up on the east coast, all the fresh fish! We are so blessed with a huge variety and abundance of so much perfect seafood that I learned to love it! No words can describe how much I want to eat this taco bowl right now, I always prefer my fish to be blackened and I think salmon would be amazing here too. And that wasabi will get ya, I totally despise that stuff lol.
SOOOO jealous! Although now that I’m a coastal dweller, I’m making up for all those lost years! Salmon WOULD be a great fish to use – I am trying that next! And sorry wasabi, you are SO out. Thanks Rachel!
This looks so delicious and easy! Blackened Tilapia is soo good and the touch of mango! YUM!
That sweet mango pairs so well with that chili/cumin spiced tilapia!
OH, YUM! I’ve been curious about blackening fish. I need to get away from my standard salmon recipe and this would be great!
I’m totally with ya. Salmon marinated in coconut aminos is a staple in our house, BUT sometimes it does get old. This is a nice change of pace!
Wow! This Fish Taco Salad Bowl looks so darn scrumptious. I just stopped and pinned your image to Pinterest. I know my followers there will absolutely drool over it too. Thank you so much for creating this yummy recipe and sharing it. It’s my favorite recipe inspiration of the day! 🙂
Thank you so much Denay! Your support always means so much to me!
Drooling as I read this post, can’t wait to try it!!
Yay I dig internet drool! Lol! I hope you love it Roslyn!
This is such a great idea and alternative to tortilla shells. I am pinning this for the next time I force the family to eat fish. Great photos too makes me hungry just looking at this!
Ha may the force be with you!! Thanks so much Alison. I hope your fam loves it!
You poor thing! I think everyone has an unfortunate run in with wasabi before they know better at some point. This fish taco bowl looks AMAZING. I love fish tacos, and the blackened fish sounds incredible!
Sometimes pure, innocent ignorance can make for one pretty funny story! Thanks Les xoxo
I never get to eat fish, but this is making me so excited for summer! What a great idea!
Thanks Margaret! Summer can’t come soon enough!!!!
Those look amazing. I can’t wait to cook these up! Blackened fish is my favorite! Thanks for posting this.
You’re so welcome! Blackened fish is the bomb. But sometimes I need a juice, sweet element to offset the kick. That’s where the mangos come in! Nom nom nom!
Fabulous! Pinned to my Whole 30 board!
Awesome! Thanks Linda!
That’s so funny about the wasabi! Horrible, but funny. A similar incident happened at a family friend’s house years ago. She put “pickles” on the table, but before she could explain that Indian pickles are crazy spicy, I had them in my mouth. I cried, and she felt awful — but in retrospect, it makes me laugh.
These taco salad bowls look amazing. Love that they have blackened fish!
Oh my gosh!!! I’m giggling – with you, not at you of course. Note to self, never try Indian pickles! Thanks Sarah!
Oh my goodness I can’t stop laughing… my mom ate a LARGE quantity of Wasabi her first time at sushi thinking it was avocado as well. Her reaction was also “I think I am dying”… a hard lesson to learn!
Hahahaha the oh so common ‘I hate wasabi, I’m gonna die’ reaction. Classic!!
Oh I love the combination of flavors in this fish taco bowl!
The combo is seriously perfect! Everything works so well together!
this looks so delicious! I love any type of bowl! And, I cannot believe you ate an entire ball of wasabi!
Ugh I can’t either!! Live and learn! And PS doesn’t stuff in a big ‘ol bowl just seem like it’s better? Totally devour-able!
HAHAHAH im dyingggg. That sounds like the WORST possible introduction to sushi. You poor thing. And I love your way to determine if a meal will be good: ‘will I die?”
Always a necessary question.
Well yeah, gotta make sure all your bases are covered. You can never be too careful!!!
What a great idea to make it in a bowl instead of tacos! This looks so healthy and delicious!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Super delicious. Bowls are just better, ya know?!
This looks healthy and delicious! Can’t wait to try!
I hope you love it Danielle!
Wow! This looks delicious. I’m a vegetarian, but I love all of the other flavors together. Maybe I could try substituting with seitan or something similar. Even black beans!
This dish reminds me of the types of fresh, tasty dishes we have when spending time in Costa Rica or Central America. I love the Latin flavor profile!!
Black beans would be a great option! You could even do blackened tofu too Adrienne. Ahhh you are so right on! Love that my boring old kitchen could be mistaken for a flavor profile in Central America!
This looks so good! I always love fish tacos when I order them, but always forget about them when meal planning for the week at home! I am definitely saving this recipe and adding it to my weekly meal list soon!
I know right?! It’s totally one of those things you never think to make at home. But it’s SO easy! Glad this recipe made it on your meal list!
I think everyone has a rude interaction with wasabi at one point in their life. I’d love to try this recipe with salmon. Looks like t’s quite delicious and refreshing… ideal for a warm afternoon and a crisp glass of wine. 🙂
RUDE. Ha I love that description for wasabi! You could totally do this with salmon! Or any fish for that matter. Enjoy Rhiannon!
YUM! When you posted this on Instagram I about ate my phone! Fish tacos are one of my faves and I just love this grain-free version. Fish, avocado, and mango make the best combo too! Now, if it only had some wasabi… 😉
That’s how I feel with EVERY SINGLE RECIPE you post! Except I like to look at them on my computer…BIGGER PHOTOS to drool over. Thanks Joscelyn! PS skip the wasabi 😉
That story about the wasabi is hilarious!!
In hindsight, yes, SUPER funny. At the time, tragic!!
Holy S&*$ these look amazing. I love the photos and I see you have mastered the “lime squeeze” photo! Well done. I have not mastered that yet. 🙂 I well definitely try this recipe. It looks fantastic!
The fact that you said S&*$ about these makes me love you that much more Heather! Oh girlfriend, you get that lime and SHOW IT WHO IS BOSS!!!!
LOVE taco salads… I really think it has to do with the avocado! Avocado is so damn good with any animal protein!!
Avocado is good on like, dirt. But yeah, protein makes a better combo. Mango too – girl, paired with mango = heaven!
Hahah that is a cute/funny story!! I am not bold enough to eat wasabi and enjoy it. Love the time-saver tip!
This looks absolutely delicious – thank you for sharing! I’m always looking for new healthy work-lunch recipes. Pinning for later!
Thanks for the pin love! Glad this yummy salad found ya!
Oh this looks so gooodddd!!! I love all the green and fresh ingredients. Thanks for sharing.
xoxo
January
http://www.thebouncyponytail.com/
You’re welcome January! Enjoy!
Yesssss. Fish tacos are the bomb! My husband and I love fish tacos and have to get them whenever we see them on the menu. Love your healthier twist!
SAME! We are a fish taco lovin’ couple. We’d have a great time on a double date, don’t you agree? Thanks Carly!
Oh my! What a great salad/bowl!! I love the blackened fish!
Thanks Elaine. The blackened fish and the fun colors of all the fixings make this bowl so fun (and yummy)!
This looks delicious! And it’s just in time for Lent!
YES! Perfect lent dish! It can be so tough trying to come up with new fish recipes every Friday. Thanks Nicole!
What a gorgeous salad! We love fish tacos but I always leave off the tortillas/taco shells because I don’t want the carbs. This is a great way to present it.
Thanks Joanie! I totally do the same when we have ‘traditional’ taco night. Or I’ll bust out some plantain tortillas. But the fish taco salad in a bowl is just so much more fun!
Adding this to our weekly meal plan on Faith Filled Parenting. I would love for you to link up with us. http://faithfilledparenting.com/faith-filled-parenting-linkup-party-12/
Awesome! Glad to hear it Christia and will do!
This salad bowl looks so delicious!!! Thanks for the idea–pinning for later!
Thanks for the pin and for the awesome link party Cathy!
This looks so fresh and delicious! I absolutely love this, I must make it. Thank you so much for linking up to the Best of the Blogosphere Linky Party!
Thank you for stopping by Hilary! I love connecting with you and other bloggers at your linky party! xo