Family Fish Tacos for Young and Old

Sometime between the present day and the birth of my first
child, about eight years ago, I picked up the knowledge that I’m not young
anymore. I’m certainly not old, but young? Fuhgeddaboudit, as they say in my
home borough.

One of my biggest lessons this ongoing education came a few
summers ago, when I paid a visit to Rockaway Beach, to check out their
burgeoning food stands. I had read somewhere about the otherworldly fish tacos
that were served just off the boardwalk. We drove out to the Rockaways to try
them, but could not, for the life of us, find a parking space. While I circled
in traffic, Santa Maria took the girls and sought out the tacos. Apparently, I
was not the only person in the metropolitan area to have read about them. There
was a long line, full of self-possessed, pale-skinned folks. These were mostly bearded
men and tattooed women who liked the same kinds of clothing, but more than
their fashion choices they had one thing in common: they were all
twenty-something.

Santa Maria bravely managed our two very little girls, and
finally ordered a few of the tacos. Eventually, I found a parking space, and we
met on the boardwalk to eat them. They were good, but not great. They had
slices of radish on them, and other neat toppings, but they just weren’t worth
the hassle.  Only someone young
with a lot of time on his hands would make the effort to eat those tacos.

I knew we wouldn’t be back for them, but I did like the idea
of a fish taco. Santa Maria is an expert in making guacamole and fresh salsa,
so it wasn’t long before I was serving up fish tacos at home. The kids love
assembling the tacos at the table, and the meal is now one of our top
favorites, coming to rival that surest-of-sure things, the ever steady
Bolognese and pasta.

I use porgy filets, a very cheap fish for the tacos. Porgies
have a checkered reputation. According to SeaFoodSource.com,  “The name “porgy” comes from an
American Indian name meaning “fertilizer,” a common use for these abundant fish
during Colonial times.” I can think of other words for fertilizer that I
wouldn’t want to eat. That same source describes the meat as tender and white,
but in my experience, I would say they are very oily fish—they certainly spoil
even faster than a bluefish, and this has made them hard to find fresh. Any
fish that can’t be found fresh is going to get a bad reputation, and I’m sure
this is what has kept the price down on these fish. Fortunately, the folks at
Blue Moon Fish have them, and they are fresh enough to hold for a day, if
necessary. The meat is perfect for a dish like the tacos, where they are served
with salsa and other sauces. I love them for this.

Porgy flesh is very firm, and I cut the bones out of the
center of the fillet and then cut the fish into small strips. I roll them in
flour and then fry them in a generous bit of oil. They brown up nicely, and I
put them on a platter.

I warm corn tortillas and put those on the table, along with
corn chips with melted cheese (just spread some on a cookie sheet, grate a bit
of cheddar over them, and place in a 350 degree oven for about five to ten
minutes, or until the cheese is melted). The fish, chips, guacamole, and fresh
salsa make a delicious dinner. When I sit with my girls and they start laughing
at the end of the meal, I certainly don’t feel old. I would even go so far as
saying I feel young, though I know better.

Endless-Summer Fish Tacos

 

Serves 4

Start by making the salsa

• 1 tomato, medium size, diced
• 2 tablespoons chopped onion
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, washed and chopped
• 1/2 lime, juiced, or to taste
• 2 shakes Tabasco
• sea salt, to taste

        Stir ingredients together, and enjoy

Next, make the Guacamole

• 1 ripe avocado
• 1/2 lime, juiced
• 4 shakes Tabasco
• 1 sprinkle salt
• 1/3 tomato, diced
• 1 tablespoon diced onion
• 1 tablespoon diced cilantro

        Peel and mash the avocado and combine with the other ingredients

 For the fish: 

• 1 ½  lbs of
  porgy fillets
• flour for dredging
• salt and pepper
• 8-12 soft corn tortillas

Cut the pin bones (that row of bones down the center) out of
the porgy fillet and slice the fillets cross ways, on a diagonal, to make
decent-sized strips.

Lay some flour on a plate and season heavily with salt and a
bit of pepper.

Heat a generous amount of olive oil in a frying pan on a
medium-high heat.

Dredge the fish pieces in the seasoned flour and lay them in
the hot oil. Don’t crowd the pan. Cook a few minutes on one side until browned
just a bit, and then flip them. Cook on the other side until done, a few
minutes more.

Set the pieces of fish aside on a platter and keep warm
until you’ve cooked all the fish.

Warm the soft corn tortillas in a pan one or two at a time
(depending on how large your pan is) and keep warm wrapped in a dishcloth as
you take them off the heat. 

To make the cheesy corn chips.

• Enough corn chips to cover a baking sheet.
• Enough grated cheese to lightly cover the chips.

Place the cheese on the chips and place in a hot oven for
about ten minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Place the warmed tortillas, the fish, the cheesy chips, the
salsa, and the guacamole on the table. Each diner can make his or her own, with
the various ingredients.

Enjoy!