| Prep: 20 mins | Cook: 25 mins – 30 mins | Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 425 | 27g | 11g | 10g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 6g | 3g | 34g | 1.12g |
Why I Love Mexican Fish in Creamy Cilantro Tomato Sauce
Every time I bring together the ingredients for the Fish in Creamy Cilantro Tomato Sauce recipe, it reminds me of the blend I tend to aim for in my personal and professional life. A beautiful amalgamation of diverse cultures, flavors, and ingredients, mirroring my own Californian-Gujarati background. This dish is almost like a delicious dialog between Mexican and Indian cuisines, and every bite takes me on a delightful gustatory journey.
Connection to My Roots
Born and raised on the West Coast, my cooking experience profoundly manifests the freshness and variety found in Californian ingredients. However, my Gujarati roots play a significant role in my cuisine, and this dish truly symbolizes the fusion I love. Just like the way Indian cooking draws on the balance and contrast of flavors, this Mexican dish also resonates with that principle. The heat of the jalapeno pepper, mellowed down with the tanginess of fresh lime and the richness of the creamy tomato-cilantro sauce, reflects how food, just like life, is all about balance. My husband Faisal and our two boys absolutely adore this dish!
Inspiration and Pairing
Every recipe has a story, and Fish in Creamy Cilantro Tomato Sauce is no different. While this recipe purely comes from my own kitchen experiments, I cannot deny the influence chefs like Rick Bayless have had on my culinary journey. His dedication to authentic Mexican cuisine while experimenting with various flavors has been very inspiring.
This scrumptious dish, with its smooth, creamy sauce and succulent fish, brings the best of Mexican and Indian flavors. It pairs brilliantly with warm tortillas or a side of steaming coconut rice. And if you want to keep it low-carb, a side of green salad would work just as wonderfully.
Sometimes, there’s no grand story behind a recipe. It’s a passion for exploring flavors, a knack for experimentation, and the profound joy of creating something your loved ones enjoy. The Fish in Creamy Cilantro Tomato Sauce recipe embodies precisely that for me, and I hope it brings as much delight to your table as it does to mine!
What You’ll Need
- 6 fillets of white fish
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 small white onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 jalapeno pepper, minced
- 1 cup of fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 can (14.5 oz) of diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup of sour cream
- 1/2 cup of heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon of chili powder
- 1 teaspoon of cumin
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1/2 cup of grated cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
Method
Step One
Place your fish fillets on a clean surface and season both sides with salt and pepper.
Step Two
Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the seasoned fish fillets and cook until they are golden brown on each side. This should take about 3-4 minutes per side. When the fish is cooked, remove it from the pan and set it aside.
Step Three
In the same pan, add the chopped white onion, minced garlic, and jalapeno pepper. Cook this mixture until the onion is translucent, which should take about 5 minutes.
Step Four
Add the chopped cilantro and diced tomatoes to the pan. Stir this mixture well and allow it to cook until the tomatoes break down, this should take about 5-7 minutes.
Step Five
Next, add the sour cream, heavy cream, chili powder, cumin, and lime juice to the pan. Stir this mixture well and let it simmer for a few minutes so that the flavors can combine.
Step Six
Return the cooked fish fillets to the pan and spoon some of the creamy sauce over each fillet.
Step Seven
Sprinkle the grated cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese over the fish and reduce the heat to low. Cover the pan and let it cook for a couple more minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the fish is heated through.
Step Eight
Serve the fish hot, with extra sauce spooned over the top. Enjoy your Fish in Creamy Cilantro Tomato Sauce!
