Enjoy fresh and flavorful fish tacos with white sauce for one during the winter by topping them with a sweet and tangy orange salsa made with Cara Cara oranges. It's got 10 ingredients and is ready in 20 minutes.
This post was created in partnership with Sprouts Farmers Market . I have been compensated for my time commitment. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.
[This recipe was originally posted in February 2020. It has been updated with new cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]
Table of contents
How will these fish tacos with white sauce make your life easier?
These fish tacos are great because all the ingredients are easy to find, and can all be found at Sprouts Farmers Market for a great price. Besides, Sprouts has the best citrus in my area.
I used their mandarin oranges in another recipe I created for them, this Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges.
These fish tacos are also a delicious recipe you can make year round. Just swap out the cara cara oranges for another sweet/tart seasonal fruit. Or another citrus during the winter.
Sprouts created a great resource to learn more about winter citrus.
What makes these fish tacos so good?
- Taco size tortillas
- Tilapia fillet: frozen is a great, lower cost option. Thaw before cooking.
- Cara Cara orange: you can use a regular navel orange too.
- Red onion
- Frozen yellow corn
- Lime
- Plain yogurt: a dollop of yogurt is great in this simple white sauce, but you can use sour cream too, they taste very similar.
- Milk: thins out the yogurt for the sauce
- Green cabbage
- Cilantro
How do I make fish tacos with white sauce and orange salsa?
1. Heat up small frying pan, add canola oil. Lay tilapia filet in oil. Season with salt. Cover with lid and cook for 5 minutes. Flip, and cook another 2-3 minutes, until fish is 165 degrees inside.
2. While fish is cooking, PREPARE ORANGE SALSA: Remove peel and pith, and section one Cara Cara orange.
3. Slice each section in half so there are two shorter sections. Add diced red onion, thawed corn, lime juice, and salt. Mix together and set aside.
4. Wash a wedge of green cabbage and a handful of cilantro. Thinly slice cabbage and chop cilantro. Add cilantro to orange salsa. Set both aside.
5. PREPARE WHITE SAUCE: Add plain yogurt, milk, and lime juice. Whisk together until smooth.
6. Assemble tacos by dividing ingredients into 2. Layer the shredded cabbage, fish filet, then the orange salsa onto both tortillas. Top with white sauce, a squeeze of lime, and additional cilantro if desired.
Substitutions/Tips
- Use any white fish (like snapper, cod, grouper) or salmon instead of tilapia.
- Add 1 teaspoon + diced jalapeno pepper for added spice.
- You may need to add more milk (or less yogurt) if using Greek yogurt since it's thicker.
- Optional additional ingredients: Jalapeno (add to the orange salsa), avocado, lettuce, and tomato.
FAQ
Lots of ingredients! My favorite toppings for fish tacos are salsa, cabbage, limes, and a creamy white sauce. Make them even better with a citrus salsa.
White fish is great in fish tacos. I used tilapia in this recipe because that's what I had on hand. But cod, grouper, and other white fish are great options. Salmon is also delicious in tacos.
I did! Just defrost it ahead of time by refrigerating it for 24-48 hours or under running water for about 10 minutes just before cooking.
How can I repurpose these fish tacos?
- Make a burrito bowl (with ingredients similar to this burrito bowl MINUS the queso, fish and cheese don't usually go well together)
- Serve fish & salsa on top of greens to make a salad
- Have it over your favorite whole grain
What can I make with leftover ingredients?
- Fish: Easy Instant Pot Fish. Swap it out for salmon for any of these recipes: Parchment Paper, or Maple Mustard Sheetpan Fish
- Cabbage, red onion: Korean Beef Bulgogi, Red Wine Vinegar Coleslaw, or this Simple Sauteed Salad.
- Oranges: Swap them for citrus in any of these recipes: Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges, Mimosa Mocktail, or this Grapefruit & Avocado Salad.
- Greek yogurt: Lentil Stroganoff, Protein Energy Balls, Garlic Cheesy Mashed Potatoes, and this Curry Pumpkin Soup.
- Limes + cilantro: Coconut Green Lentil Curry Refried Bean Tacos, & 3 Ingredient Guacamole.
Did you make these fish tacos with white sauce? Leave me a comment & rating to share how they turned out!
Fish Tacos with White Sauce for One
Equipment
- knife
- cutting board
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- 2 Small Mixing Bowls
- Small Frying Pan
- spoon
- spatula
Ingredients
- 2 taco sized tortillas
- 1 teaspoon canola oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 oz tilapia fillet thawed
- 1 whole Cara Cara orange
- 1 tablespoon red onion diced
- 2 tablespoons frozen yellow corn thawed
- 1 whole lime
- 2 teaspoons plain yogurt
- 1 teaspoon milk
- 2 inch wide section of green cabbage
- handful cilantro leaves
Instructions
- Heat up small frying pan, add 1 teaspoon canola oil. Lay tilapia filet in oil. Season with salt. Cover with lid and cook for 5 minutes. Flip, and cook another 2-3 minutes. Until fish is 165 degrees inside.
- While fish is cooking, PREPARE ORANGE SALSA: Remove peel and pith, and section one Cara Cara orange. Slice each section in half so there are two shorter sections. Add 1 Tablespoon diced red onion, 2 Tablespoon thawed corn, 1-2 teaspoon lime juice, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Mix together and set aside.
- Wash a 2 inch wide wedge of green cabbage and a handful of cilantro. Thinly slice cabbage and chop cilantro. Add cilantro to orange salsa. Set both aside.
- PREPARE WHITE SAUCE: Add 2 teaspoon plain yogurt, 1 teaspoon milk, and ½ teaspoon lime juice. Whisk together until smooth.
- When fish is flaky and done cooking, assemble tacos by dividing ingredients into 2. Layer the shredded cabbage, fish filet, then the orange salsa onto both tortillas. Top with white sauce, a squeeze of lime, and additional cilantro if desired.
- Optional additional ingredients: Jalapeno (add to the orange salsa), avocado, lettuce, and tomato.
Notes
- Use any white fish (like snapper, cod, grouper) or salmon instead of tilapia.
- Add 1 teaspoon + diced jalapeno pepper for added spice.
- You may need to add more milk (or less yogurt) if using Greek yogurt since it's thicker.
- Optional additional ingredients: Jalapeno (add to the orange salsa), avocado, lettuce, and tomato.
Want time saving tips to make recipes like these fish tacos with white sauce delivered to your inbox? Click here to download my Cooking for One Time Saving Tips.
Recipes are great, but you’ll need a simple 3 step process to create a meal plan that make cooking easy & helps you stop wasting food. Check out this expertly developed meal planning guide to get started.
Margaret says
Looks yummy! I want to try this. Do you use corn or flour tortillas?
Rebecca says
you can use either! whichever you like better, I personally like flour.
Michelle says
Such a great taco recipe, perfect for the whole family. Love that orange salsa, so tasty!
Rebecca says
thanks so much! it's so good
Amanda Wren-Grimwood says
These tacos look so fresh and delicious. Love the idea of the orange salsa too!
Rebecca says
they're so fresh tasting! thanks
Sophie says
When I was a pscetarian, I loved Bajan fish tacos. Your recipe makes me drool. Thank you so much.
Rebecca says
thanks! that's my fave style of taco for sure
Dannii says
Fish tacos are one of my favourite meals. The orange salsa with this sounds amazing too
Rebecca says
aren't they so good! thanks!
Erika says
These are beautiful flavor combinations!
Rebecca says
thanks!