Baja Fish Taco Bowl: a Fish Taco Alternative
POV: It's 5:43 pm. You had a long day. The last thing you want to do is cook, period.
I'll get right down to it. The highlight of this post are these MUST TRY battered halibut nuggets from Trader Joes. #notsponsored, I just couldn't believe how great these were and how easy they work as a fish for fish tacos, or in this case, a Baja fish taco bowl.
For those wondering about texture and consistency, if air fried according to their directions (side note: love when directions include air frying as a cooking method), the exterior is crispy and the interior is still moist and delicate as you'd hope for in fish tacos. Be ware that if you reheat them the following day, they may be a bit drier. If you have a family of 3-4, this is a non-issue, as you'll use the entire package in one sitting.
The ingredients I chose to include in this fish taco bowl, along with the halbut, was a pre-bagged coleslaw with dressing, a can of black beans, and an avocado. You can choose whether you'd like to include the dressing that comes with the coleslaw, mix with mayo, or add a drizzle of your vinegar of choice to add a bit of flavor. If making a fish taco bowl, you can swap out the beans for rice (or have both), grab corn tortillas to make tacos, or add extra lettuce and a lime viniagrette to make a salad. If you have picky eaters in the family, maybe it's just the halibut nuggets and a side of ketchup for them.
Nutrition Check
Since this is a blog to help YOU make healthful, nutritious choices to support your energy and mental well-being (versus slaving away over the stove for an hour after a long day filled with tedious meetings that could've been emails), it would be wrong to leave you without some background on why this meal supports your health. If you've read my blog before, you'll know how important it is to balance out your meals as often as possible. Let's run through the unofficial check list to make sure this meal gets the Helpful Dietitian stamp of approval.
Carbohydrate: black beans (or rice, corn tortillas)
Protein: battered halibut nuggets
Vegetable: coleslaw (or tomatoes, red onion, lettuce)
Healthy fat: avocado (or aioli)
Check, check, check, and CHECK! This meal offers you tons of fiber from the veggies and beans, a tasty protein source, and heart healthy fats from the avocados. If you aren't familiar with why fiber, protein, and fats are important to have at your meals, take a moment to read up on that here. A meal like this one is sure to leave you full and satisfied without taking a ton of time and effort, so you can devote your hard earned free time to the things you enjoy, like spending time with family, reading, or binge watching Selling Sunset (no judgements, we all love a guilty pleasure).
Ingredients
1 box battered halibut nuggets
1 bag coleslaw kit with dressing (see the photo above for my choice)
1 medium avocado
1 15 oz can black beans
Directions
Cook the battered halibut nuggets according to the air fryer directions on the box.
While the halibut is cooking, mix together the coleslaw kit, rinse and drain the black beans, and slice or cube your avocado.
Place the black beans into a small pot and heat on low-medium, stirring regularly, until warmed through.
Once the fish has finished cooking, assemble the ingredients together in a bowl, top with some lime juice, chipotle aioli, or a crema of choice, and you're ready to enjoy a healthy, balanced meal!
This couldn't be easier!
I am a HUGE fan of throw-together meals using ingredients from Trader Joe's. My goal is to make sure they are balanced, nourishing, and helping you prioritize your health both in and out of the office. If you come across another simple Trader Joe's recipe (because there are a million out there) or even a product that you're unsure how to incorporate into a balanced meal, feel free to shoot me a message via the "contact" page. I'd love to help you out by creating a post just for YOU! Just make sure and subscribe so you’ll be alerted when your blog post is ready for your viewing pleasure!
To see the end product, click here.
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Fish tacos are great
Fish tacos can be easy
Fish tacos are great
Baja Fish Taco Bowl: A Haiku