An achiote rub is the classic Yucatan way of marinating fish. I tasted this rub for the first time in Isla Mujeres in the early 1970s, when you could still live on the beach in a palapa and hammock, eat great seafood, and drink cold beers for a few dollars per day. The fishermen would rub fish with an achiote-citrus paste and grill them on the beach over fires made from coconut husks. When I worked at Chez Panisse in the late 1970s, I duplicated this rub from my taste memory for some of their famous garlic festivals. The light citrus flavors of the achiote paste are a beautiful contrast to the oily texture of the swordfish. If you don’t have swordfish, use another meaty ocean fish such as wahoo or mahi mahi.
Recipe information
Yield
makes 8 tacos
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Mix all the ingredients except for the fish, oil, tortillas, and garnish in a large bowl. Toss the fish cubes in the mixture and marinate for at least 3 hours.
Step 2
Remove the fish from the marinade, shaking off any excess liquid; discard the marinade. In a large, heavy skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat and sauté the fish on all sides until cooked through, about 7 minutes.
Step 3
To serve, lay the tortillas side by side, open face and overlapping on a platter. Divide the shredded lettuce and filling equally between the tortillas and top with salsa and a squeeze of fresh lime. Grab, fold, and eat right away. Or build your own taco: lay a tortilla, open face, in one hand. Add some shredded lettuce, spoon on some filling, and top with salsa and a squeeze of fresh lime. Fold, and eat right away.
