Easy Mexican Fish Veracruz Dinner

This elegant, but extremely simple dinner recipe blends Mediterranean cuisine with the abundant seafood found in Veracruz, a region that lies along the Gulf of Mexico.  Any flaky white fish works well in this low carb fish dinner (I used cod in the recipe below), but the fish most often associated with this coastal Mexican dish is red snapper. 

Jump to: | Recipe | Best Fish for Veracruz | Flavor Secrets | Illustrated Step by Step | Serving Suggestions

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Ingredients Typical of the Veracruz Sauce

The sauce is the star of this dish, made with lightly simmered onions, tomatoes, olives, capers and a little dry sherry or white wine. 

It is one of the few Mexican sauces that doesn’t call for chile peppers, although pickled jalapeños are frequently seen in a Veracruz sauce.

I added a little smoky chile spice, which complemented the full flavors of the olives, capers and tomatoes, adding a bit of complexity to the dish.

Golden raisins are sometimes added to a Veracruz sauce to cut the acidity and add a bit of sweetness. Raisins are quite high in sugar so I left them out.

Which Fish is Best with a Veracruz Styled Dish?

Almost any white fish can be used in this dish.  I used frozen cod, as I live in Minnesota which is a landlocked state. Other fish that works well with Veracruz include:

• Tilapia
• Red snapper
• Halibut
• Barramundi
• Flounder
• Catfish
• Wahoo

What Makes this Dish so Exceptional?

The standout flavor of this dish comes from combining the mild flavor of tender, flaky white fish with the robust flavors of olives and capers.  I added red peppers to my version because I wanted to add a few more nutrients, but this is not a typical variation. 

Here are a few other things that make this dish exceptional:

• It is made with dry sherry rather than white wine for a bit more acidity. 
• It is a truly easy dish with very little chopping, no lengthy cooking and stirring and easy to find ingredients.  It is one of those recipes that actually does come together in under 30-minutes.
• It’s low carb and packed with nutrients.
• It can be a casual weeknight dinner or an elegant dinner for entertaining.
• And finally, the Fish Veracruz sauce is versatile and great to pair the next day with another seafood protein like scallops, salmon or mussels.

And since I make smoked pepper blends, I added a bit of chile spice I had on hand.  I chose a mild smoked ancho/pasilla blend and it was perfect IMHO.

All in all, fish Veracruz is a delicious blend of Old World and New World ingredients!

For another classic Mexican fish recipe that is exceptional, try this Mexican Fish Stew It is perfect for using frozen fish.

Illustrated Step by Step:

Serve this dish with:

Typically this dish would be served with potatoes, grains or rustic breads. It really doesn’t need carbs to be a filling and tasty dinner however.

I have become so accustomed to eating proteins with flavorful sauces on their own that I rarely miss the rice or potatoes.

If you are serving different dietary palates at your table, feel free to add some roasted potatoes or some hearty rustic bread to sop up the juices!

Recipe for Best Fish Veracruz