Simple Seared Mahi-Mahi Recipe

In a world where salmon dominates the casual weeknight dinner scene, it's nice to switch things up from time to time. Enter this simple, seared mahi-mahi recipe from developer Christina Musgrave, which offers a refined main course without being overly expensive or hard to prepare. This mahi-mahi is great for a simple Tuesday night meal, or you could dress it up with some elegant side dishes for a more elevated date night meal.

Whichever way you choose to serve this mahi-mahi, you can count on the cooking to be simple and straightforward. "My favorite thing about this dish is that it's super easy to make, and super delicious," Musgrave says. Not to mention this is a quick dish to make; thanks to the searing method of cooking, you'll only need 10 minutes to cook the fish fillets through. You'll top the fish off with a simple, lemony sauce, and voila — a healthy, tasty, easy-to-make seafood dish that isn't salmon!

Gather the ingredients for seared mahi-mahi

This recipe yields 4 servings, so you'll need 4 mahi-mahi fillets to get started. You'll also need salt, pepper, and garlic powder for seasoning, and a bit of olive oil to get a nice sear on the fish. To make the lemony sauce, you'll simply add fish or chicken stock, and lemon juice to the pan that you cooked the fish in.

Season and sear the fish

Start by making sure that your mahi-mahi fillets are nice and dry — a simple pat down with paper towels should do the trick. Then, season both sides of each fillet with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

Place a large pan over medium heat, and add in the olive oil. Once that has had a chance to heat up, add in the mahi-mahi fillets, skin-side down, if applicable, and allow them to cook for 5 minutes on each side. Resist the urge to disturb the fillets as they cook — this gives them the best chance of getting that beautiful golden-brown sear. 

Make a quick pan sauce

As a final step for the fish, squeeze the lemon juice onto the fish, then remove the fillets from the pan, but be sure to leave any little fish scraps that are left over from cooking. Then, add the stock to the pan, and raise the heat so it comes to a simmer. "Mahi-mahi is a pretty mild fish," Musgrave explains. "The lemon sauce is delicious, and gives it even more flavor."

Serve the seared mahi-mahi with the pan sauce

Drizzle that pan sauce right onto the mahi-mahi fillets, then that's it — you're ready to serve as desired. "This is great with rice and vegetables, served in tacos, or with a Southwest salad," Musgrave suggests. You could elevate the fish by pairing it with an elegant side dish like risotto, a crisp glass of white wine, or some good company for an optimal dining experience. 

Simple Seared Mahi-Mahi Recipe
5 from 38 ratings
Say goodbye to the same old same old salmon recipe with this easy and flavorful seared mahi-mahi recipe.
Prep Time
5
minutes
Cook Time
10
minutes
Servings
4
Servings
mahi-mahi fillet on plate
Total time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
  • 4 mahi-mahi filets
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • ¼ cup fish or chicken stock
Directions
  1. Pat the fish dry. Season both sides of each fillet with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
  2. Heat a large pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil, and mahi-mahi fillets to the pan. Sear for 5 minutes on each side.
  3. Top with lemon juice, and remove the fish from the pan. Add the stock to the pan, and bring to a simmer. Top fish with pan sauce, and serve.
Nutrition
Calories per Serving 247
Total Fat 8.4 g
Saturated Fat 1.4 g
Trans Fat 0.0 g
Cholesterol 149.4 mg
Total Carbohydrates 2.6 g
Dietary Fiber 0.3 g
Total Sugars 0.5 g
Sodium 548.0 mg
Protein 38.5 g
The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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