4.8 from 673 votes
Easy Perfect Mahi Mahi Recipe
This Easy Perfect Mahi Mahi Recipe features 1-inch thick fillets pan-seared for a golden crust and finished in the oven. A lemon garlic butter sauce brightens the firm, moist fish with fresh herbs and citrus notes. The method keeps the fish juicy while developing balanced seasoning and crisp edges.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings:
4
Calories:
264 kcal
Course:
Dinner
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
For the Lemon Garlic Mixture
- 2 TB butter softened to room temp, salted
- 2 TB garlic minced, cloves
- 1 TB chives freshly chopped, or parsley
- ⅛ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper freshly ground
- 1 TB lemon juice from fresh
- 1 TB lemon grated peel
For the Mahi Mahi
- 2 TB olive oil
- 4 fillets mahi mahi 1-inch thick, 4oz each
- salt Kosher salt and freshly ground
- black pepper Kosher salt and freshly ground
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F with rack on middle position.
- Lemon Garlic Mixture (can be made ahead) - in a small pan, combine all Lemon Garlic Mixture ingredients and stir to fully combine. Set aside.
- Pat-dry all excess moisture from the fish fillets with paper towels. This step is important, so be sure to pat off as much moisture as you can. Evenly sprinkle both sides of fillets with pinches of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Set aside.
- In a large oven-proof pan, heat the olive oil over high heat. Once oil is sizzling hot add the fish fillets to pan and let cook until browned on one side, about 3 minutes - do not move fish around.
- Carefully flip fish fillets over to the other side, turn stove burner off, and immediately transfer pan into already-hot oven.
- Roast fish at 400F about 5 minutes or just until the top is golden and center is just cooked through. Take care not to overcook.
- A minute before fish is done cooking in oven, heat your small pan of prepared lemon-garlic mixture over medium high heat, constantly stirring, just until melted and bubbly.
- Immediately turn heat off and pour mixture over the cooked fish. Be sure to pour on any juices from the fish pan as well. Serve with extra lemon slices for garnish.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Use kosher salt as it seasons differently than fine table salt.
- The lemon garlic sauce can be prepared ahead and reheated to serve.
- Pat the fish dry thoroughly for a crisp sear and better browning.
- A splatter guard is recommended when pan-frying to minimize oil splashes.
- This recipe is part of an easy fish recipes collection for various preparation ideas.
Nutrition Information
Calories
264kcal
(13%)
Carbohydrates
2g
(1%)
Protein
32g
(64%)
Fat
14g
(22%)
Saturated Fat
5g
(25%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
(6%)
Monounsaturated Fat
7g
(35%)
Trans Fat
0.2g
(10%)
Cholesterol
139mg
(46%)
Sodium
268mg
(11%)
Potassium
731mg
(16%)
Fiber
0.1g
(0%)
Sugar
0.1g
(0%)
Vitamin A
482IU
(10%)
Vitamin C
3mg
(3%)
Calcium
35mg
(4%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 264
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 264kcal | 13% |
| Carbohydrates | 2g | 1% |
| Protein | 32g | 64% |
| Fat | 14g | 22% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Trans Fat | 0.2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 139mg | 46% |
| Sodium | 268mg | 11% |
| Potassium | 731mg | 16% |
| Fiber | 0.1g | 0% |
| Sugar | 0.1g | 0% |
| Vitamin A | 482IU | 10% |
| Vitamin C | 3mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 35mg | 4% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.