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Garlic Butter Mahi Mahi- a tender, moist pan-seared mahi-mahi fillet made with garlicky lemon butter sauce is absolutely delicious and flavorful. This Mahi Mahi recipe is easy to prepare and brings a delicious fresh seafood dinner to the table in under 25 minutes. Delicious served with pasta.
Garlic Butter Mahi Mahi Recipe
This garlic butter Mahi Mahi is an easy homemade fish recipe cooked with the simplest ingredients. This flaky, tender mahi-mahi dish tastes incredibly delicious with a buttery lemon sauce.
Mahi-mahi is a meaty white fish with a mild sweet taste. The semi-firm texture of the meat is perfectly cooked with a light browning on the outside, while the interior is still moist and soaked in all the flavor from the sauce. Can you believe this palatable seafood dish only takes 25 minutes to cook?
Garlic Butter Mahi Mahi Ingredients
- Lemons
- Mahi-mahi fillets
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Unsalted butter
- Fresh parsley
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
How To Make Garlic Butter Mahi Mahi
To make the best garlic butter Mahi Mahi, I recommend you to pan-sear the mahi-mahi fillets in a cast-iron skillet which will add more flavor to the dish when it’s done.
First, prepare the fresh lemon juice and lemon slices for the sauce.
Secondly, rinse and pat dry the mahi-mahi fillets with paper towels. Season the fillets on both sides with salt and ground black pepper. Set aside.
Heat the skillet (or nonstick frying pan) with olive oil on medium heat. Add the mahi-mahi fillets to the skillet, and sear them for 4 to 5 minutes on each side (which depends on the thickness of the fillet). Gently flip the fillets over and cook them until both sides are golden brown and cooked through. Let rest on a plate.
Use the same skillet for cooking the lemon butter sauce. Add lemon juice, garlic, and a pinch of salt to the skillet. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and constantly stir the sauce until aromatic.
Add lemon slices and butter to the skillet; keep stirring the sauce until butter melts. Transfer the mahi-mahi fillets to the skillet, and cook them for an extra 1 to 2 minutes. Spoon the sauce over the fillets to get them soaked in flavor.
Serve immediately with chopped fresh parsley sprinkled on top.
Cooking Tips
- To ensure garlic butter mahi-mahi is cooked perfectly, choose a 4 to 6 oz mahi-mahi fillet for this recipe. Too small or too big of the mahi-mahi fillet will lead to an overcooked or undercooked issue.
- Always use fresh lemon juice to make the sauce for the recipe, which will bring the dish a light and refreshing taste.
- You can also use a compound butter instead of just regular butter, such as my garlic herb butter, for an extra burst of flavor!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use either fresh mahi-mahi fillets or frozen ones. The best way to defrost frozen mahi-mahi fillet is to keep it in an airtight bag and leave it in the refrigerator overnight. Cook the fish the next day to have a fresh taste.
Yes, mahi-mahi is healthy and provides protein, vitamins, and minerals to our bodies. It helps to maintain healthy skin, brain function and also prevents joint problems.
This recipe is 325 calories per serving.
What To Serve With Garlic Butter Mahi Mahi
For an easy and wholesome weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes:
I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
Other Recipes You Might Like
Garlic Butter Mahi Mahi
Ingredients
- 2 small lemons
- 4 mahi-mahi fillets, 4-6 oz each
- salt
- Ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cut one lemon in half and squeeze the juice into a bowl. Slice another lemon into thin rounds. Set both the lemon juice and lemon slices aside.
- Rinse the mahi-mahi fillets with cold water and pat them dry with paper towels. Season both sides of the fillets with salt and black pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet (or nonstick frying pan) over medium heat. Add the mahi-mahi fillets to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes on each side, flipping gently, until both sides are golden brown and the fish is cooked through. Remove from the skillet and let the fillets rest on a plate.
- In the same skillet, add lemon juice, garlic, and a pinch of salt. Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir constantly until the mixture becomes aromatic.
- Add the lemon slices and butter to the skillet. Continue stirring the sauce until the butter melts. Return the mahi-mahi fillets to the skillet and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, spooning the sauce over the fillets to enhance the flavor.
- Turn off the heat and serve the dish immediately, garnished with chopped fresh parsley.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made this for the first time last night. This is a restaurant grade impressive dish that takes very little effort. We loved it and will do again. Thank you !
Hi Dan, thanks for your wonderful comment and 5 stars rating. I am so glad you enjoyed my recipe. Please try more recipes on my site: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipes/
Can this be baked?
Yes.
Made it tonight. Deeeelicious. Will be making it again.
:)
This is absolutely delicious! My husband and I both loved it. I will definitely make it again and again.
Nice! :)
Can you use other fish for this garlic butter mahi mahi recipe.?
You could try!