Description
Succulent mahi mahi with lemon garlic cream sauce delivers Mediterranean coastal flavors in one elegant dish. Delicate fish fillets bathe in zesty sauce, promising a restaurant-quality meal you can easily create at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 mahi mahi fillets (4–6 oz / 113–170 g each, 1-inch thick)
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 tbsps all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsps minced shallots
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ¼ cups low sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- ½ tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- 2 tbsps lemon juice
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Freshly chopped chives
Instructions
- Spice Preparation: Blend all spice ingredients thoroughly in a medium bowl, creating a robust and aromatic seasoning mix.
- Fish Preparation: Meticulously dry mahi mahi fillets with paper towels, then massage the spice blend uniformly across each fillet’s surface, ensuring complete coverage.
- Searing: Heat a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high, combining butter and olive oil until shimmering. Carefully place seasoned fillets in the pan, reducing heat to medium, and cook for 4 minutes to develop a golden-brown crust.
- Cooking Fish: Flip fillets and continue cooking for 2-4 minutes until fish flakes easily and reaches desired internal temperature. Transfer to a serving plate and loosely tent with foil.
- Sauce Base: In the same skillet, sauté shallots while scraping caramelized bits, then add garlic and cook briefly to release aromatic essences.
- Sauce Development: Whisk chicken broth and cornstarch in a separate bowl, then pour into the skillet along with heavy cream, lemon juice, thyme, and parsley. Simmer and stir until the sauce reduces by half and reaches a velvety consistency.
- Seasoning and Finishing: Adjust sauce with salt, pepper, and additional lemon juice to balance flavors. Gently return fish to the skillet, spooning sauce over the fillets.
- Presentation: Optionally garnish with chives and serve immediately alongside steamed rice, mashed potatoes, or pasta.
Notes
- Dry Fish Thoroughly: Completely pat mahi mahi fillets dry before seasoning to ensure a crispy, golden-brown exterior and prevent steaming.
- Spice Rub Technique: Massage spice blend evenly across fish surface for maximum flavor penetration and consistent seasoning.
- Sauce Consistency Control: Whisk cornstarch and broth separately to prevent lumps and achieve a smooth, velvety sauce texture.
- Temperature Management: Use medium-high heat initially for searing, then reduce to medium for even cooking and preventing fish from becoming tough or dry.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 570 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg