Sautéed Lemon Butter Mahi Mahi

This mahi mahi sautés until golden and then simmers in a light and lemony butter sauce. It looks restaurant quality but it’s actually easy and ready in under 20 minutes!

This delicious entree was inspired by my Lemon Butter Shrimp and the Garlic Lemon Halibut with Sautéed Asparagus in my Clean Paleo One Pot Meals cookbook (page 106). My son’s exact words the first time he tried it were “I’d order this in a restaurant!” so it’s eleven year old boy approved! And really is there any more coveted approval to receive?! I think not.

I’m using mahi mahi here because it’s a mild fish with minimal fishy flavor. You can easily swap it for halibut or cod if that’s what you have on hand though.

The fish gets a beautiful golden color by sautéing in a little olive oil before it’s time to flip. Then all the fun saucy ingredients go in… butter, lemon, garlic, and parsley. These ingredients all work together to create a light sauce you’ll spoon over the fillets when you serve.

For this recipe you’ll need (full list of ingredients and instructions are in the recipe card below):

• Olive oil
• Mahi Mahi fillets
• Butter
• Lemon juice
• Minced garlic
• Fresh parsley
• Salt and pepper

What is mahi mahi

Mahi mahi is a lean white fish with a mild flavor. It’s known as a dolphin fish (no, it’s not a dolphin). You can sauté, grill, or bake mahi mahi. It should be prepared without the skin because the skin is fairly thick and tough.

There are tons of health benefits to mahi mahi too! It’s packed with selenium, vitamin B, potassium, and omega 3 fatty acids. While large fish tend to have high levels of mercury, mahi mahi appears to be the exception. It’s considered to have low to moderate levels of mercury because of it’s shorter life span.

Fresh vs frozen mahi mahi

You can use either fresh or frozen mahi mahi for this recipe. I usually choose frozen because it’s a more cost efficient option and readily available.

If using frozen, you’ll want to thaw it first. You can thaw it in the refrigerator overnight. To thaw it the same day you’ll be cooking it, keep it in its packaging and add it to a bowl of cool water. Let it sit, changing the water if it gets too cold, until thawed, usually about 30 minutes.

Tips for perfectly sautéed mahi mahi

• Make sure to purchase fillets that are close to 6 ounces each. Thinner fillets will cook too quickly. You can make it work but you’ll need to adjust your cooking times to avoid drying out the fish.
• Pat the mahi mahi with paper towels before sautéing. This isn’t a step you can skip! It helps ensure our fish browns and doesn’t stick to the pan.
• Get the oil hot before adding the fish to the pan. You should hear a sizzle when the fish goes in!
• Let the mahi mahi sauté without flipping until the part touching the bottom of the pan is golden in color. Flipping your fish too often can make it fall apart. Flipping your fish too early won’t get you the color you want.

Can you use a different fish?

Yes, another mild white fish like halibut or cod would work beautifully in this recipe.

How to store leftovers

Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. You can also freeze it for up to 4 months. Note that you may need to add extra sauce when you reheat it from frozen.

How to serve this

This lemony fish is perfect with roasted potatoes or rice and a green vegetable. I suggest my Herb Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Broccoli. I also love it over angel hair pasta. (I wouldn’t use a thicker pasta because the sauce and flavor of the fish is very light so a bigger noodle will overpower it.)

In the photo above I’m serving this mahi mahi with sautéed cauliflower rice and spinach. It’s not a recipe on the blog yet so if you’d like to make it, simply sauté cauliflower rice with two handfuls of fresh spinach in a little olive oil until cauliflower is softened. Season with salt and garlic powder.

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