Description
A quick and elegant grilled mahi mahi recipe featuring a lemon-herb marinade and butter basting, perfect for a romantic date night or healthy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 Mahi Mahi fillets (1 to 1.5 inches thick)
- 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Juice of 1/2 to 1 Lemon (fresh)
- 3–4 Garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup Fresh Parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp Fresh Thyme leaves
- 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter, cold
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
- 1 tbsp Brown Sugar (optional, for caramelization)
Instructions
- Pat the mahi mahi fillets dry with paper towels to ensure the marinade adheres and promotes browning.
- In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, parsley, thyme, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and brown sugar (if using).
- Place fish in a shallow dish or resealable bag and pour marinade over it. Ensure fish is well-coated.
- Marinate in the refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes (do not exceed 2 hours to prevent the acid from breaking down the fish too much).
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat (400°F-450°F). Clean grates thoroughly and oil them generously using a paper towel dipped in oil held with tongs.
- Remove fish from marinade, letting excess drip off. Place fillets on the grill perpendicular to the grates.
- Close the lid and cook for 4-5 minutes without moving the fish to allow a sear to form.
- Check if fish releases easily from grates. If so, flip carefully using a fish spatula.
- Immediately baste the top side with remaining marinade and a knob of cold butter.
- Close lid and cook for another 3-4 minutes until fish is opaque throughout and flakes easily with a fork.
- Ensure internal temperature reaches 145°F (or remove at 140°F for residual cooking).
- Remove fish from grill and let rest for 2-3 minutes to redistribute juices.
- Serve immediately with lemon wedges and fresh herbs.
Notes
Do not marinate for longer than 2 hours as the lemon acid can make the texture mushy. If the fish sticks to the grill, do not force it; wait another minute for it to release naturally. For best results, use wild-caught mahi mahi and ensure the grill grates are clean and well-oiled.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet (approx. 3-
- Calories: 175
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Protein: 20
Keywords: grilled mahi mahi, date night dinner, healthy seafood, lemon herb fish, quick dinner, gluten-free recipe