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mahi mahi recipe

Pan-Seared Mahi Mahi with Lemon Butter Sauce

A quick mahi mahi recipe yielding tender, flaky fillets with a golden crust and bright lemon-butter pan sauce in under 20 minutes.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total Time 23 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 270 kcal

Ingredients
  

Ingredients

  • 4 mahi mahi fillets (6 oz each) skinless
  • 0.25 tsp kosher salt per side
  • 0.25 tsp freshly ground black pepper per side
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Pat fillets dry and place on paper towels; let rest for 10 minutes, then season both sides with 0.25 teaspoon kosher salt and 0.25 teaspoon black pepper.

Cooking

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high until shimmering, about 1 minute.
  • Add fillets and cook undisturbed for 4 minutes, until golden and sizzling gently.
  • Flip fillets, add butter to the pan, and cook another 2–3 minutes, until opaque and flaky.
  • Push fish aside, add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  • Stir in lemon juice and parsley, swirl sauce, then spoon over fillets.

Notes

Personal testing note: resting fillets on paper towels for 10 minutes gave a crisp crust.
Personal testing note: basting fish with butter at the end builds extra flavor and shine.
Personal testing note: storing leftover fillets in their pan sauce helps them reheat moist.

Nutrition

Serving: 170gCalories: 270kcalCarbohydrates: 1g
Keyword easy fish skillet, fast seafood, lemon butter fish, mahi mahi recipe, seared mahi mahi
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