• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cooking in The Keys
  • Blog
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Blog
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
  • Follow

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Blog
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • Contact
  • Follow

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Seafood Recipes

    Seared Mahimahi with Basil Butter

    Published: Dec 22, 2020 · Modified: Oct 27, 2022 by Felice Kaufman ·

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    mahi mahi

    Seared Mahimahi with Basil Butter is an easy two-pot meal that you'll One of the prized jewels of the Florida Keys is Mahimahi. Also known as Mahi, Dorado, and Dolphin, the mild white fish is abundant in the Keys. In all the Florida Keys restaurants, the Special du Jour is always Mahi! This is an easy recipe with remarkable results!

    This recipe is Low Carb, Keto, Gluten-Free, Paleo, and Kaufmann Diet friendly.

    Mahi-mahi-in-butter-sauce

    When you're in a restaurant in The Keys, your server will ask you if you'd like to hear the daily specials; he or she will undoubtedly utter the words, "Our fresh fish today is Mahi." It's everywhere! You want to cook and eat Mahi the day they catch it, and with minimal effort, you'll have a restaurant-quality dinner to remember.

    If you're in The Keys on vacation, you can hop on a charter boat, and your captain will find you a school of dolphins, which, from what I hear, are pretty easy to catch. The fish are cleaned when the boat comes into the harbor, and they can be packed on ice and brought to any restaurant, and they will cook it for you. There are also services to have your fish packed in dry ice and sent back to your home.

    The Key to Cooking Fresh Fish

    The key to cooking fish is getting the best fresh fish you can find. If you're in the USA, come to Florida, go fishing, and fish. OK, so it's not that easy if you don't live down here. You can order fresh Mahimahi online from my friends at Key Largo Fisheries. They catch it and overnight it right to your house.

    Mahi is a thin white fish. It's firmer and less flaky than flounder or sole. The fish holds up well in a skillet or on the grill and it's easy to cook. It has a sweet flavor.

    florida-keys-mahimahi

    The image above shows a photograph of the Mahimahi filet purchased from the Fisheries. However, the bloodline is still intact. With a fish knife or paring knife, you can easily cut it away. Don't worry, if you buy frozen Mahimahi at your grocery store, the bloodline has already been removed.

    how-to-remove-bloodline-from mahi

    How to Make Basil Butter Sauce

    This sauce is simple to make, and it tastes great. To make it, combine unsalted butter with fresh lemon juice, a clove of garlic, salt, pepper, and a few thinly sliced basil leaves in a small pot over low heat. Give it a whisk and let it heat while you're preparing the fish.

    How to Sear Mahimahi

    Rinse the fish and pat dry before cooking to get a good sear on the fish. Heat a few tablespoons of oil in cast-iron skillet. Get it hot, but not smoking. Add two to four tablespoons of oil. Salt and pepper the fish on both sides and place it in the hot skillet. Cook about 4 minutes on the first side, and depending on the thickness of the filets, cook another 3-4 minutes. Remove from the pan with a thin spatula.

    What To Do With Leftovers

    To store leftovers, place the fish in an airtight container for up to two days. You can reheat it in a small hot skillet with a little unsalted butter for a minute or two.

    This recipe is for Seared Mahimahi with Basil Butter is adapted from Paula Deen at PaulaDeen.com.

    Try These Other Fresh Florida Keys Seafood Recipes:

    • Florida Keys Pink Shrimp Salad
    • Seared Yellowfin Tuna with Sesame Dipping Sauce
    • Shrimp Cocktail
    • Pan-Fried Yellowtail
    • Blackened Swordfish

    mahi mahi
    Print Recipe
    6

    Seared Mahimahi with Basil Butter

    This is a delicious recipe made with fresh Florida Keys Mahimahi. You can effortlessly create a restaurant-quality dish right on your own stovetop.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time15 mins
    Total Time25 mins
    Course: Entrees
    Cuisine: American
    Diet Type: Gluten Free
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 331.4kcal
    Author: Felice Kaufman

    Ingredients

    FOR THE SAUCE

    • 4 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • 1 ½ teaspoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
    • 1 garlic clove minced or pressed
    • ¼ teaspoon salt plus additional for seasoning
    • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper plus additional for seasoning
    • 1 ½ tablespoon fresh basil leaves stemmed and chopped + whole leaves for garnish

    FOR THE MAHI

    • 3 tbs olive oil
    • 1.25 pounds fresh wild-caught Mahi fillets
    • 2 lemons, sliced into wedges for serving

    Instructions

    FOR THE BASIL BUTTER

    • Combine sauce ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring until the butter melts. Cover and keep warm while you cook the fish over low heat.

    FOR THE FISH

    • Cut away the bloodline if present.
    • Rinse and pat the fish dry with paper towels. Season on both sides with salt and pepper.
    • Heat oil in a 12" cast-iron or heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Cook fish for 3 minutes; then turn (with a fish turner or wide spatula) and cook until just opaque, about 3 minutes more. Transfer the filets to individual plates.
    • Spoon the warm basil butter over the fish.
    • Garnish with whole basil leaves and lemon wedges.

    Notes

    This recipe is adapted from Seared Mahi Mahi with Zesty Basil Butter by Paula Deen at PaulaDeen.com.
     
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 331.4kcal | Carbohydrates: 5.5g | Protein: 27g | Total Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 8.9g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 133.6mg | Sodium: 273.1mg | Potassium: 676.5mg | Fiber: 1.6g | Sugar: 1.4g | Net Carbohydrates: 3.9g

    More Florida Seafood Recipes

    • Peel and Eat Shrimp Recipe
    • Blackened Shrimp with Butter Sauce Recipe
    • Florida Keys Stone Crabs
    • Green Mussels Recipe

    Sign up for our newsletter!

    Primary Sidebar

    felice kaufman

    Hi! I'm Felice. Join me on my culinary adventure in Key Largo, Florida, where I eat, cook, shop, and travel for fresh fish, fruit, vegetables, and more!

    LEARN MORE →

    Trending Recipes

    • Pan Seared Chicken Breasts
    • Pan Fried Yellowtail Snapper
    • Roasted Baby Eggplant Poppers
    • Authentic Spanish Rice Recipe

    Seasonal Recipes

    • Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Arugula
    • Homemade Green Pea Soup
    • Roasted Baby Eggplant Poppers
    • Oven Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots

    Keep in Touch

    Join our free email list

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Cooking in The Keys

    • About
    • Blog
    • Recipes
    • Privacy Policy
    • Photo Use Policy
    • Contact

    Copyright © 2023 Cooking in The Keys | All rights reserved