Rebecca Baron 31 Comments
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This quick and easy grilled Mahi Mahi recipe in a lemon butter sauce is a really good copycat recipe I made up after eating it in one of my favorite restaurants, Carraba's Italian Grill. It only takes about half an hour to make from start to finish and is very little hands-on work during that time.
For a long period of time, this was pretty much the only restaurant that I trusted eating out at with my very strict dietary needs. I knew the workers, and they were very accomodating to make an order custom for specific needs. This Mahi Mahi dish is my to-go dish when I go to Carraba's, it is so good I tend to always be drawn to it.
Generally, this dish is breaded and the breading is really good. I thought it would be fun to do a grilled fish with this lemon butter sauce since there are a lot of recipes out there for pan-fried or baked with this kind of sauce.
Mahi-Mahi holds up SO well to grilling because it's firm enough that it won't fall apart. It is also not a very "fishy" tasting fish, so it's a good fish to try if you aren't a big fish person.
As a bonus, this grilled fish recipe is Paleo, gluten-free and "clean" and only has a few ingredients. The grill flavor makes it have a smokey flavor that you wouldn't get if you breaded this dish.
This recipe would be really good to cook for someone you want to impress. It would also be good for a special dinner with your significant other since there would be a lot fewer people than a crowded restaurant and it would cost a lot less money too. Plus, when you eat at home, you know exactly what you are getting because there are no hidden ingredients.
Ingredients
It couldn't get much simpler than this!
- Fresh mahi-mahi fillets - If you don't have access to fresh ones, just buy the frozen ones. I know Costco has individually frozen ones and they are easy to unthaw overnight in the refrigerator in the individual vacuum-sealed packets. One of the reasons I love mahi-mahi for this recipe is it holds up really well on the grill. It doesn't fall apart like other fish. But you can totally use other fish - just use a grilled basket. Mahi also has a nice, mild flavor and they are kind of dense. I like to think of them as the steak version of fish.
- Olive oil - or your favorite cooking oil, such as avocado oil to coat the fish so it won't stick to the grill and to help seal in the flavors to start. I use oil for this since you want something with a higher smoke point for the grill.
- Butter - this is a recipe I save my good-quality butter, such as Kerrygold, for since it is one of the stars of the dish. However, if you are on a diet where you don't do butter, go ahead and try it with ghee *. It's just clarified butter, after all.
- Chicken stock - Store-bought works fine - or I've gotten to where I often make chicken bone broth myself in either the slow cooker or Instant Pot * and freeze it in 8-ounce freezer containers * for recipes like this. I also make vegetable stock from my leftover onions, carrots, celery, garlic and a few other random vegetable scraps and freeze that. All this saves me a ton of money and tastes way better than anything from a store.
- Lemons - I just love lemons - and I assume you do too since you are reading this post. If you "do" essential oils, through in a few drops of those for a little extra health benefit and a little extra lemon flavor.
I've also made this recipe in a frying pan by first heating it up then putting a little oil in the pan and cooking on both sides until it flakes easily with a fork. Then set the fish to the side and make the lemon butter sauce in the same pan.
Do you like to eat at Carrabba's too? I'm so spoiled since there is one only a few blocks from my house. What's your favorite Carrabba's dish? My husband's favorite is the Chicken Bryan since it has goat cheese and he can't do regular dairy but tolerates cow's milk butter, goat milk and cheese just fine.
This easy roasted vegetable recipe is my #1 way to cook vegetables. I'm obsessed and you will be too. Try it with any recipe.
Simple, Healthy Roasted Vegetables Recipe
I hope you enjoy it and let us know what you think of the dish in the comments below. 🙂
Recipe
Grilled Mahi Mahi Recipe in a Lemon Butter Sauce
★★★★★5 from 13 reviews
- Author: Rebecca Baron
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Paleo
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Description
This is simple enough to make on a weeknight but fancy enough for company. Once you try this lemon butter sauce, you will want to put it on everything!
Ingredients
Scale
Instructions
- Preheat a grill to medium/high heat.
- Place the Mahi Mahi fillets in a bowl and sprinkle salt and pepper over the top of the fish, to taste.
- Drizzle the olive oil over the fish and turn the fish to coat.
- Place the fish on the hot grill and let cook for about 3-4 minutes per side (depending on thickness), turning carefully. You will know it is done when it flakes easily with a fork.
- Remove from the grill to a serving dish.
- While the fish is cooking, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium/high heat in a small saute pan.
- Add the minced onion to the butter and saute for about 2 minutes, or until softened.
- Add garlic and saute for an additional 30 seconds.
- Add the chicken stock to the pan and let simmer until reduced by half.
- Add the lemon juice and cook for 2 more minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat.
- Add the remaining butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, to the sauce and stir in until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
- Add salt to taste, if desired.
- Pour butter sauce over the top of the mahi mahi and serve.
Keywords: Grilled, Easy, Fancy, Healthy
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Sassyhipmom
This was so good! I used *Melt* rich and creamy butter from plants and no one noticed
★★★★★
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Debbie A.
First time cooking Mahi Mahi, I’m impressed.
★★★★★
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Sara
I did it!
★★★★★
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Becca
Loved this I substituted butter for plant butter and added some coconut milk to the sauce and it turned out perfectly!
★★★★★
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Fernando
This fish is delicious and tasty
★★★★★
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Astrid
Can I make this in the oven? What temp? How long?
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Rebecca Baron
I would follow the oven directions in this recipe - https://www.mynaturalfamily.com/fish-veracruz-recipe/
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Suzanne Harman
This was good! I love a good lemon sauce.
★★★★★
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Shelley Helmich
My husband heard me say I liked Mahi Mahi and surprised me with them after he took a trip to the grocery store. I found your recipe and it sounded really good. I made it tonight and served it with fresh sweet corn right out of the field.....mmm-mmm-mmm….your recipe was delicious!!!
★★★★★
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Cori Williams
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Jennifer
Made this tonight for dinner with zuchinni noodles. I poured sauce over fish and noodles. It was amazing! My fiance who does not eat fish raved over it and wants to put it in our food rotation. Thanks so much
★★★★★
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Rebecca Baron
That makes me so happy! I'm so glad the recipe worked out well for you. I know I could practically drink the sauce. So. Good.
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Nicole C
This was super simple and amazing!!! Soooo good!
★★★★★
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Whitt
Hello ... As a butter-and-lemon-loving pescatarian, this dish speaks to me on several levels. I wanted to ask if it would alter the flavor much if I used vegetable stock in place of chicken. Thank you!
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Rebecca
I haven't tried it, but I wouldn't think that it would. It's definitely worth a try!
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Lyndell
Guess I'm a little dense, need clarification. is this 5-6 1 oz pieces or 5 pieces that are each 5-6 oz. a 1 oz piece of fish doesn't seem like much for a serving.
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Rebecca
It's 6 fillets that are 5-6 ounces each. But it looks like the nutrition label was wrong, so it's a good thing you asked. I went ahead and fixed it so other people won't be confused.
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Tracy
I am excited to try this recipe! I have a question about how much fish. Is that 6 pieces of fish 5-6 oz each, or one piece of fish? I love lemon, but my husband is not a fan. Juice from 2 whole lemons seems like a lot. does it taste really lemony? The Carrabbas one does not.
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Rebecca
That is 6 pieces of 5-6 ounce fish. Thanks for asking. It was worded weirdly before, so I changed it. I don't think it's very lemony cause that's a lot of fish and the butter helps mellow out the lemon flavor, but if you're worried about it, you can always use water or chicken stock in place of half the lemon, or at least for your husband's portion. We all practically drink the sauce at our house, including my children though, so I may not be the best person to ask . . .
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Danielle
Thank you very much for the delicious recipe! This was my first time cooking mahi mani. I found out I did not have lemons so I had to make it with limes. It was still fabulous!
★★★★★
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Rebecca
I'm glad you liked it. I can't even imagine what it tasted like with limes, but I'm glad it turned out and maybe someone else who doesn't have lemons will get brave and try it too. I've found that cooking fish on the grill is a good way to cook fish that turns out consistently good.
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Michelle
We made this tonight. My husband said we haven’t had diner this good in a long time. I made it with egg noodles and roasted veggies ( butternut squash, broccoli and cauliflower). The butter sauce is so good. We will make this again when I will be trying to show off to my in-laws over the holidays.
★★★★★
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Raegin
This looks so good and since I'm whole 30ing perfect also. What did you serve this with?
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Rebecca
Oh, I usually have it with grilled vegetables and a salad. Maybe others have a more original idea?
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Raegin
We had this Friday and the kids and hubby loved it! I served with roasted asparagus and potatoes but grilled veggies sound great too. Thank you!
★★★★★
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Diana
sorry I am not a great chef. I am a little confused. When we remove from grill is it cooked all the way or are we cooking some more in the serving dish?
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Rebecca
Cooked all the way.
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Denise
This recipe looks so good. I'm excited to give it a try. . . maybe this week!
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Rebecca
Please let me know if you like it!
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Denise
Oh my! This is so good! Our family loved it!
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Rebecca
So good to hear! Thanks for taking the time to comment.
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