Protein: Seafood, Mahi Mahi
Origin: Taste of the Islands
Method: Stovetop, Oven
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I am pretty sure the first time I every had the pleasure of eating Mahi Mahi was during our first trip to Hawaii. It was our 1 year anniversary and the wife and I travelled to Maui. I do not really remember if my first experience with Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi was at Roy's or Mama's Fish House but I loved it so much, I knew I had to order it again a few nights later at the other establishment and I was equally as impressed. There was something about the flaky texture and subtle flavor of the fish paired with the buttery crunch of the nut topping, that I absolutely fell in love with.
Mahi Mahi is a Polynesian word meaning "strong strong." Elsewhere in the world you may see it called dolphinfish, dorado, or simply dolphin. Don't worry, it has absolutely no relation to flipper or any of it's mammal relatives.
Making the Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi
Preparing the topping
To make the coating for the Mahi Mahi you will need butter, flour, panko style bread crumbs, and macadamia nuts.
Season Mahi Mahi with Kosher salt and fresh black pepper on both sides. Coarsely chop the macadamia nuts. Combine the chopped nuts with the flour, panko, and melted butter in a small bowl.
Brush fish with some of the coconut milk. Spread the nut mixture evenly over the top of the pieces or Mahi Mahi and pat into the fish.
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Bake the Mahi Mahi for 5-10 minutes or until the fish is cooked through. Mahi Mahi is done when it reaches an internal temp of 137 degrees and starts to flake easily. Don't overcook it. Increase the heat to a broil and broil for an additional 2 minutes to brown the topping. Note: you may want to do this before you reach an internal temp of 137 degrees to prevent overcooking the fish. Keep a careful eye on it to prevent burning.
Make the Coconut Sauce for the Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi
For the coconut sauce you will need ginger, garlic, palm or turbinado sugar, coconut milk, fish sauce and chicken broth or stock, and basil. Prepare the sauce while the fish is cooking or before and keep it warm while you cook the fish.
Heat a couple tablespoons of oil over medium-high heat. Add the ginger and garlic and sauté for about 2 minutes.
Add the fish sauce and stir, then immediately add the chicken stock, coconut milk, sugar, and basil. For this version we chose a ginger and turmeric chicken bone broth for some extra flavor, but you can use your favorite.
Bring the sauce to a brief boil then reduce heat. Simmer for 8-10 minutes until the sauce thickens some. If you prefer a thicker sauce you can cook it a bit longer.
Put some sauce on the dish and then add the cooked fish on top of the sauce.
This Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi With Coconut Sauce pairs perfectly with forbidden rice or Caribbean Rice and Beans. Add some grilled veggies and pour yourself a Coconut Mai Tai and you have yourself a complete meal.
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📖 Recipe
Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi with Coconut Sauce
Equipment
- Sauce Pan
- Oven Safe Dish or Pan
Ingredients
- 2 Pieces Mahi Mahi
- Salt and Pepper to Taste
Macadamia Nut Topping
- ½ Cup Macadamia Nuts Coarsly chopped
- ¼ Cup Panko Style Bread Crumbs
- 1 Tab Flour
- 2 Tab Butter melted
Coconut Sauce
- 2 Tab Oil
- 1 Tab Ginger minced
- 1 Tab Garlic minced
- 2 tea Fish Sauce
- 1 Cup Chicken Stock
- 1 Cup Coconut Milk
- 1 Tab Palm Sugar or Turbinado Sugar
- 10 Fresh Basil Leaves Chopped
Instructions
Mahi Mahi
- Combine the chopped nuts, flour, melted butter, and panko in a small bowl and mix to combine.
- Season Mahi Mahi with Kosher salt and pepper on both sides. Brush the fish with some of the coconut milk.
- Spread and pat the nut mixture on top of the fish pieces.
- Bake in the oven at 425 degrees for 5-10 minutes and then broil for an additional 2 minutes until the topping is golden.
Coconut Sauce
- Heat oil in a 1 quart sauce pan on medium high heat. Add the ginger and garlic and sauté for about 2 minutes.
- Add the fish sauce and stir. Immediately add chicken stock, coconut milk, palm sugar, basil and simmer.
- Simmer for 8-10 minutes until it thickens. Put some sauce on the dish and then add the cooked fish on top of the sauce. Serve with your favorite rice and vegetable.
Abby
This recipe was fantastic! I was looking to make something similar to Mama’s fish house and you get all the flavor in this dish! I put the sauce in my vitamix at the end and wow I, flavor!! Highly recommend!
Carne Diem
Awesome!! So glad you liked it. The recipe was definitely inspired by our trip to Maui and visiting Mamas Fish House and Roy's.