Blackened mahi mahi comes together in just minutes with an easy homemade seasoning blend and a few minutes under the broiler for a deliciously simple dinner.
We’re eating a lot of beef and pork lately having bought half a pig and cow this winter. And while both are delicious, I need to intersperse some seafood throughout the week for the sake of variety.
There’s no easier (and cost effective) way to do that than by keeping frozen wild seafood on hand from a big box store. We always have either frozen salmon, cod or mahi-mahi in the freezer.
And one of the easiest ways to prepare any of these fish that also brings big flavor is using blackening seasoning.
I’ve already shared a blackened cod recipe here so I figured it was time to share another favorite, blackened mahi mahi filets.
INGREDIENTS TO MAKE BLACKENED MAHI MAHI
- mahi mahi filets (fresh or frozen)
- blackening spices: smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, brown or coconut sugar, cayenne, salt, pepper, basil, oregano, parsley
- avocado oil spray
- lime wedges for serving
MAHI MAHI – If you’re able to find fresh mahi mahi, by all means grab a few filets and use that! But, if like me, the only availability is frozen, simply thaw the mahi mahi, pat dry and they’ll be ready to use for this recipe.
BLACKENING SPICES – The beauty of blackening seasoning is its flexibility to your preferences. If you like a spicy hot blackening seasoning, simply use more cayenne powder. This recipe is flavorful but not spicy as it’s written. If you have a pre-mixed blackening seasoning on hand, feel free to use that instead of blending all the individual spices together.
HOW TO COOK BLACKENED MAHI MAHI
Start by preheating the broiler in the oven. The top rack should be positioned in the upper third of the oven.
Pat the filets dry and lightly spray with the avocado oil.
Mix the blackening spices together in a small bowl. Press the seasoning into the fish generously coating both sides of the filets.
Place the mahi mahi in a baking dish and broil for about 10 minutes until cooked through and flaky.
Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the filets so start checking around the 7-8 minute mark. The flesh should easily flake apart when it’s cooked through. Don’t overcook as mahi mahi tends to get rubbery if cooked too long.
BLACKENING VS. CAJUN SEASONING
These two terms are often used synonymously but there is a slight difference.
Blackening seasoning is flavorful without being overly spicy whereas cajun seasoning has much more of a kick in it from a heavier use of hot spices.
WHAT MAKES A FISH BLACKENED?
The term “blackened” is defined simply by using a set of seasonings. When cooked, the fish appears dark in color from the spices giving it a blackened appearance.
Blackened fish can be cooked in a variety of ways including seared in a skillet, grilled or baked/broiled in the oven.
WHAT KIND OF FISH IS MAHI MAHI?
Mahi mahi is often called “dolphin” which can be a bit misleading. Mahi mahi is technically a “dolphinfish”, it is not at all related to the mammal, dolphin.
This tropical fish is semi-sweet yet mild in flavor. It’s often used on restaurant menus in fish tacos. Its flesh is firm, meaty and flaky, similar to halibut but often less expensive.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH BLACKENED MAHI
Blackened fish goes well with so many side dishes. You can make an easy meal of this by serving with cooked white rice and your favorite vegetable.
The savory and spicy blackening seasoning pairs really well with fruit. A fruit salsa like this pineapple habanero salsa recipe is the perfect accompaniment to the fish. The bright flavors from the salsa balance the spices on the fish and a squeeze of lime is all that’s needed to pull it all together.
Serve the mahi mahi over a salad for a lighter meal or use it as the main protein in tacos for other meal options.
For summer enjoyment, pair it with a mango black bean salad or a fresh summer corn tomato salad.
This tahini carrot salad is perfect for winter while this jicama salad can be enjoyed any time of year.
MORE SEAFOOD RECIPES LIKE THIS:
Seared salmon with tomato corn salsa
Honey lime sablefish
Greek stuffed whole snapper
Dijon almond crusted tilapia
Craving chicken instead? These blackened chicken tenders are a delicious way to enjoy blackening seasoning for kids or adults who don’t want fish.
Blackened Mahi Mahi
Ingredients
- 2 mahi mahi filets, about 6-8 ounces each
- avocado oil spray
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon coconut sugar, or brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
- 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the broiler in the oven.
- Lightly spray the fish with the avocado oil spray.
- Mix all the spices together in a small bowl then press into both sides of each filet until generously coated with the mixture.
- Place the mahi mahi in a baking dish and cook under the broiler for about 10 minutes until the fish is cooked through and flaky.
- Remove from the oven, serve with lime wedges.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
So delicious, full of flavor and the mahi was perfectly tender. Where I live we have plenty of Mahi, so I can enjoy this recipe often!
I have tried blackened cod, which I love. But this recipe is even better. The flavours are absolutely delicious. A great speedy dinner.
We had no leftovers from this blackened mahi mahi! Served it with my fav green salad and it was a perfect combo!
Whew! I rarely make fish so this was such a treat! And that hint of cayenne on it was perfection.
I was lucky to find mahi mahi, and I tried this recipe. Delicious, the mix of spices was perfect.
My New Year’s resolution was to try to incorporate more fish into our diet so I tried this out on the family and they liked it. It helped that they like all the spices you used in this. It’s a keeper for sure.
We loved this so much. It was my first time cooking Mahi mahi. I also made your corn tomato salad, too!
This was my first time cooking mahi mahi and we are hooked! It’s such a lovely meaty fish and your seasoning blend made it flavorful and satisfying. Thanks for the easy recipe!