Smoky Mahi Mahi Rice Bowl, Smashed Cucumber

Smoky Mahi Mahi Rice Bowl
🌶️ 🐟 🍚 🧄 🥒
Paprika-Seared Mahi Mahi, Brown Rice
Garlic Butter, Smashed Cucumber

Smoky paprika-seared mahi mahi is paired with a warm garlic butter pan sauce, lemon, and parsley, then served over brown rice for a simple, satisfying bowl.

The fish is cut into generous pieces, seasoned with paprika and salt, and seared in olive oil and butter until just cooked through, building flavor in the pan before being finished with minced garlic and citrus.

To balance the richness of the butter sauce, a smashed cucumber side is tossed with light soy sauce, rice vinegar, olive oil, sesame seeds, and chile flakes. Served alongside the rice rather than on top, it keeps its crunch and brightness, offering a cool contrast to the warm fish and sauce in every bite.

Smoky Mahi Mahi Rice Bowl Recipe

Ingredients

Mahi Mahi

Mahi mahi fillet, cut into 2″ pieces
Paprika, to coat
Salt, to taste
Olive oil
Butter

Garlic Butter Sauce

Lots of minced garlic
Fresh parsley, chopped
Lemon juice

Smashed Cucumber

1 English cucumber
1 T. light soy sauce
1 T. rice vinegar
1/2 T. olive oil
1 T. toasted sesame seeds
1/4 t. chile flakes
1/4 t. salt

To Serve

Cooked brown rice

Method

1. Smashed cucumber

Cut cucumber into 2–3 inch pieces. Place in a bag and gently smash with a mallet until lightly split. Transfer to a bowl and toss with soy sauce, rice vinegar, olive oil, sesame seeds, chile flakes, and salt. Set aside.

2. Mahi mahi

Season fish pieces with paprika and salt.

Heat olive oil and butter in a pan over medium-high heat. Sear mahi mahi pieces until golden and just cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside.

3. Garlic butter sauce

In the same pan, add minced garlic to the remaining butter and oil. Cook until fragrant and lightly golden. Remove from heat and finish with parsley and lemon juice.

4. Assemble

Place equal amounts of brown rice and smashed cucumber on each side of the bowls, keeping them separate. Top with mahi mahi pieces. Spoon warm garlic butter sauce over the fish.

More Mahi Mahi 🐟

I am always pleasantly surprised by Mahi Mahi (also known as dorado or dolphinfish). It has a sweet mild flavor similar to swordfish, firm texture with large moist flakes.

The name Mahi Mahi means strong-strong in Hawaiian, referring to its swimming ability, not its flavor. This species of fish grows and matures quickly and has a lifespan of 5 years, so its population can probably withstand any fishing pressures.

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