Macadamia-Crusted Mahi Mahi

Fish is relatively simple to cook when you need a fast dinner, and this macadamia-crusted mahi mahi is a great recipe when you want fish that isn’t just plain fish. A pan-fried crust of panko and macadamia nuts coats the tender mahi mahi fillets, and the whole thing is topped with a sweet and savory ginger-soy sauce.

This is one of those versatile recipes that works well for a regular weeknight dinner or a more formal gathering when you want the food to look out of this world. The best part (other than the flavor, obviously) is that it doesn’t take long to make.

Ingredients for Macadamia-Crusted Mahi Mahi

• Panko bread crumbs and macadamia nuts: Panko bread crumbs and macadamia nuts combine to create a crunchy coating for each fish fillet.
• White pepper: White pepper gives the coating a bit of a bite while blending in better visually than black pepper.
• Egg and all-purpose flour: You’ll need to dip the fish in egg and flour to ensure the nut coating sticks to the fillets.
• Mahi mahi fillets: You’ll want to get fillets that weigh about 4 ounces each.
• Brown sugar: Brown sugar sweetens the sauce that you’ll drizzle over the fish and counters any saltiness from the soy sauce.
• Soy sauce: Use reduced-sodium soy sauce so you have better control over the amount of salt in the sauce. If you can’t use soy sauce due to an allergy or preference, try using this soy sauce substitute, or use gluten-free tamari if you need to avoid gluten.
• Minced gingerroot: This gives the sauce a little more spice that pairs well with the pepper in the nut coating.

Directions

Step 1: Make the nut coating

Place the bread crumbs, nuts, salt and pepper in a food processor. Cover the food processor, and pulse the mixture until the nuts are finely chopped.

Step 2: Coat the fish

In a shallow bowl, whisk together the egg and water. Put the flour in another shallow bowl, and the nut mixture in a third. Coat each fillet with flour, then dip it in the egg mixture, then coat it with the nut mixture.

Step 3: Cook the fish

In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Cook the coated fillets for three to four minutes on each side (six to eight minutes total) or until golden brown.

Step 4: Make the sauce

In a small, microwave-safe bowl, combine the brown sugar, soy sauce and ginger. Microwave the mixture, uncovered, on high for 30 to 60 seconds or until the sugar is completely dissolved. Drizzle the sauce over the fish.

Macadamia-Crusted Mahi Mahi Variations

• Substitute another fish: If you don’t have mahi mahi, try making this recipe with salmon. Use fillets that are a similar size and weight.
• Change up the nuts: If you don’t like macadamia nuts, try using almonds instead.

How to Store Macadamia-Crusted Mahi Mahi

Leftover macadamia-nut-crusted mahi mahi can go in the refrigerator. It will last three to four days, but the sooner you finish it, the better. It’s imperative that you place the fish in an airtight container. If you don’t, the odors from the fish could seep out and make your entire refrigerator smell like fish.

Can you freeze macadamia-crusted mahi mahi?

Freezing leftover macadamia-crusted mahi mahi isn’t advisable. The thickness of the fish plus the extra layers of egg and nuts make it harder to safely reheat the fish evenly.

Macadamia-Crusted Mahi Mahi Tips

Can you bake this mahi mahi instead of frying it?

Yes. You can bake the mahi mahi, typically at temperatures between 375° and 450°F. The lower the temperature, the longer the cooking time; times can range from 15 to 30 minutes.

Why do you need that initial layer of flour when coating the fish?

When you dip the fish in flour and egg, you’re doing the same thing as when coating chicken. That initial flour layer absorbs any leftover moisture on the surface of the fish and provides some traction for the egg layer. If you dip the fish in the egg without the flour, the egg can slip off easily because the fish’s flesh is so comparatively smooth.

What can you serve with this mahi mahi with macadamia nut crust?

A salad is a good side dish, as are grilled vegetables. If you’re serving macadamia-crusted mahi mahi to kids, you might try giving them some fun, themed drinks like a tropical fish punch.