Yep, it’s here. We had a warm December and barely needed coats on Christmas. But this week we are getting a stern reminder that we live in Boston and spring is a long time coming. The winds whipping in from the north make it feel much colder than to 20 degrees on the thermometer. Tucking into serious comfort food like these Wine Braised Short Ribs is one option for this weather. Then there is the Mahi Mahi with Pineapple Salsa approach.
Sometimes I like to warm up with the flavors of a warm place far away. Pineapple salsa does that for me. A little reggae on as I chop the pineapple and enjoy the salsa on mahi mahi, and we are transported to the Caribbean without a plane ticket.
Not cold as you read this? It’s tasty in its own right! You can still enjoy this dish on a warm evening, or if you are in the mood to grill, this recipe featured a grilled pineapple salsa to top swordfish.
Get the pineapple salsa made before cooking the mahi mahi. Buying fresh chopped pineapple is an option to speed up the prep, but chopping a whole pineapple is more cost effective and leaves you with some extra fruit.
This pineapple salsa will be more than enough for the quantity of fish. You can simply make more fish, or save the salsa to top chicken or pork, or add it to some tacos.
As I note in the instructions below, cooking time depends on the thickness of the fillet. If it is much thicker than an inch, have the oven ready in case you need a few minutes of roasting to finish it.
OK, ready for a tasty and healthy tropical meal? Get your pineapple ready and music playing, and enjoy some Mahi Mahi with Pineapple Salsa! I served the fish along with some Sweet Potatoes with Cumin Sage Butter.
Mahi Mahi Recipes
Here are a couple more healthy recipes featuring mahi mahi:
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Mahi Mahi with Pineapple Salsa
Pan Seared Mahi Mahi topped with a spicy pineapple salsa has a taste of a tropical island, no matter what the weather is like where you are!
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 2 to 3 servings 1x
- Category: Seafood
- Cuisine: Tropical
Ingredients
- 10 to 12 ozs mahi mahi fillet
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp rice wine vinegar
- 1.5 cups fresh pineapple, diced into ½ inch cubes
- 1 tsp serrano pepper
- tbsp cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 scallion, finely chopped (optional)
- dash of salt
Instructions
- Make a quick marninade: combine the olive oil, soy sauce and rice wine vinegar in a bowl.
- Add the mahi mahi to marinade. Gently turn the mahi mahi over once or twice so that it gets well coated with the marinade. Set aside for about 10 minutes.
- Make the pineapple salsa: combine the pineapple, serrano pepper, cilantro, lime juice, scallion if using. Add a dash of salt, and stir. Set aside until the fish is ready.
- Spray a skillet with cooking oil and heat the pan on medium high. If you are using a thick piece of fish, pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees in case you need to finish cooking it there.
- When the pan is good and hot, remove the mahi mahi from the marinade and gently shake off some of the excess marinade. Place the fish skin side down, and cook for 5 minutes without moving the fish. The skin will be getting nice and crispy underneath.
- Use a spatula to turn the fish over to cook with the skin side down for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Turn the fish back to the skin side one more time, and cook for another 2 minutes. At this point, gently cut open the fish at a thick spot to check for doneness. You want to get it so it has turned white throughout, but not overcooked. When the fish is cooked sufficiently, remove from the pan to a plate, and loosely tent with foil. Let it rest a couple of minutes, letting it cook a bit more.
- Note the actual time will depend on the thickness of your fillet. The pan searing alone works well for a fillet of about an inch. A thicker cut of fish can be finished by roasting for 3 to 4 minutes in a 400 degree oven.
- Serve the mahi mahi with pineapple salsa. Enjoy!
Linda
My kind of food. Healthy and so tasty. I did share on Twitter and google+
Cooking Chat
Thanks for stopping by & sharing the post, Linda!
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom
Okay, truth be told, I really do not like fish. I keep trying though and I have a feeling that with the Pineapple Salsa I will be sold. I will be trying this soon!
Cooking Chat
My wife is slowly warming up to fish too, with the likes of dishes like this!
Melanie | Melanie Makes
I can’t think of a better way to transport myself to a warmer climate on this frigid day than with this seafood dish!
Lindsay L Moe
This looks so good! I’ve never had pineapple salsa before, but it is one of my favorite fruits. Now I’m dying to try it!
Cooking Chat
Hi Lindsay–if you like pineapple you’d definitely enjoy this salsa!
Jersey Girl Cooks
I am with you….eat some of this and make me think of the Caribbean. Great meal!
Cooking Chat
Thanks!
Kristy @ Chocolate Slopes
I always want to cook more fish for my family but am lacking recipes. This one sounds like a great one to start with! And I love sweet potato – a great pairing.
And by the way, living in Michigan I share your desire to eat warm comfort foods or fruity, summer foods to remind us that warm weather still does exist.
Cooking Chat
Hi Kristy–it’s definitely worth getting some good fish recipes under one’s belt! I didn’t grow up eating fish, but have gradually gotten it into the mix regularly. This pan-sear method is the base of many of my fish recipes, including several with salmon. Thanks for stopping by!
Aimee @ ShugarySweets
I love pineapple salsa with seafood. I’ll be giving this recipe a try soon!
Cooking Chat
Thanks Aimee!
Julia
What a beautiful dish! I love that salsa you added!
Christy @ Confessions of a Culinary Diva
That sounds fantastic and perfect for most of the year here in SoCal!
Cooking Chat
Thanks Christy! Trying to bring a little SoCal style warmth to chilly Boston!
Catherine
David, this meal looks incredible. I love the fresh salsa served over the mahi mahi. It’s a fresh, light meal for the holiday season, offering a nice change of pace. Have a wonderful day my friend, Catherine
Cooking Chat
Thanks Catherine!