When the weather is warm, I sometimes find myself wanting something that feels both light and filling at once. It may sound like an oxymoron, but every once in awhile, a recipe is able to hit both of those needs. It has to have bright, fresh flavors, and lots of great nutritional content. This baked chili lime Mahi Mahi recipe is one of those recipes that dances that line beautifully and its quick and easy fish dish. Hit to jump to recipe to start cooking!
This Mahi Mahi recipe with chili lime seasoning is fresh, acidic, and sweet, with a little spice. I serve it with asparagus to add an earthy element. The fish, lime, and asparagus are all nutrient rich as well, so feel good about serving this delicious dinner. And while it may look and taste beautiful, this dish is pretty simple to make. Aside from marinating your fish fillets, the oven does all of the work here.
Why You'll Love This Mahi Mahi
- Baked Good – If you’ve ever wondered how to cook Mahi Mahi, this recipe is a great place to start. This dish is prepared in the oven, and it couldn’t be easier. Cooking your fish in the oven also helps it to retain the most omega-3s, making this recipe a healthy choice for tonight’s dinner!
- Simple Steps – Your guests will never guess that this Instagram-worthy dish was so easy to make. Simply marinate your fish, season your asparagus, and bake! Your fish and asparagus cook together on one baking sheet, so cooking this dish won’t require a bunch of dishes, or separate timers.
Ingredients For Mahi Mahi
- Mahi Mahi – Mahi Mahi fish is sweet, moist, and flaky white fish. It is nutrient-rich and low calorie. For this recipe, you will need 4 fillets. I recommend using 5 oz frozen fillets, however both size and freshness can vary. If you choose bigger, smaller, or fresh fillets, you will simply need to adjust your cook time!
- Lime – Limes are rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, and this recipe is rich in limes! You need lime juice, zest, and slices. I would recommend grabbing 2-3 limes in total if you plan to garnish your finished dish with them as well. You can’t go wrong, plus with any leftover limes, you can sip some lime infused water to add a little extra glow to your skin this summer.
- Garlic Powder – You will need garlic for your marinade. Garlic powder will be more easily absorbed into the fish than minced garlic. If you were to substitute fresh minced garlic, keep in mind that you will need about 4 times as much.
- Smoked Paprika - A little smoked paprika brings depth to you flavor profile in this marinade. If you only have regular paprika, try adding a drop or two of liquid smoke to achieve a similar note.
- Chili Powder – The chili powder in this dish really helps to balance out the lime. It adds a slight kick to the dish, and cuts the fishiness.
- Oregano – The ancient Greeks believed that oregano was created by goddess Aphrodite as a symbol of joy. It is also antibacterial, and full of vitamins and antioxidants, so be sure to stop and smile when enjoying this healthy herb!
- Soy Sauce – Soy sauce is one of the main components of the marinade. It makes up half of the liquid portion, and it adds a little saltiness to its flavor.
Ingredients For Asparagus
- Asparagus – You will want about 16 oz of fresh, trimmed asparagus spears. These will get roasted alongside your fish!
- Avocado Oil – You only need a tablespoon of oil for this recipe. Because this is such a healthy meal, I opted for avocado oil. You could use olive oil in its place if you prefer.
- Salt and Pepper – The asparagus gets cooked with the fish, so it will naturally absorb some of the flavors. The asparagus itself is simply treated with oil, salt and pepper – nothing fancy needed!
- Parsley – This is an optional garnish, but I think it adds both to presentation and flavor to have a little fresh parsley on your plate at the end. You may also want to garnish with more sliced lime.
How To Make Mahi Mahi
- Start by preheating the oven to 375F and lining a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. In a bowl, combine the lime juice, lime zest, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, oregano and soy sauce.
- Add fish fillets to bowl and marinate for 30 minutes or longer if desired.
- In a separate bowl, drizzle avocado oil, salt and pepper on the trimmed asparagus.
- Add both the marinated fish and asparagus to the prepared baking sheet.
- Layer lime slices along the fish. Bake for 18-20 minutes.
- Serve with rice and garnish with fresh parsley and extra lime slices. Serve warm.
Step by Step Instructions
First, preheat your oven to 375F. Prepare a baking sheet with nonstick spray. Next it is time to make your marinade. In a large bowl, combine your lime juice, lime zest, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, oregano, and soy sauce. Stir until completely combined. Add your Mahi Mahi fillets to your bowl of marinade, making sure to get some of the marinade on top of the fillets. Marinate for at least 30 minutes. You may choose to marinate them for longer if you like!
While your fish is marinating, prepare your asparagus. Place your asparagus in a separate bowl. Drizzle your avocado oil on top then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Now you are ready to bake! Place your fish fillets and your asparagus onto the prepared baking sheet or baking dish.
Place your sliced lime atop the fish in a single layer. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until your fish is done. Cooking time may need to be adjusted for bigger, smaller, or fresh fillets. Mahi Mahi is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 137F.
Garnish with fresh parsley and more sliced lime, and serve warm with rice. Enjoy!
Cook's Tips
- If using thawed fish, cook between 12-15 minutes or until done.
- Keep in fridge up to 3 days. Reheat by microwave for 1 ½ - 2 minutes. I do not recommend freezing. If using thick or thinner fish, check baking time.
- While your Mahi Mahi is marinating is the perfect time to slice your limes for both baking and garnishing, and then to go ahead and start cooking any sides of your choosing. I recommend serving this fish with rice, which would be done right around the same time as your Mahi Mahi if you start it then!
- You can also pan sear this if you like just make sure to use an internal thermometer because no one likes dry fish!
FAQ:
Mahi Mahi is low calorie, but full of protein, iron, vitamins B5, B6, and B12, and potassium. This recipe is for baked Mahi Mahi, so it also uses less oil, and retains more of the fish’s omega-3s than frying.
On average, frozen Mahi fillets cost between $1.50-$3.50 per pound. Fresh cuts average between $7-$13 per pound.
It is easy to see how Mahi Mahi can get mistaken for tuna, when you consider the similarities in the words Ahi and Mahi, however, these are two completely different types of fish.
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Chili Lime Mahi Mahi Sheet Tray
Ingredients
For The Fish
- 4 5 0z Mahi Mahi Fish Fillets, frozen
- 2 tbs Lime Juice
- 1 tbs Lime Zest
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- ½ tsp Smoked Paprika
- ½ tsp Chili Powder
- ½ tsp Dried Oregano
- 2 tbs Soy Sauce
- 1 Lime sliced
For The Asparagus
- 16 oz Asparagus Spears trimmed
- 1 tbs Avocado Oil
- ¼ tsp Pepper
- ¼ tsp Salt
- Extra Lime Slices and Parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Start preheating the oven to 375F and lining a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a bowl, combine the, lime juice, lime zest, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, oregano and soy sauce.
- Add fish fillets to bowl and marinate for 30 minutes or longer if desired.
- In a separate bowl, drizzle avocado oil, salt and pepper on the trimmed asparagus.
- Add both the marinated fish and asparagus to the prepared baking sheet.
- Layer lime slices along the fish.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes. Serve with rice and garnish with fresh parsley and extra lime slices. Serve warm.
Very tasty. Though I only cook fish for 15 min min in oven.