When I was growing up Lent meant grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, eggs for dinner, or fish, but let’s just say in rural Minnesota, we weren’t eating Mahi Mahi with a Caribbean flair for dinner. Van de Kamp’s fish sticks was more like it. This recipe is a definite step up from fish-in-a-box and just as easy.
Here’s how you get dinner on the table in less than 15 minutes.
Defrost your frozen fish fillets or buy fresh and place them in a skillet.
Drizzle olive oil and the juice of half an orange over them, season them with salt and pepper, a few shakes of Mrs. Dash or your favorite spice blend, and you’re ready to pan-sear.
I like using orange juice because it reduces any “fishy” flavor. Experts say that good fish shouldn’t ever be fishy-tasting or fishy-smelling, but sometimes even good fish is, well, fishy. A little citrus goes a long way in eliminating that issue and I prefer oranges to lemons.
Oranges neutralize the fishy flavor in a more flavor-neutral way than lemons. I do like lemons, but in this case, I wanted the Mahi to stand on it’s own and not be overwhelmed by lemon, which is why I used an orange.
Then go through your cupboards and discover you have a box of brown rice noodles. Cool!
Put them in a bowl of hot water for about 20 minutes before you plan to use them, and let them hangout, on standby.
Pan sear the babies in less than 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, and then plate them.
Take those noodles that were in the warm water on standby, and throw them into the (greasy) fish pan, add a little more grease (a tablespoon or two of olive oil), a little more Mrs. Dash and the juice of the other orange half, and toss them for a couple minutes. The noodles will absorb all the flavors from the bottom of the pan and sear a bit.
Put it together, and voila, a nice Lent dinner.
Or anytime dinner.
The two Mahi fillets I used were pretty generous and let’s just say that the family was licking their plates and I could have even bought a third fillet.
I don’t usually plan on a 5 year old needing her own portion, but you won’t have to beg your child (or your spouse), to eat their fish if you make it like this. Instead, they’ll be asking you why you didn’t make more.
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Pan-Seared Caribbean Citrus Mahi Mahi with Brown Rice Noodles (Gluten Free)
2 Mahi Mahi fillets
1 orange, halved
2+ tablespoons Mrs. Dash Caribbean Citrus Blend (or use individual spices such as sweet chili pepper, thyme, black pepper, allspice, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, ginger, cinnamon)
salt (sea salt or Kosher if possible) and pepper, to taste
3 tablespoons+ olive oil, drizzled
Place the fish in a non-stick skillet, squeeze the juice of half the orange over it, drizzle 2 tablespoons olive oil over fish, sprinkle with Mrs. Dash, salt and pepper, and cover. Cook over medium to medium-high heat for about 5 minutes or until visible browning has begun on the bottom corners and edge of fish. Do not move fish or “check it” unnecessarily with a spatula while it’s cooking initially because that will impede it from searing well. After fish has seared, flip it and add another tablespoon of oil if needed, cover, and allow fish to cook 3-4 more minutes, or until done (white and opaque). Remove from skillet and plate, allowing fish to rest.
Brown Rice Noodles
Allow brown rice noodles to soften or cook according to package directions. I used Annie Chun’s Pad Thai noodles that softened in a large bowl of hot water for 20 minutes that I started soaking shortly before the fish was cooking. After removing fish from the skillet, add the brown rice noodles, squeeze the juice of remaining orange halve over them, drizzle 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil, sprinkle with Mrs. Dash, salt and pepper, to taste, and allow to cook for 2 to 4 minutes or until slightly browned. Because they are cooked in the same skillet as the fish, the blackened bits and cooking juices will coat the noodles, adding color and flavor. Remove them from the skillet, plate them, and serve immediately.
Note: You could substitute almost any kind of fish with this recipe if you don’t have Mahi Mahi or prefer other types of fish. Adjust cooking times accordingly, but the seasonings and method, in general, will likely work with most types of fish.
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Gotta love a fast dinner that the family likes, asks you to make again, and is a one skillet special.
The fish was tender, moist, flavorful. The touch of citrus, both form the orange and the Mrs. Dash seasoning used, gave this dish a Caribbean vibe.
The noodles were perfectly coated with just a little olive oil, which made them easier to twirl around your fork suck up using the inhaling-and-sucking-in-your-noodles-like-they’re-air method that most of us perfected as 5 year olds.
If you’re a fish fan, I have a recipe for Pan Seared Lemon Pepper Grouper with Sweet Dipping Sauce
Another 15 minute dinner special is Szechuan Shrimp Stir Fry with Fried Rice
And here are two vegetarian, Caribbean-ish themed recipes
Caribbean Citrus & Veggie Stir Fry
Apple Glazed Vegetable & Edamame Stir Fry
Do you have childhood Lent memories? What did you (or do you) eat for dinner if you observe?
Fish or Fish-Fry memories?
Do you like fish?
Even if you’re not Catholic, I think most everyone has spent time at a fish fry. Church basements, fried fish, corn on the cob or mashed potatoes, cole slaw, and the women of the Parish usually bake and bring the desserts and the money raised goes to buy something like 4 new basketballs and a new swingset for the playground, and maybe a set of Encyclopedias for Sister Mary’s third grade class.That’s my childhood in a nutshell.
And I think I can still smell the fish smell from a 1984 fish fry in my hair. Nothing like a fish fry to smell like fish for a day (or three).
Winners of the Green Smoothie eBook Giveaway coming up tomorrow
Lent meant the same thing in our house growing up and as a kid who HATED all things from the sea, I wasn’t too particularly fond of those 40 days. I’ve since rebelled quite a bit against my catholic upbringing and pay that whole thing no attention now but it’s funny b/c now I LOVE fish. Go figure.
I rebelled by marrying a jewish man in vegas, eloped, in a hot pink betsey johnson mini dress :) 11 years ago. And they said it wouldnt last. But Lent, yeah, lots of Cheerios nights for us as a kid.
Dustin and I LOVE mahi mahi! I just bought 3 lbs of it the other day, made fillets out of it and froze it. Since Dustin only eats seafood now and no meat, mahi mahi is one of his faves. When you grill it, I swear it’s like chicken! I have mahi mahi kebabs on the menu this week.
I love how you tossed the noodles right in the yummy juices. TASTY sauce. Yum!
Mahi is one of his faves?! For the man who is very particular about his likes and dislikes, that’s an interesting like, but a welcome one. I know, grilled mahi IS like chicken, I even think thick tuna steaks grilled taste like chicken, too.
The juices..both for flavor..and EASE. One.pan.always.
Girl, I’m surprised he eats fish at all. Before we met, his seafood experience was limited to shrimp cocktail trays you buy pre-made frozen in the store. ‘Nuff said. He eats mahi and GOBBLES it like there’s no tomorrow. I, too, welcome it, haha. I think because it is flavor-neutral it gets a picky palate pass.
Halibut is another grilled gem. Tastes like lobster! But it’s so friggin’ expensive that our stores don’t even carry it because who has $25/lb for fish these days?
Halibut I don’t think is quite that expensive here?! Then again, I don’t pay attention real closely but very little is over about 14.99 lb at the regular grocery store. Now, WFs is a different story. I guess that’s one perk of CA living is that we do get tons of fish in the reg groc stores and it sounds far more reasonable than yours…YIKES! Gas, however, was at $4.85/gallon yesterday. Ugh.
I am in the land of the fish fry! Year round, even, they love their fish here. Since I can see Lake Superior from my front yard, that’s not all that surprising.
Oh, the Vande Kamp’s fish sticks. I rememeber them not at all fondly. I swear we ate those at least once a week, lent or not. With tarter sauce, of course. When I got old enough, I would leave the house every time my mom was making fish or fish sticks for dinner. That smell just LINGERS. And I’d agree about lemon being overpowering. I’m not a fan at all, but I never thought to try oranges.
Just ate a bowl of stir fried shrimp and veggies. Literally JUST finished it. Same page, per usual.
The smell of fish..there is just no way to get rid of it easily…the #1 drawback to making fish is the house stench. lol
I love the idea of tossing the pasta in the fish pan, don’t let any flavor go to waste! I LOVE fish but I have been either pregnant for breastfeeding for the last 4 1/2 years, and still am nursing, so I have to limit my fish to once a week. I could eat it every single night and do without meat forever!
You know tilapia is pretty much “okay” at least 3-4x a week, or more. The smaller the fish itself, the less mercury it accumulates and the safer it is. Of course, do as you see fit, but small fish, like sardines <--ick! or shrimp/mussles/clams (shellfish) are on the green light list (this is from memory, google it!)
ohhh this looks great, I’ve been loving your savory recipes lately I have to say! I’ve never even heard of a fish fry actually, and we didn’t eat much fish growing up, but these days I love it and try to eat it a few times a week.
I’ve never even heard of a fish fry actually <-- huh?!! That's crazy. We grew up in diff parts of the country, obviously :)
Oh man, this mahi mahi looks amazing! It’s such a sophisticated dish, yet you can make it in less than 30 minutes. Plus, it’s on a bed of rice noodles, my absolute favorite kind of noodles. Yum!
sophisticated dish, yet you can make it in less than 30 minutes = MY GOAL in everything I do!
I love fish! I am addicted to fish! This is the only food I wasn’t ready to give up. I already gave up too much, but fish, no, please, leave it to me…:)
you gotta do what feels right for you!
The orange citrus vegetables look amazing! I never had Mahi Mahi, but it looks good. I like fish, but my family doesn’t so I normally order it when we go out, and I don’t make it at home! :(
never had mahi? TRY IT!
Your dinner looks fantastic! i love fish, but I’m not sure I’ve ever cooked mahi mahi at home. Need to remedy that soon :)
super easy…I buy what I can get a good price on and the mahi was a deal$ Hope you try it!
I love all kinds of fish and use the Caribbean citrus blend quite often– it has quickly become my favorite seasoning! When I tried a completely vegan diet for a couple of years, fish was actually a craving that never went away, so I started eating it again and now I’m a happy “pescatarian”! I remember those fish sticks from my childhood but didn’t really like them (even with tartar sauce).
glad you’re loving the seasoning!
glad you’re also a happy “pescatarian”..gotta do what’s right for you!
This looks great! The hubs doesn’t like fish but I love it. I would have never thought of using oranges, great tip!
yes, milder than lemons and more gentle in flavor
I really enjoy seeing what you eat for dinner instead of just all desserts! This dish looks good – I can definitely appreciate it even though I don’t eat fish!
I am not thrilled with these photos (I never am with dinner time pics; rushed, bad lighting, food getting cold, family getting crabby…) but ya know, I hoped for the best…that’s why I always revert back to desserts b/c they are timeless but glad you like the savory recipes.
Ah the Friday night fish fry. I know them well. The smell of fried fish and tartar sauce will forever be ingrained in my memory.
I love fish and can’t wait to try using orange! (*Hand bumping forehead* for not thinking of that sooner!) You photos have me craving some right now.
It was such a pleasant surprise to see you today and to finally get to meet you. You’re lovely!
Oranges are milder than lemons and more gentle in flavor…try it. And I am not thrilled with these photos (I never am with dinner time pics; rushed, bad lighting, food getting cold, family getting crabby…) but ya know, I hoped for the best.
It was AMAZING meeting you today…You are SUCH a sweetheart. We HAVE to keep in better touch and get together!
xo
This sounds so wonderful and it gives me an excuse to use a tip I learned on Rachael Ray the other day. Take the half of an orange and use the beater of a kitchen mixer like a reamer to get a ton of juice!
Omg. You are freakin’ psychic. I was at a Kitchen Aid event today and they were juicing oranges with them!! And I had a mimosa :) And I will be blogging about the event in a couple days…wow!
Looks delicious! Where in MN did you grow up? I am in Minneapolis!
small town about 60 miles west of Mpls
Looks good! Hopefully mahi mahi will be on sale next week :)