Pan Seared Mahi Mahi with Mango Papaya Salsa
Pan seared Mahi Mahi topped with a tropical mango papaya salsa. The Mahi Mahi is cooked in coconut oil and a little butter to give it a crispy, brown exterior that pairs perfectly with the mildly spicy fruit salsa.
Coming home and unpacking from a vacation warrants a whole new vacation. Amiright?
We got home from Hawaii tanned, rested and relaxed. But we were not even home for 24 hours before having to pack our bags again and head out of town to Lake Tahoe to film a wedding over the weekend. By the time we got home on Sunday afternoon, we had even more bags to unpack, a fridge full of expired food, and a few too many dying plants.
Rather than getting a head start on the week by unpacking, cleaning and grocery shopping when we got home Sunday, we plopped ourselves on the couch and watched TV for a few hours with some wine. Because…lazy.
Our laziness on Sunday really came back to bite us in the butts this week. Instead of coming home from work on Monday to a clean house, I came home to too many loads of laundry and an empty fridge. We went all out last night and finally got all of our chores done. Feels great! It must have wiped us out, because we went to bed at 8:30pm.
While I’m happy to be home, a tiny piece of me wishes we could just live in Hawaii forever. I’m all about the slow paced island life.
The next best thing is eating like we are still in Hawaii. This cripsy, pan seared Mahi Mahi with mango papaya fruit salsa has definitely helped us ease in to regular life. The flavors just scream tropical island.
Yesterday I shared my addicting tropical mango papaya fruit salsa. The fruit salsa is delicious with chips, but it is even better on top of this fish.
You sear the Mahi Mahi in coconut oil so it gets a subtle coconut flavor, and a little butter to help the fish get brown and crispy. The crispy Mahi Mahi is topped with the sweet and slightly spicy mango papaya salsa. You can practically hear the waves crashing as you’re eating this.
Not only is this mahi mahi with mango papaya salsa delicious, but I can have it on the table in less than 30 minutes. Can’t beat it!
You guys, this is one of my favorite dinners I have made in weeks! It is so good! The flavors go perfectly together. To really put this dinner over the top, be sure to serve it with my coconut lime rice. Amazing!
Pan Seared Mahi Mahi with Mango Papaya Salsa
Ingredients
Mango Papaya Fruit Salsa
- 1 medium size mango, chopped into ½" chunks*
- 1 medium size papaya, seeded and chopped into ½" chunks*
- ½ medium size red onion, finely chopped
- 1 medium size jalapeno, seeds removed and finely chopped
- 1 bunch of cilantro, stems removed, finely chopped
- juice of 1 lime
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Mango Papaya Fruit Salsa: Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl, stir to combine. Leave in the refrigerator until ready to use. Will keep in the refrigerator for 1 week.
- Pan Seared Mahi Mahi: Preheat a medium size pan over medium-high heat. Season the Mahi Mahi with salt and pepper. Add the coconut oil and butter to the pan. Cook the Mahi Mahi for about 5 minutes on the first side, or until crispy golden brown. Flip and cook the second side for 5 more minutes. Transfer the cooked fish to a plate, and top with the mango papaya fruit salsa.
24 Comments on “Pan Seared Mahi Mahi with Mango Papaya Salsa”
I have to undoubtedly give this recipe 5 Stars. I usually make changes to recipes but, with this one I followed the recipe to the tee! What a medley of great flavors in my palette! Bravo for sharing this excellent symphony of a mouth watering dance which will linger in my mind. I will be adding this recipe to my list of dishes to impress.
I am so happy that you liked my mahi mahi recipe Mirra! My goodness you sure have an eloquent way of describing it! I love it! This my very well be the most descriptive review I have ever received. I am so happy that you enjoyed it and will be making it again. Now I need to go make it so I can experience “a symphony of a mouth watering dance!” Thank you so much for making my day!
This looks delicious! Definitely adding it to our meal plan in the near future. Just wanted to let you know I found you via Pinterest about half an hour ago and just keep finding amazing Paleo recipes. That Orange Mustard Glazed Salmon – YUM!
I’m so glad to hear that Savanah! I love love love this fish recipe. I know your family will love it too. Glad you found me, I have tons of paleo recipes : ) Thanks for taking the time to come say hi!
This looks awesome… and definitely has me longing for a vacation! Your fish looks PERFECTLY seared too!
The mango salsa looks delicious -hope you are having a good weekend
Wawhooo… Welcome home from your hols. :)
I love LOVE looooovvveee mahi mahi – it’s one of the tastiest fishies around, fleshy and delicious. You take some stella pictures, boy oh boy, bring on summer I say, soooo looking forward to fresh and yummy meals like this. Drooling over the thought of eating mango. :)
I LOVE mahi mahi! It reminds me of my most recent trip to Hawaii a couple months ago. I’m pinning this recipe to try later!
There really is something about a vacation that you makes you need another vacation just to recover, haha! That doesn’t sound fun having to run off to a wedding right after you got home, but lake tahoe does sound beautiful! When we got back from Maui, my husband declared that once a week we would have Hawaiian pizza and mai tais, we have been slacking on our tradition though, so maybe I’ll just make this Mahi Mahi instead! It looks so beautiful, Natalie!!
Hi Natalie, love this dish, great sear on your mahi mahi, love the salsa!
Mmm looks delicious! I love mango salsa, have never had papaya before, and I bet it goes great on that mahi mahi. (BTW I love saying mahi mahi). Glad your trip was great, but the vacation ‘hangover’ does suck :(
I’m definitely hungry for seafood now! That looks like one delish dish Natalie.
Hope you’re having a great week!
Mahi Mahi is one of my favorites. This salsa with the fish looks delicious! When we lived on the coast I loved to buy fresh fish all the time. Now, being so far inland I’m not as excited. I need to find a good place that has really fresh fish.
Ok, so I have a confession…I don’t eat fish. I know, I’m weird. But growing up and living in the Midwest, I’ve never really had great fish. The catch around here is, like, ewwwww. But this Mahi Mahi?! I would definitely try this! Coconut oil + butter. Meal under 30 minutes? I’m in. :)
Oh yes, I remember the “debate” about when to return from Hawaii because of filming a wedding. Are you glad you came back when you did? It seemed like a looooooong time ago when you shared your scenario with all of us and had us weigh in. :)
I would definitely live in Hawaii if it wasn’t so expensive. It’s so gorgeous there! And I was in Lahaina for my honeymoon, too, right on Kanapali Beach! :) This mahi mahi is taking me back to my vacation there…love the tropical flavors!
Ditto on being able to get used to slow island life! Let’s move! I guess bringing it home is the next best thing. I’ve never cooked mahi mahi myself, but I order it out a lot. That plate with it and the rice and asparagus is making me super hungry!
Loved that today you put that awesome tropical salsa to some great use! I would have done the same thing by they way of a little tv and wine action. Hey, vacation can be exhausting lol. At least you are reliving your vacation through this food! I have never had mahi mahi!! Always reminds me of the movie House Bunny! Please tell me you’ve seen this movie!? There’s a part where Anna Ferris’s character asks for just one mahi instead of two mahi mahi when ordering food, because she isn’t hungry. IT IS SO FUNNY. I can imagine the reason I haven’t had this is the same reason I haven’t had papaya…cause i’m so frickin far from an ocean and tropical food. Thanks for making me want to go to Hawaii again Natalie :P
Can I just say, that not only does this mahi mahi SOUND absolutely incredible, but your photos are absolutely stunning, Nat! This is a perfect mid-summer dinner!
I always need to tackle the laundry overload + fridge re-stock asap when I get home from vacation, otherwise it drags on waaaay too long.
I love this dinner so much! Simple and totally delicious!
I literally just made mango salsa with some sort of white fish (I don’t really understand the German translations!) this last week! Great minds think a like :) Glad you had a great trip to hawaii! But yes, coming back and unpacking is the worst. I’ve started (trying) to do it right when I get in the door so I don’t even have time to make excuses. Hope you have a relaxing weekend ahead.
I love mahi mahi – it’s such a great fish, and so versatile! Great pictures! Hope you get rested up again! :)
This mahi mahi looks unbelievable, especially topped with that fruit salsa! Hawaii is my favorite vacation spot. But coming home to unpacking, loads and loads of laundry, and grocery shopping is the worst!