How to Blacken Mahi Mahi

Nothing beats the flavor of blackened Mahi Mahi – but knowing how to blacken Mahi Mahi can be overwhelming if you’ve never tried it before. I’ll walk you through the entire blackening process so you can enjoy your own blackened Mahi Mahi right at home. You’ll also be able to find this tutorial included in our collection of Mahi Mahi recipes, too!

From what type of skillet to use to the best cooking oil for high temps, as well as spices for blackening to how to get just the right amount of char – we’ll cover it all in this tutorial.

How to Blacken Mahi Mahi

Blackening fish or poultry can seem daunting if you’ve never tried it before. If you’re not careful, you can end up with a house full of smoke and a burnt skillet – but we don’t want that to happen, right? In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through everything from what skillet to use to choosing the right cooking oil, as well as blackening spices and cooking time to get that perfectly blackened crust.

Ingredients needed

• 2 Mahi Mahi fillets – thawed
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp. smoked paprika
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. avocado oil

How to blacken Mahi Mahi

To properly blacken Mahi Mahi it’s important to choose the right type of skillet and the right cooking oil. I recommend using a cast-iron skillet for blackening fish or poultry because cast iron can withstand higher cooking temperatures – which is needed for the blackening process. Also, cooking oil is important. You’ll want to use cooking oil that has a high smoke point – like avocado oil.

• Combine the blackening spice mixture.
• Before cooking, heavily coat both sides of the Mahi Mahi fillets with the blackening spices.
• Add 2 tablespoons of avocado oil to the cast iron skillet and heat over medium-high heat.
• Add Mahi Mahi fillets to the hot oil and cook for 3-4 minutes on one side – then flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes on the other side.
• After the fillets have cooked on both sides, you can check both the internal temperature and use a fork to pull apart a small part of the fillet to see if it’s white and flaked. The optimal internal temperature for Mahi Mahi is 137 degrees F. If you feel like the crust is getting too blackened, you can continue to flip until done. However, 3-4 minutes on each side should result in the perfect blackened crust.

Recipe FAQs

Is blackened fish burnt?

While it may look burnt, the blackened color is actually the charred spices combined with the cooking oil. Blacked Mahi Mahi does not taste burnt at all.

Is blackened seasoning hot?

It depends on the spices included in the blackened seasoning. In this particular recipe, cayenne pepper is included so it does carry a heat to it.

What does blackened fish mean?

Blackening is a cooking technique commonly used with fish or poultry. It uses a combination of spices and flash cooking at a high temperature.

What is a good side dish for blackened fish?

Potatoes or rice is a good side dish choice for blackened fish. Most blackened recipes have a bit of a spicy kick – so having a soft side dish that can help balance that heat is always a good choice.

Recommended Kitchen Tools

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Enjoy these other cast iron skillet recipes!

• Skirt Steak with Blue Cheese Polenta
• Baked Ricotta Dip
• Paleo Southwest Frittata
• Gluten-free Cast Iron Chicken Thighs

How to Blacken Mahi Mahi