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Home » Recipes » Seafood Recipes

Restaurant Style Grilled Mahi-Mahi with Caponata

Published: Mar 16, 2021 · Modified: Nov 11, 2024 by Chef Dennis Littley

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Grilled Mahi-Mahi was always a favorite during my restaurant days. It’s mild-flavored fish that holds up well to just about any type of preparation and flavors you’d like to add.

grilled mahi mahi with caponata on a white plate
Table of Contents:
  • Audio Player
  • What Ingredients do I need to make Grilled Mahi-Mahi with Caponata?
  • Can I Use any other fish with this recipe?
  • How do I make Caponata?
  • Do I have to use all of these ingredients to make caponata?
  • How do I grill Mahi-Mahi?
  • Can I cook Mahi-Mahi in the oven?
  • More Seafood Recipes You’ll Love!
  • Recipe: Grilled Mahi-Mahi with Caponata

Audio Player



 

One of my favorites toppings to serve with Grilled Mahi-Mahi is caponata. Think of it as an Italian Salsa, loaded with flavor and easily adaptable to use your favorite ingredients or what you have on hand.

What Ingredients do I need to make Grilled Mahi-Mahi with Caponata?

overhead view of ingredients to make grilled mahi-mahi with caponata on a cutting board

Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Grilled Mahi-Mahi with Caponata. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.

Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed the up cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

Can I Use any other fish with this recipe?

You sure can. Just about any type of fish you enjoy grilling or roasting will go well with caponata. It also goes well with grilled or roasted chicken.

How do I make Caponata?

peeled and sliced eggplant and sliced zucchini

The first step is prepping is slicing the zucchini into long slices about one-quarter of an inch thick (no peeling necessary). Peel the eggplant and cut it into rounds or planks about one-half an inch thick.

eggplant and zucchini slices brushed with olive oiul and seasoned with salt and pepper

After slicing, brush both sides of the eggplant and zucchini with olive oil and season well with sea salt and black pepper.

eggplant and zucchini grilled using a grill pan

Grill the zucchini and eggplant slices on your outdoor grill or grill pan. Grill both sides to get the vegetables somewhat soft without getting mushy.

*You can also roast the vegetables in the oven

This is the grill pan I use -> Le Creuset Grill Pan. If you’d rather not deal with cast iron, this is a good option at about half the price -> Non-Stick Grill Pan

diced vegetables and chopped olives in a glass bowl

After letting the vegetables cool, dicing them into small chunks (including the tomatoes). Slice or rough chop the olives and mix them all together in a bowl.

finished caponata in bowl

In a small bowl mix the dressing ingredients for the caponata together. Then add the dressing to the olive/vegetable mixture and mix well.

Do I have to use all of these ingredients to make caponata?

No you don’t. Traditionally caponata is made with capers, olives and celery. As you can see I have adjusted this recipe to mimic one I had in Rome many years ago.

Think of this basically as vegetable relish. Olives are usually the star, but that doesn’t mean you have to include them, if you don’t like olives. Have fun creating your own version of caponata and serve with fish, chicken or bruschetta toasts.

The dressing can be adapted to your tastes as well, making it as simple as an oil and vinegar dressing or even going with your favorite Italian dressing.

How do I grill Mahi-Mahi?

mahi-mahi filet oiled and seasoned with salt and pepper

Start by brushing the mahi-mahi with olive oil, then season with sea salt and black pepper.

mahi-mahi in a grill pan with one side grilled with grill marks

You can use your outdoor grill or a grill pan to cook the Mahi-Mahi. Cook for 5-7 minutes per side.

Can I cook Mahi-Mahi in the oven?

I do enjoy grilling fish, but if it gets too cold or just can’t grill, you can easily roast this fish in the oven instead. Just a little olive oil sea salt and black pepper and you’re in business.

15 minutes in the oven at 350 degrees should do it nicely, just don’t forget to add a little water to your pan to keep the Mahi-Mahi from drying out.

close up of grilled mahi-mahi with caponata

Your going to love this Restaurant-Style Grilled Mahi-Mahi with caponata. The flavors are fresh and perfect for a light dinner for the family or a romantic date night dinner,

More Seafood Recipes You’ll Love!

  • Poached Mahi-Mahi with Shrimp
  • Blackened Mahi-Mahi with a Pineapple Lobster Sauce
  • Pan Seared Halibut
  • Red Snapper with a Lobster Cream Sauce

close up of grilled mahi-mahi with caponata

Grilled Mahi-Mahi with Caponata

Chef Dennis Littley
Caponata is a delicious topping for grilled mahi-mahi or any of your favorite grilled fish.  It’s easy to make and will add a lot of flavor to the fish
4.96 from 50 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Listen to the Post
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 35 minutes mins
Course Entree
Cuisine Italian
Servings 2
Calories 321 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 14 ounces Mahi-Mahi skin removed
  • 1 medium eggplant peeled then grilled cut into small dice
  • 1 small zucchini sliced longway then grilled and cut into small dice
  • ½ cup of assorted pitted olives small dice
  • 1 medium tomato small dice
  • 1 tablespoon chopped basil
  • ¼ cup vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Instructions
 

Caponata

  • The first step is prepping is slicing the zucchini into long slices about one-quarter of an inch thick (no peeling necessary). Peel the eggplant and cut it into rounds or planks about one-half an inch thick
  • After slicing, brush both sides of the eggplant and zucchini with olive oil and season well with sea salt and black pepper.
  • Grill the zucchini and eggplant slices on your outdoor grill or grill pan. Grill both sides to get the vegetables somewhat soft without getting mushy.
    *You can also roast the vegetables in the oven
  • After letting the vegetables cool, dicing them into small chunks (including the tomatoes). Slice or rough chop the olives and mix them all together in a bowl.
  • In a small bowl mix the dressing ingredients for the caponata together. Then add the dressing to the olive/vegetable mixture and mix well

Mahi-Mahi

  • Lightly coat mahi-mahi with olive oil, and season with sea salt and black pepper.
  • You can use your outdoor grill or a grill pan to cook the Mahi-Mahi. Cook for 5-7 minutes per side.
  • Serve with Caponata and your favorite sides and enjoy!

Notes

*Eggplant, and zucchini can be roasted if grilling is not an option
** (if roasting, place mahi-mahi in a baking dish with a little water in the pan and roast at 350 degrees for 15-17 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 321kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 37gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 144mgSodium: 1287mgPotassium: 1016mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 790IUVitamin C: 12.7mgCalcium: 57mgIron: 2.6mg
Tried this recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askchefdennis or tag #askchefdennis!

Comments

    4.96 from 50 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Sue says

    July 31, 2020 at 3:56 pm

    5 stars
    I love seafood, and am thankful to find recipes that help deliver more flavor variety. This one fits the bill – thank you!

    Reply
  2. Andréa Janssen says

    July 31, 2020 at 3:48 pm

    5 stars
    What a delicious recipe with such a lot of great flavors.

    Reply
  3. Estelle Forrest says

    July 31, 2020 at 1:22 pm

    5 stars
    What a beautiful plate of food! So fresh and vibrant

    Reply
  4. Emily Flint says

    July 31, 2020 at 12:20 pm

    5 stars
    I love mahi-mahi but have never tried it grilled. I can’t wait to make this recipe!

    Reply
  5. Jane Kennedy says

    June 26, 2020 at 10:49 am

    Caponata looks delish! I’m mostly vegetarian but will get a piece of fish & try this. I can tell it will be wonderful!

    Reply
  6. Dorothy says

    May 14, 2020 at 6:04 pm

    5 stars
    Just whipped this up- WOWWEEE!!!-that is savory, tasty good !! Such a nice change from “sweet” on fish. Love it.

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      May 14, 2020 at 6:05 pm

      I’m very happy to hear you enjoyed my recipe Dorothy, thanks for the great review!

      Reply
  7. Sara says

    July 14, 2019 at 10:40 pm

    This looks lovely. I am new to grilling but your directions are so easy to follow that I am going to give it a go. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Glad I found your site, you have a lot of tempting seafood recipes!

    Reply
  8. Jessica (Swanky Recipes) says

    July 14, 2019 at 10:26 pm

    5 stars
    I am away from home visiting family for 5 weeks and I’ve been so sad that I’ve left my kitchen behind. It’s so hard to cook my favorite recipes for the family since my kitchen tools are at home and I’ve made brats way more than I’d like to say. I like that this dish doesn’t require any special tools to make. I can even get my mom to help out and serve a fresh garden salad with this mahi mahi.

    Reply
  9. Kelly Anthony says

    July 14, 2019 at 9:12 am

    5 stars
    I love eating fish in the summer because it is so light. This grilled mahi mahi with caponata looks like the perfect meal for a hot summer day.

    Reply
  10. Heather says

    July 14, 2019 at 7:28 am

    This looks like an amazing dish. Can’t wait to try this one myself!

    Reply
  11. Analida Braeger says

    July 13, 2019 at 1:10 pm

    5 stars
    very nice presentation ! Mahi mahi is such a great delicate fish. I have never had caponata so i will have to try it this way

    Reply
  12. Sharon says

    July 12, 2019 at 6:42 pm

    5 stars
    Mahi Mahi is one of my favorite types of fish to make. I love the toppings on this too.

    Reply
  13. Anna says

    July 12, 2019 at 12:37 pm

    5 stars
    I have never tried mahi-mahi or caponata before, but this dish looks and sounds incredible, and I’m definitely going to be putting this on my list of things to try! Love how fresh and healthy this is!

    Reply
  14. Veena Azmanov says

    July 12, 2019 at 10:16 am

    5 stars
    I love such healthy and tasty option. I am drooling with the thought of it. One of my favorite.

    Reply
  15. Shannon Gurnee says

    July 11, 2019 at 7:47 pm

    I love fish and haven’t had Mahi-Mahi in such a long time! This looks like a delicious recipe.

    Reply
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My name is Chef Dennis Littley, creator and owner of Ask Chef Dennis Productions. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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