Eating In: Mahi mahi with bacon-avocado salsa

I don't cook mahi mahi very often. Scratch that: I've never cooked mahi mahi in my life. So when I took out the frozen mahi mahi yesterday, I went to the computer to find some recipe ideas. Glad I did; I found this seriously great recipe for "Outrageously Delicious Mahi Mahi" on What We're Eating. They aren't lying either--the fish was outstanding.



The site is full of delicious pictures and seriously (I mean it!) awesome-looking recipes, but it's also a very entertaining read.

The recipe on WWE is pretty involved--cooking two types of beans from scratch for a side dish, etc--so I streamlined it. I had some already-cooked lentils in the fridge (you can buy them pre-cooked from Trader Joe's!), and with about five minutes of doctoring (a little carrot and celery sauteed, and 1 strip of bacon crumbled in) they were a perfect side dish.

The fish + salsa takes a whopping 10 minutes, so if you're too busy or lazy, just cook the fish, top it with the salsa and serve some crusty bread with herb oil (which you'll have made for the fish) alongside.

Mahi Mahi with Bacon-Avocado Salsa and Herb Oil
1/2 c good olive oil
2 cloves garlic, smashed
2 small sprigs rosemary
5 sprigs thyme
1/2 tsp fennel seeds
3-4 sprigs basil
2 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 avocado, cubed
15 cherry tomatoes, quartered or 1 large tomato, chopped
1 T rice wine vinegar
1/4 c chopped cilantro
4 filets mahi mahi

Preheat oven to 400F.

Make Herb Oil
Heat olive oil and all herbs over very low heat for 15-20 minutes. Do not allow the oil to get very hot; you want the herbs and garlic to infuse the oil but you don't want them to burn. Strain out garlic and herbs and allow oil to cool.


Make Salsa
Mix bacon, tomatoes, avocado and cilantro. Mix in vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.


Cook Fish
Season fish with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat a nonstick pan over medium-high for 1 minute. Add a tablespoon (or more) of the herb oil to the pan and add the fish. Cook over medium-high without moving the fish (!!) for 2-3 minutes, basting with a little of the herb oil every now and again. Once fish is very golden, turn fish, cook for 1 minute more, basting occasionally, then remove pan from stove and place it in the 400F oven.


Cook fish for 3-4 minutes (watch carefull if your fish filets are very thin). Remove from oven and serve immediately topped with salsa.



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