Grilled Mahi-Mahi with Lemon Butter Caper Sauce and Orzo Salad
- Level: Easy
- Yield: 2 servings
- Total: 1 hr
- Active: 1 hr
Ingredients
Kosher salt
1 bunch broccoli rabe, tough ends removed
1 cup orzo
Extra-virgin olive oil, for cooking
1 yellow onion, diced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
4 garlic cloves (2 garlic cloves, minced and 2 whole garlic cloves)
One 15-ounce can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 tomato, seeded and diced
1 1/4 cups chicken stock, plus more if needed
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons capers
6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pats
1 small bunch chives, thinly sliced
Two 6-ounce skinless mahi-mahi fillets
Directions
- Set up a pot of boiling water and season generously with kosher salt. It should be as salty as the sea. Prepare an ice bath and season generously with kosher salt. Add the broccoli rabe into the boiling water and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until bright green and tender, but still slightly crisp. Remove the broccoli rabe but reserve the boiling water, and immediately plunge into the ice bath and allow to cool for a few minutes. Take the broccoli rabe out of the ice bath and squeeze out any excess water, then chop into bite-size pieces.
- Add the orzo into the boiling water and cook for 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain the pasta but reserve the pot and place it back onto the heat. Add a little olive oil into the pan and heat over medium-high heat. Add the onions, red pepper flakes and kosher salt to taste and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add the cannellini beans and tomatoes and stir to combine. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, then add 1/2 cup of the chicken stock. Cook until the chicken stock has reduced two-thirds of the way, 5 to 6 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium low and add the orzo and another 1/2 cup of the chicken stock. Cook until most of the chicken stock has reduced, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the broccoli rabe and toss to combine, then turn off the heat.
- Coat the bottom of a saute pan with olive oil and heat over medium-high heat. Lightly smash the whole garlic cloves and add them into the pan. Swirl the pan occasionally to perfume the olive oil with the garlic. Cook until the garlic is golden brown, then remove from the pan and discard. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice and capers. Cook until the lemon juice has reduced by half, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, add the butter, one pat at a time, and swirl the pan until each pat has melted before adding the next pat. Once all of the butter has been added, pour in the remaining 1/4 cup of chicken stock. Continue to reduce until the sauce has thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. If the sauce gets too thick, add a little more chicken stock. Be careful not to let the sauce get too hot or it will separate. Turn off the heat and add the chives.
- Preheat a grill pan over high heat. Brush the fish with olive oil and season with kosher salt on both sides. Place the fish onto the grill pan and cook without moving for 3 minutes. Turn the fish to create a crosshatch and cook for another 2 minutes. Flip the fish, then repeat the process until the fish reaches an internal temperature of 135 degrees F when a thermometer is inserted into the center.
- Plate the grilled mahi-mahi topped with the lemon, caper and butter sauce. Serve alongside the orzo salad.