Thursday, July 7, 2011

Grilled Mahi Mahi with Coconut-Almond Rice


Finally... it's here!  Summer has arrived in San Diego!  While my mother is sweltering in her upper 90 degree temps, I'm relishing each and every one of those precious degrees.  Admittedly, my coastal temps are a bit lower than her 6 miles inland temps, but I say, "Bring it on!"

Waking to bright sunny skies and temps not requiring a jacket brings me to a wonderful start to my day.  Light until well after 8 PM only continues my love for summer as does my trusty grill.  With our temperate climate, our home has no air conditioning, and while the heat is nothing like my friends and family in the midwest, or even a few miles inland, I still like to keep the oven and stove off and do my cooking outside.

Fish, always a family favorite, has me packing my freezer with packets of Mahi Mahi and salmon ready for a short notice meal.  Liv prefers her fish plain with a squeeze of lemon while my husband and son prefer something a bit more lively.  Thankfully this Grilled Mahi with a side of Coconut-Almond Rice meets all of the above requirements.  

A light sauce of coconut milk and red curry mix together to create a lovely base for the rice and an optional sauce for the fish and veggies.  Prefer your fish plain?  Simply don't top the fish with sauce and give yourself a little squeeze of lemon.  Prefer something more flavorful?  Top with the sauce in addition to a sprinkling of fresh chopped cilantro.  Either way, you can't go wrong.  Happy summer!

Grilled Mahi Mahi with Coconut-Almond Rice
 
3/4 teaspoon red curry paste
3/4 cup canned light coconut milk
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons slivered almonds 
1/2 cup white rice 
3 tablespoons unsweetened flaked coconut 
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided 
4 mahi mahi fillets (6 oz. each)  
1/4 teaspoon pepper 
3/4 pound asparagus, ends trimmed
1/4 pound sugar snap peas 
1/4 cup cilantro leaves 
Lime wedge

Preheat grill on high. In a small bowl, whisk curry paste, gradually adding coconut milk. Transfer 1/2 cup sauce to another bowl; set bowls aside.

Toast almonds in a small saucepan over medium heat until golden, 3 minutes. Stir in rice, reserved 1/2 cup sauce, 1/2 cup water, the coconut, and 1/2 tsp. salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, until rice is tender, 16 to 18 minutes.

Prepare the asparagus and place on a piece of foil.  Sprinkle with about a Tablespoon of water and wrap the asparagus in the foil. 

Rub fish with a little oil and season mahi mahi with remaining 1/4 tsp. salt and the pepper while rice cooks.  Place fish on the hot grill, turning down the heat to medium-low.  Place asparagus on the grill near the fish and allow to steam until done.

Depending on thickness of the fish, flip the fish after a few minutes and cook for a few minutes longer, until fish flakes with a fork and is done through.

Microwave remaining 1/4 cup sauce to warm. Divide rice among 4 plates and top each with fish,  topping with chopped asparagus.  Drizzle sauce over dishes and sprinkle with cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.

Note:  I forgot to add the flaked coconut to the rice and it was still wonderful!  Next time we will try to remember to add the coconut for even more tropical flavor!

Summer Flowers... Beautiful to wake up to!


30 comments:

  1. Fabulous just fabulous I can just imagine these flavors and the photo is awesome!

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  2. Coconut almond rice sounds delicious and tempting! Great pairing with the mahi mahi. I'll try the rice out soon for a delicious summer dinner!

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  3. Coconut almond rice sounds so good...I've never had that combination in rice. Must try! With a side of mahi mahi.... yummo!

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  4. NEW FAVORITE! Great great great recipe. Perfect for Cayman and my tropically inclined taste buds :) Well done, buzzed!

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  5. What a wonderful combination of flavors, especially the coconut flavor. Love the photo of that flower - just beautiful. I too love the long summer nights and it is cooling down a bit from the super hot temps! Enjoy your weekend.

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  6. Yummm....red curry paste and coconut milk. I already love the taste! I love one plate dish like this. It's so convenient for week night or quick meal. I love you tossed the asparagus on it. It's perfect summer meal. Beautifully done! I love this Kim!

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  7. Thank you...this fish looks delicious.

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  8. I just spent 5 days in San Diego on a girls vacay with my mom...it was beautiful (and hot!) I am ready to get back in the kitchen and this dish is calling my name! YUM!

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  9. All the favors in my mind just blend together..looks and sounds AMAZING!!!
    Great pictures too..just well balanced and delicious meal!!

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  10. This rice sounds amazing! Hmm do you think I could cook it in the rice cooker? Or even with brown rice- or would that turn out gross...

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  11. My favorite fish! I love the tropical spin on it. Glad to hear that summer has arrived in SD.

    BTW, Lindeslicious I have made coconut rice in the rice cooker - white rice only, though.

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  12. Wow! Everything about this sounds fabulous to me! I can't wait to try it!

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  13. I love coconut! I will have to try out that coconut rice! ;)

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  14. Your coconut almond rice sounds great with the mahi mahi. Can't wait to try the rice with the fish,

    Beautiful pic of your flower.

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  15. wonderful dish looks tasty.

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  16. What a gorgeous looking grilled Mahi Mahi, and the yummy coconut rice, as well.
    Beuatiful flower photo!
    Everything is exquisite...been a while since we commented on each others' blogs...thanks for stopping by to comment, Kim!
    Definitely trying out your delicious recipe:DDD

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  17. That is fantastic Kim! You have the most incredible pictures all the time!

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  18. Grilled fish is so perfect for this weather .. and you chose Mahi Mahi which is one of my fav. Delicious looking meal.

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  19. I've never tried Mahi Mahi but every time I hear the name I think of the movie The Housebunny. "Instead of the Mahi Mahi, could I just get the one Mahi because I'm not that hungry?" LOL! I love that movie. This fish looks amazing! I do so love coconut and asparagus so I can imagine I may like this. Thanks for sharing!

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  20. I love the rice recipe! I have some coconut milk leftover from another recipe and now I know what to do with it.

    Jason

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  21. The fish so nice they named it twice! It looks so good grilled and what a nice flavor combination for the rice! This time of year were seeing 90's too although ours comes with massive humidity....sigh
    glad to hear your enjoying your summer!

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  22. Yum, Kim! I need to buy fish and freeze them in my freezer. I always have a hankering for it and am too lazy to go to the store to get some, haha. And I'm glad you're enjoying the warm summer temps! I'm glad it's finally cooling off, haha. Yes, I'm a pansy ;-)

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  23. This looks delicious! I definitely want to try this rice out!

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  24. I don't have any fish at the moment, but I'll definitely be making the rice! I made my own red curry paste so I'm looking forward to giving it a try with this. Your flower is breath-taking.

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  25. I made this the other night and it was so good! I used wild rice instead because I didn't have white but I really liked it that way! Also, I forgot to add the coconut flakes too! Ha!

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  26. Yay!! Robyn, I'm so glad you liked it! This one has made our regular rotation and we have enjoyed it a few times... to be hones, I still haven't used the flaked coconut!

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  27. Oooh YUM! I'm doing a variation on this tonight - Tilapia with almond & coconut rice. Don't have all the ingredients on hand so will wing it, using your recipe as a base :-) Thank you (ps: I'm a new follower now too!!)

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  28. Enjoy Vanessa!!! Wonderful to meet you!! I'm eager to hear how about your version!

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  29. We just had this for dinner. It was amazing! Thank you so much for sharing the recipe!

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