Lemon thyme mahi mahi served with green beans and tomato salad for a summer supper

Lemon Thyme Mahi Mahi

I step out of the car to unload my groceries, and the hot, humid air of the north Georgia summer envelopes me in a blanket that I don’t want to be wearing. I feel the thickness with each intake of breath, and the humidity immediately reminds me that summer in the South is not interested in appearances.

It’s ironic, really, that I have a trunk full of groceries, but I can’t bear to cook in a hot kitchen on a day like this. I scan my purchases for something I can prepare for the table quickly, and thankfully, some mahi mahi fillets are tucked into one of the grocery sacks.

With a bit of lemon juice, butter, and a sprig of lemon thyme that I can snip from my herb garden on my way inside, I’ll have everything I need to make lemon thyme mahi mahi in under 10 minutes. This will be the perfect solution for dinner on a hot summer day in the South.

Gathering fresh lemon thyme from the garden on a summer afternoon in north Georgia
Fresh lemon thyme clipped from the garden just before dinner.

The Kind of Meal Summer Calls For

My tastebuds change with the seasons. In the colder seasons I crave rich, decadent meals that provide comfort and warmth. While I truly love summer in the South, the stifling heat brings me to crave lighter fares with ingredients that are fresh and require less time in front of the stove.

Lemon thyme mahi mahi is more than just a dish that I can pull together quickly for a weeknight dinner. Although the ingredients are simple, the result is something you can also be proud to serve while entertaining guests.

Fresh lemon thyme, citrus, salt, and pepper prepared for lemon thyme mahi mahi
Lemon, thyme, butter, salt, and pepper keep the flavors simple and fresh.

Lemon Thyme Mahi Mahi

Served with a few simple sides, it is the sort of dinner that slips easily between ordinary evenings and informal entertaining.

Seasoned mahi mahi prepared for cooking with lemon thyme and butter
A quick seasoning is all the fish needs before cooking.
Lemon thyme mahi mahi served with green beans and tomato salad for a summer supper

Lemon Thyme Mahi Mahi

A simple, herb-forward mahi mahi made with fresh lemon thyme, butter, and lemon juice; a clean flavorful dish that comes together quickly.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American, Southern
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 mahi mahi fillets
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • 1-2 tsp lemon thyme, chopped
  • 1-2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Method
 

  1. Pat the mahi mahi fillets dry and season both sides with salt and black pepper.
  2. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
  3. Add the fillets and cook for about 3-4 minutes per side, until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
  4. Reduce heat and add butter to the pan.
  5. Once melted, spoon the butter over the fish and add the chopped lemon thyme.
  6. Remove from heat and fish with fresh lemon juice before serving.

Notes

  • Lemon thyme adds a subtle citrus flavor, so additional lemon can be adjusted to taste.
  • This recipe works well with other firm white fish if mahi mahi is unavailable.
  • Serve with simple vegetables, rice, or fresh tomatoes for a light summer meal.

What to Serve with Lemon Thyme Mahi Mahi

To keep the entire meal satisfying and fresh, I like to serve it with simple sides. Today I have a few handfuls of cherry tomatoes, some fresh basil from the garden, and a bit of red onion. I slice the tomatoes in half and mix them with the shredded basil, chopped onion, salt and pepper.

The mahi mahi and tomatoes will go perfectly with some green beans sauteed with butter and garlic, as well as some crusty bread.

Everything is fresh and uncomplicated. With the exception of the mahi mahi, nearly all of the ingredients in our meal have been provided by our gardens. This is one of my favorite meals of the season.

Lemon thyme mahi mahi served with green beans and tomato salad for a summer supper
Served with green beans and a simple tomato salad, this meal comes together quickly on warm summer evenings.

A Simple Summer Table

As our dinner is ready, a shiver runs through me. The sun is lingering on the horizon before it slips away, and the air conditioning in the house now feels too cold where sweat has gathered at the base of my ponytail.

This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, Belle Antiquarian may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work.

I grab a few things to set the table outside the kitchen door for our dinner. I place some melamine plates, a linen tablecloth, and a citronella candle into a basket, along with white wine and some wine tumblers.

My husband follows me with the platter of fish lined with lemon wedges and another with our tomatoes and green beans.

By the time we finish our meal, the sun has set completely. We sip our wine and talk about our day with the candle between us. The meal has been perfect. The same summer heat that felt oppressive in the grocery store parking lot now settles around us differently. Moments like this make the sweltering Southern summers easier to forgive.

Check out these other reader favorites:

Abby SmolarskyLeave a comment