The Top 10 Mahi Mahi Substitutes

Mahi-mahi (coryphaena hippurus) may be utilized in a variety of dishes and consistently gives great results, independent of the cooking technique employed.

This fish may be purchased fresh, frozen, or tinned. Its fairly meaty texture and mild taste allow the fish to absorb the flavor of whatever you cook it with; you may flavor it with any marinade or spice of choice.

Mahi-mahi, on the other hand, is not accessible all year. When mahi mahi is not in season, you may substitute tilapia, cod, tuna, salmon, white sea bass, halibut, rainbow trout, and swordfish.

stews. These are several varieties of fish that have a meaty taste comparable to mahi-mahi and may be substituted when grilling, baking, or preparing soup.

What Is Mahi-Mahi? 

Mahi-mahi, often known as the dolphin fish, is widely found in the Pacific and Atlantic seas. It comes in a variety of sizes and may grow to be two meters long and forty kilos in weight.

This fish has a long, thin body with a dark blue back and silversides and a protruding upper mouth, giving it its popular name.

Mahi-mahi is a tiny fish that seldom weighs more than 30 pounds. It is most usually found in the warm seas of the South Pacific, the Mediterranean, and the Caribbean. Yet, it migrates over the Atlantic Ocean on occasion, despite having a limited lifetime of four to five years.

The Hawaiian term for strong-strong is mahi-mahi. It is sometimes known as dolphinfish, despite the fact that mahi-mahi is not related to the mammalian dolphin family.

It’s also known as dorado because to its gleaming golden hue, but whichever name you give it, this fish is delectable.

Mahi-mahi may be served in a variety of ways, but avoid overcooking it since it is a lean fish that can dry up if overcooked. Depending on the thickness of the fish, just three to four minutes on each side is required.

If you want to grill your mahi-mahi fillets, leave the skin on so the fillets stick together better.

Also see: Best Red Snapper Substitutes

How Does Mahi-Mahi Taste?

Mahi-mahi has a delicate flavor with a little sweet undertone. It has a stronger fishy flavor than white fish like cod or haddock, but it tastes milder than swordfish. Larger, adult fish have a greater flavor than smaller ones.

Best Mahi Mahi Substitutes

1. Salmon

Even if you’ve never tried it, everyone has heard about salmon. Not only is it widely served raw in sushi dishes, but it’s also a beautiful fish with an appealing orange hue. This is in contrast to the pale pink tint of Mahi-mahi, which becomes white when cooked.

Salmon may be eaten raw or cooked and has a considerably deeper flavor and fishy taste than mahi-mahi. Salmon has around six times the fat content of mahi-mahi but only comprises 6% of the RDA per 3.5 oz meal.

Because of salmon’s rich omega-3 fatty acid composition, the fat it contains is healthful and present. This fish also has more b6, b12, and phosphorus than mahi-mahi, but less protein and less vitamin A.

2. Cod

Both cod and mahi-mahi are saltwater fish; although mahi-mahi is normally bigger than cod, the tastes of the two species are somewhat different. Since it lacks an overbearing taste and is moderate in comparison to other alternative choices like mackerel, cod offers a viable replacement for mahi-mahi.

When cooked, cod creates huge pieces comparable to mahi-mahi and has a similar white and slightly pinkish raw flesh that becomes white when cooked. Cod may taste a touch more fishy than mahi-mahi, but that doesn’t stop it from getting the job done.

Cod, like mahi-mahi, has a high fat content but just half the salt. While both fish have about comparable calories, this makes it a healthier alternative.

3. Halibut

Because of its odd appearance and similar flat-looking form, halibut is sometimes mistaken with flounder. Halibut, on the other hand, is significantly bigger and has a white underbelly with a medium gray top.

When raw and cooked, halibut has a similar flesh color to mahi-mahi; both fish have a moderate non-fishy flavor, grow to be huge, and have a meat-like feel.

Even if you are entirely used to mahi-mahi, you may not be able to notice the difference when substituting halibut since the only notable variation between the two fish types is the somewhat stronger taste of mahi-mahi.

Thus, halibut is ideal for when you want to keep the taste profile modest and more mild. This fish has a greater fat content than mahi-mahi due to its higher omega-3 fatty acid concentration, exactly like salmon.

Both fish, however, have a comparable salt and protein content.

4. Fresh Tuna

The vivid red hue of tuna differs greatly from that of mahi-mahi. It becomes pink when cooked yet has a mild taste that is comparable to mahi mahi, making it one of the finest mahi mahi replacements.

Tuna, which has a similar taste profile to mahi-mahi, provides a fantastic replacement; you can even choose tuna fillets that are the same size as mahi-mahi.

Fresh tuna, on the other hand, has a slightly different hue of flesh than mahi-mahi, although they are otherwise quite comparable and provide similar results in meals.

Fresh tuna has a comparable lipid and omega-3 concentration as mahi-mahi, but half the cholesterol and salt. Fresh tuna is also higher in protein and B vitamins.

5. Striped Bass

Striped bass is located in the ocean but migrates to freshwater during breeding season; this fish is similar to mahi-mahi.

Both fish have a similar look due to their raw pale pink flesh that becomes white when cooked. Striped bass has a delicate fishy taste that isn’t overbearing or powerful. These, like mahi-mahi, may get extremely enormous.

Because to the high omega-3 acid content of striped bass, its fat level is three times that of mahi-mahi.

This mahi-mahi alternative has around two-thirds the salt level of genuine mahi-mahi but nearly the same amount of protein.

6. White Sea Bass

If you can stomach the robust fishy flavor of other fish, such as mackerel or anchovies, you may add white sea bass to boost the flavor of your dish.

It is more usually seen in the oceans than in lakes or rivers. This fish has comparable features to white sea bass and is an excellent substitute.

Some of its commonalities include the same hue of flesh, both raw and cooked, and a weak and faint flavor.

White sea bass is another fatty fish substitute for Mahi Mahi, with three times the quantity of omega-3 fatty acids as mahi-mahi but identical salt and protein levels.

7. Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout are substantially smaller in size than mahi-mahi, and their flesh may be orange, pink, or white. Rainbow trout are strictly freshwater fish, making them distinct from the other mahi-mahi replacements on this list.

Trout has a more gamey flesh than mahi-mahi, but it is also more delicate and has a moderate taste.

This fish also has significant nutritional value; it is a good source of fat due to its high omega-3 fatty acid content, which is higher than that of striped bass and salmon.

Rainbow trout has more vitamin A than mahi-mahi but just a fourth of the salt.

8. Grouper

Grouper is a white-fleshed fish with a solid texture and huge flake, as well as a mild and sweet flavor. This fish has a lot of vitamin A and iron.

In grilling and pan-frying meals, grouper is an excellent alternative for mahi-mahi, but it may also be baked, boiled, or deep-fried.

Grouper is often sold as cubes, fillets, or steaks.

9. Marlin

Because of the strong taste of marlin meat, it may be used in lieu of mahi-mahi in recipes. Its meat is rosier, reddish in color and tastes better than swordfish. Since marlin is regarded a delicacy, it is not the cheapest alternative choice.

Marlin is a high-nutritional-value fish that is abundant in protein and vitamins. It is rich in necessary amino acids as well as iron. Its greasy meat absorbs and compliments any powerful flavor with which it is served, particularly when grilled.

Marlin is a lean and healthful protein source that is low in salt and saturated fat and high in vitamins B6, B12, selenium, and niacin.

10. Rockfish

Rockfish is a catch-all term for a variety of fish that live behind rocks and provide critical vitamins, minerals, and proteins. They have a moderate taste and delicate texture and may be cooked in a variety of ways.

The taste of rockfish is nutty, and it has a medium texture and fine flakes. Selenium, a chemical with anti-cancer qualities, is abundant in rockfish; it also helps to prevent heart disease, osteoporosis, and dementia.

Rockfish may be used as a fast alternative for mahi-mahi and has a similar taste and flavor. Rockfish may be cooked in a variety of ways, including frying, grilling, or steaming; it is suitable for practically any fish dish.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of fish is mahi-mahi?

The Hawaiian name for the fish species Coryphaena hippurus, often known as the dolphin fish in English and the Dorado in Spanish, is simply Mahi-mahi.

Is mahi-mahi similar to halibut?

Although both mahi-mahi and halibut have a moderate taste, mahi-mahi has a more delicate flavor with a slight tropical sweetness. They have similar skin textures, however halibut is white and mahi-mahi is pink.

Can I substitute mahi mahi for tilapia?

Tilapia, like mahi-mahi, has a delicate texture and sweet taste. Since the two species have similar flavors, you may swap mahi mahi for tilapia in most recipes.

Is mahi-mahi similar to cod?

Indeed, mahi-mahi is related to cod and grouper.

Does mahi-mahi taste like Grouper?

Yeah, mahi-mahi has a somewhat similar flavor to grouper, although it is frequently less expensive on restaurant menus.

Is mahi mahi like monkfish?

Mahi-mahi is similar to monkfish, but it has more taste and is less overpowering.