Mahi Mahi with Old Fashioned Sauce Recipe
This mahi mahi with old fashioned sauce recipe combines pan-seared mahi mahi with a rich bourbon-based sauce made from brown sugar, butter, and fresh orange zest. Featured on Fish the Dish, hosted by Spencer Watts, this dish transforms simple seafood into a bold, restaurant-style meal with sweet, smoky, and citrusy flavours.
The Inspiration
The “Old Fashioned” cocktail is known for its balance of bourbon, sugar, and citrus, and this recipe takes those same flavour principles and applies them to a savoury seafood dish. The result is a glossy, deeply flavoured pan sauce that enhances the natural richness of mahi mahi without overpowering it.
Mahi mahi is a firm, mildly sweet fish that holds up well to searing and bold sauces. When paired with bourbon and brown sugar, it develops a caramelized glaze that feels both comforting and elevated. The addition of orange zest brightens the sauce, preventing it from becoming too heavy and adding a fresh aromatic finish.
On Fish the Dish, Spencer Watts often explores creative twists on classic flavour profiles, and this recipe is a perfect example of that approach. It takes a familiar cocktail-inspired concept and turns it into a savoury, cohesive dish that feels both playful and refined.
Ingredients
- 2 Mahi Mahi fillets (5 ounces/150g each)
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) canola oil
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) unsalted butter
- ¼ cup (60ml) bourbon whiskey
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon (2ml) freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) orange zest
Method
- Heat frying pan over medium-high heat and add canola oil.
- Sear the fish for 3 minutes on each side before remove from the pan.
- To the pan, add butter and wait 30 seconds before adding brown sugar, salt, pepper and orange zest and mix together.
- Add bourbon whiskey, and let alcohol burn off for 2-3 minutes.
- Return Mahi Mahi to the pan and finish cooking in the sauce for 2 minutes.
- Serve with Wilted Spinach. See recipe.
Serving Suggestions
This mahi mahi with old fashioned sauce recipe is best served hot, fresh from the pan, when the sauce is glossy and slightly caramelized. Its sweet and smoky bourbon glaze pairs beautifully with simple, lightly seasoned sides that allow the fish to remain the star of the plate.
A classic pairing is wilted spinach, which adds earthy depth and balances the richness of the sauce. Other excellent side options include roasted baby potatoes, garlic sautéed green beans, or a simple rice pilaf that can absorb the extra glaze.
For a more elevated presentation, serve the mahi mahi over a bed of creamy mashed potatoes or buttery polenta, allowing the sauce to pool and enhance every bite.
Final Thoughts
This mahi mahi with old fashioned sauce recipe is a bold and creative take on seafood cooking, transforming familiar cocktail flavours into a rich, savoury pan sauce. The combination of bourbon, brown sugar, butter, and orange zest creates a deeply layered glaze that enhances the natural sweetness of the fish.
What makes this recipe stand out is its balance of indulgence and freshness. The sauce is rich and slightly sweet, but the citrus brightness keeps it from feeling heavy, while the perfectly seared mahi mahi provides a firm, flaky base.
On Fish the Dish, Spencer Watts demonstrates how unexpected flavour inspirations can elevate simple ingredients into memorable meals, and this recipe captures that idea perfectly. It’s quick, flavourful, and ideal for both weeknight dinners and special occasions.