Char-Grilled Mahi Mahi with Red Pepper Sauce and Cilantro-Walnut Pesto
Char-Grilled Mahi Mahi with Red Pepper Sauce and Cilantro-Walnut Pesto balances smoky, tender fish with a silky, wine-kissed roasted red pepper puree and a fresh, nutty herb topping. The pesto’s walnuts and Parmesan add richness while cilantro brightens every bite. Serve this vibrant dish for a weeknight dinner that still feels special or as a centerpiece for a relaxed summer gathering.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook20 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Char-Grilled Mahi Mahi with Red Pepper Sauce and Cilantro-Walnut Pesto, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 50 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 90 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 29
- Heart Health
- 62
- Metabolic
- 18
- Digestive
- 21
- Inflammatory
- 52
- Performance
- 42
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat an outdoor grill to medium-high heat.
- 2
Combine the wine and shallot in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to medium-low and cook until the liquid is reduced by about half, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
- 3
Add the Parmesan cheese, garlic, and walnuts to a food processor and process until finely chopped. Add the olive oil, cilantro, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper; process until smooth. Transfer the cilantro pesto from the food processor and set aside.
- 4
Add the red peppers to the food processor, pour in the wine reduction, and process until smooth. Return the mixture to the saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer the sauce for 4 minutes. Meanwhile, season both sides of the mahi mahi fillets with salt and pepper.
- 5
Grill the mahi mahi on the preheated grill until golden and the fish flakes easily with a fork, about 4 minutes per side.
- 6
Whisk the butter, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon salt into the red pepper sauce until smooth. Spoon the red pepper sauce onto the serving plate, place the fish on top of the sauce, and finish with the cilantro pesto to serve.
- Calories 345.06 kcal Moderate 17%
- Protein 24.9 g Good Source 50%
- Carbohydrate 17.86 g 6%
- Total Fat 15.85 g High 20%
- Saturated Fat 3.68 g Moderate 18%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 90.9 mg High 30%
- Sodium 293.68 mg Moderate 13%
- Dietary Fiber 1.69 g Low Source 6%
- Total Sugars 3.1 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 154.68 mg Moderate 12%
- Iron 1.81 mg Moderate 10%
- Potassium 204.77 mg Low Source 4%
- Vitamin A 15.31 mcg Low Source 2%
- Vitamin C 11.11 mg Moderate 12%
- Vitamin D 0.03 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Tree Nuts 🌰
- Fish 🐟
- Milk 🥛
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
- Alcohol 🚫🍷
About This Recipe
Char Grilled Mahi Mahi with Red Pepper Sauce and Cilantro Walnut Pesto is made with 13 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 40 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Butter, Chopped Walnuts, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Each serving provides about 345.06 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Char-Grilled Mahi Mahi with Red Pepper Sauce and Cilantro-Walnut Pesto made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Butter, Chopped Walnuts, Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Fresh Cilantro. The full list of 13 is above.
- How long does it take to make Char-Grilled Mahi Mahi with Red Pepper Sauce and Cilantro-Walnut Pesto?
- About 40 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 345.06 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Char-Grilled Mahi Mahi with Red Pepper Sauce and Cilantro-Walnut Pesto easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 13 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is Char-Grilled Mahi Mahi with Red Pepper Sauce and Cilantro-Walnut Pesto healthy?
- Char-Grilled Mahi Mahi with Red Pepper Sauce and Cilantro-Walnut Pesto has an easyChef Pro health score of 47/100. Per serving, it provides 345.06 calories and 24.9 g of protein, or 50% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 293.68 mg (13% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 3.68 g (18% of the Daily Value). It contains Tree Nuts, Fish, Milk, Garlic, Onions and Alcohol, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.
The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.
For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.
Score a recipe free, no app required