Coral Reef Mahi Mahi

Epcot Coral Reef’s Grilled Mahi-Mahi with Rock Shrimp

Ingredients

Coconut-Lime Sauce
1 pound (about 2 medium) sweet onions, diced, divided
1 (13 1/2-ounce) can coconut milk
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound (about 4 large) plum tomatoes, diced
1 medium poblano pepper, seeded and chopped
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2/3 pound rock shrimp, shelled
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

Herbed Rice with Hearts of Palm
1 1/2; cups uncooked jasmine rice
4 hearts of palm, sliced
1 tablespoon minced fresh chives
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Grilled Mahi-Mahi
4 mahi-mahi fillets, about 1/2 pound each
Coarse salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Garnish
Fresh cilantro leaves

Preparation

Coconut-Lime Sauce:

Puree half of the onions with the coconut milk in a blender, and set aside. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add remaining onions and cook until translucent (do not brown), about 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and poblano. Cook until the tomatoes soften, about 3 minutes. Add salt, pepper, and coconut milk mixture. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring often, until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Combine rock shrimp, butter, and lime juice in a small sauté pan over medium heat. Cook until shrimp are just cooked through. Add shrimp mixture to the coconut milk sauce; stir to combine. Add cilantro; keep sauce warm.

"Our mahi embodies the region by utilizing both the fruits and heart of the most symbolic of trees... the palm," Chef Artur Bukalo says. "We use coconut milk and hearts of palm, and this combination, paired with Caribbean white shrimp, produces our best-selling entree."

Herbed Rice with Hearts of Palm:
Cook rice per package directions. Combine cooked rice, hearts of palm, chives, extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Stir until rice is coated in oil and mixture is combined. Cover bowl loosely with foil to keep warm.

Grilled Mahi-Mahi:
Preheat a grill pan on medium-high heat. Season mahi-mahi fillets with salt and pepper to taste. Grill mahi-mahi for about 3 minutes per side, or until just opaque.

To Serve:
Divide rice mixture onto 4 plates. Place a mahi-mahi fillet on top of rice. Divide sauce evenly among each plate and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves. Serves 4.

Chef's Note
If preferred, regular shrimp (peeled and deveined) may be substituted for rock shrimp.