Mahi ba Somagh (Sumac Roasted Fish)

Updated June 4, 2021

Mahi ba Somagh (Sumac Roasted Fish)
David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
15 minutes
Rating
4(1,156)
Comments
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This flavorful and bright preparation of mahi, which means fish in Persian (not to be confused with mahi-mahi), comes together quickly. In keeping with the sour-leaning Iranian palate, a generous sprinkling of tart sumac and a drizzle of fragrant orange and lime juices coat butterflied whole fish. If your sumac has been languishing in the back of the spice drawer for some time, get a new jar. Over time, sumac loses its fragrance and punchy flavor and becomes bitter and bland. The key to successfully roasting the fish is to remove excess moisture by patting them dry with paper towels. Serve with a side of rice with tahdig, plain steamed rice or oven-baked fries and a simple salad.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings 
  • 2large branzini or trout (about 1½ pounds each), butterflied, heads and tails kept on if desired (see Tip)
  • 1medium orange 
  • 1medium lime
  • 1tablespoon sumac
  • ¼teaspoon ground turmeric 
  • 1tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1teaspoon kosher salt (Diamond Crystal)
  • Fresh mint leaves, torn, for serving (optional)
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

536 calories; 25 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 9 grams monounsaturated fat; 6 grams polyunsaturated fat; 7 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 68 grams protein; 646 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat oven to 450 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Use paper towels to gently pat the fish dry inside and out, and place the fish on the prepared pan.

  2. Step 2

    Zest half of the orange directly into a small bowl, then squeeze in the juice from that half (about 3 tablespoons) and the juice from half of the lime (just under 1 tablespoon). Slice the remaining orange and lime halves and set aside for serving. In another small bowl, combine the sumac and turmeric.

  3. Step 3

    Drizzle the fish with the olive oil inside and out. Open the fish up like books and evenly sprinkle with the pepper and salt. (If using fine salt or coarse kosher salt, use ¾ teaspoon.) Arrange the open fish in a single layer, angling and overlapping slightly if needed to fit. Drizzle on the citrus mixture and then dust with the sumac mixture to cover most of the flesh.

  4. Step 4

    Roast the fish until flaky and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Garnish with the reserved orange slices, lime slices and fresh mint, and serve.

Tip
  •  Ask the fishmonger at the seafood counter to gut, scale and butterfly the fish for you.

Ratings

4 out of 5
1,156 user ratings
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Comments

Philly Cook, FWIW, there’s another NYT recipe that calls for butterflying trout and roasting with lemon and broccolini, and I make it with fillets all the time (and not just trout - tilapia is just fine!) Def going to try them with this one! Also for sumac lovers: the NYT recipe for chicken with sumac (mussakhan) is delicious and dead simple.

Would it be possible to make this with a fish fillet? Free of the bones?

This was SO good and flavorful . We made it on the grill (too hot to turn on the oven today!) in an aluminum foil tray, and we did it this time with Sable filet. EASY and very successful The juices in the tray were great scooped on top of the fish when serving. LOVED the pop of sumac with the sweetish citrus. Garnished with mint and citrus slices as in the pic. Will make again, and will try other fish types too!

This was divine! I had haddock filets, and they worked out fine.

For those concerned about alternate uses for sumac, it makes tomato soup taste like, well, TOMATO soup.

I used a pound of haddock filets and even at 10 min they were dry. I roasted broccoli plain first and then added the fish but probably should have mixed juices & spices w broccoli too. Brown rice nice with it, but more sauce would be even better.

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