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    Macadamia Nut Crusted Fish Bowl

    August 14, 2024

    We love a good rice bowl recipe–something about the way you can have the perfect bite with each scoop just hits different. Once you make this coconut macadamia nut crusted fish, you’ll be hooked!

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    A macadamia nut crusted fish bowl with coconut rice, green beans and a sweet chili mayo sauce drizzled on top
    Photography by Gayle McLeod

    Macadamia Nut And Coconut Are Our Favorite Flavor Duo

    We’re nuts for creamy, crunchy macadamias. It makes sense that they pair perfectly with coconut, another tropical plant. The combo might conjure daydreams of palm tree-lined Hawaiian beaches since much of the macadamia nuts we consume come from there, but we were surprised to discover that they’re native to Australia! Let’s get back to that vision of Hawaii, where fish and rice bowls are a culinary staple. We’re hoping that this recipe for a macadamia nut crusted fish bowl transports you there! For more rice bowl goodness, try our Coconut Rice Salmon Bowl!

    fish, green beans, rice, coconut milk, ginger, sugar, salt, mayo, sweet chili sauce, coconut & macadamia nuts in bowls
    coconut milk, ginger, sugar, & salt being combined in a bowl to make coconut ginger rice for macadamia nut crusted fish bowls
    coconut milk, ginger, sugar, salt and rice in a pot to make coconut ginger rice for macadamia nut crusted fish bowls
    blanched green beans in a pot being transferred to a baking sheet with tongs to finish cooking in the oven

    Don’t Forget The Special Sauce For Macadamia Nut Crusted Fish

    Another key element for our fish and rice bowl is a special (and delightfully simple) sauce made with mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, and a touch of the coconut milk mixture you’ll use to cook your rice. This sauce is so good, you’ll be drizzling and dipping it everywhere!

    raw fish being dipped into a bowl of beaten eggs and then into a bowl of macadamia nuts and coconut to make crusted fish
    green beans and macadamia nut crusted fish on a baking sheet ready to be baked in the oven
    coconut milk-and-ginger-scented rice in a pot with a spoon for macadamia nut crusted fish bowls
    baked green beans and macadamia nut crusted fish on a baking sheet

    How To Build The Perfect Rice Bowl

    When we think of breaded fish, we immediately think of panko or some other type of breadcrumbs, but we’re here to up your baked fish repertoire with macadamia nuts and coconut. The best part is, our version is gluten free and dairy free!

    1. Make coconut milk-and-ginger-scented rice (you’ll also reserve the coconut milk mixture to thin your special sauce.

    2. Quickly blanch green beans (these will finish cooking with the fish in the oven).

    3. Bread your fish (tilapia, cod, or halibut work great here!) with macadamia nuts and flaked coconut (sweetened or unsweetened–it’s your call).

    4. While the fish and green beans are baking, make a sweet chili sauce and mayo sauce to drizzle over everything.

    5. Once you’ve divied up the rice, baked macadamia nut crusted fish, and green beans amongst your bowls and topped it with the special sauce (our favorite part!), finish with a little sliced green onion for pizazz.

    baked fish crusted with macadamia nuts and coconut on a baking sheet for making a macadamia nut crusted fish bowl
    A macadamia nut crusted fish bowl with coconut rice, green beans and a sweet chili mayo sauce drizzled on top

    Tools You’ll Need

    Rice. Bowl. Repeat.

    Truth: we really can’t get enough rice bowls in our lives. You can fact check us with these other fabulous recipes:

    a bowl of coconut ginger rice with green beans and macadamia nut crusted fish next to sweet chili mayo sauce for drizzling
    A macadamia nut crusted fish bowl with coconut rice, green beans and a sweet chili mayo sauce drizzled on top

    Let’s Go Bowl-ing!

    Did you make our macadamia nut crusted fish bowl? We’d love to see how it came together for you. Tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Hip hip hooray!

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    Macadamia Nut Crusted Fish Bowl

    Updated on August 14, 2024

    • Serves:  4
    • Prep Time:  15 min
    • Cook Time:  18 min
    • Calories:  688
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    Ingredients

    • 1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • 1 ¾ teaspoons kosher salt
    • 2 cups long-grain white rice, rinsed
    • Extra-virgin olive oil or cooking spray
    • 12 ounces green beans, trimmed
    • 1 egg
    • ½ cup raw macadamia nuts, finely chopped
    • ½ cup coconut flakes, sweetened or unsweetened
    • 1 pound white fish, such as cod, halibut, or tilapia, cut into 4 pieces
    • ½ cup mayonnaise
    • ¼ cup sweet chili sauce
    • 3 green onions, thinly sliced

    Method

    1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

    2. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil.

    3. Transfer 2 to 3 tablespoons of the coconut milk to a small bowl, set aside.

    4. In a second medium pot, add the remaining coconut milk, 1 ¼ cups water, ginger, sugar, and ½ teaspoon of the salt, stir to combine.

    5. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in the rice and return to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender, about 18 minutes. Remove the lid and fluff the rice using a fork. Turn off the heat and let the rice sit on the hot stove for another 2 to 3 minutes.

    6. Grease a large rimmed sheet pan with olive oil or cooking spray. Once the water comes to a boil, add the green beans and cook for 3 minutes. Using tongs, transfer the blanched green beans to the sheet pan.

    7. In a shallow bowl or pie dish, beat the egg until smooth. In a separate shallow bowl, combine the macadamia nuts and coconut.

    8. Pat the fish dry with a paper towel. Season the fish all over with 1 teaspoon of the salt. Dip each piece of fish into the egg, allowing the excess to drip off. Then dip the fish into the coconut mixture, gently pressing to adhere. Add the fish to the sheet pan.

    9. Drizzle or spray the green beans and fish with a little more olive oil and sprinkle the green beans with the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt. Place the sheet pan in the oven until the fish is flaky, about 10-12 minutes depending on the thickness of the fish.

    10. Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, and reserved 2-3 tablespoons coconut milk.

    11. To serve, divide the coconut rice and green beans among four bowls. Top with the rice with the fish. Drizzle with the chili mayo and sprinkle with the green onions.

    Nutrition Info

    • Per Serving
    • Amount
    • Calories 688
    • Protein 23 g
    • Carbohydrates 44 g
    • Total Fat 49 g
    • Dietary Fiber 5 g
    • Cholesterol 77 mg
    • sodium 964 mg
    • Total Sugars 14 g

    Macadamia Nut Crusted Fish Bowl

    Questions & Reviews

    Join the discussion below.

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    • Kim

      Is there another nut I can use to replace the macadamia nuts in the macadamia nut crusted fish recipe? I have Brazil nuts, walnuts, almonds, and peanuts.

      We haven't tried it but almonds would probably be your best bet. Hope you enjoy Kim!

    • Holly

      Can this meal be frozen? If so:
      1. How long will it keep?
      2. How best to re-heat?
      3. Can the rice be frozen with the fish, or should rice be made the night of the meal?

      We would not recommend freezing this dish.

    • Ashley

      Would this work with Shrimp?

      We haven't tried it but would probably be good. Let us know if you give it a try!

    • Mason

      DELICIOUS! all three-fish, green beans, rice! A new favorite!!

      YAY! So great to hear. Thanks Mason, we are so glad you loved it!

    • Ann

      Loved this meal! Made everything exactly as listed and it was perfect. My husband, who does not like coconut, asked when I would be making it again. It will definitely be soon. In love with all of your recipes!

      This is so great to hear, we are so happy you both loved it. Thanks Ann Marie!

    • Andi

      Ahhhhmazing! This is so delicious and quite easy to put together. I served it for lunch when my daughter visited and she LOVED it. Thanks for another great recipe!

      Thanks Andi, so glad you loved it!

    • Jennifer

      Very good recipe! We loved the fish, coconut rice & green beans! The only change I would make is add more nut’s & coconut. Next time I’ll try sweetened coconut. We are getting ready to visit Hawaii soon & will look for this dish at restaurants there. I look forward to making this again after we get bk from our trip.

      Thanks Jennifer, we are so happy you loved it!

    • Lori

      I used flounder and fresh green beans from the garden, this is an awesome recipe!!!

      Thanks Lori, so happy you love it!