Grilled Catfish with Coconut and Scotch Bonnet Marinade
Fresh catfish fillets marinated in creamy coconut milk and fiery Scotch bonnet, grilled to golden perfection with bright lime notes. This Nigerian-inspired grilling recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs catfish fillets, coconut milk, Scotch bonnet pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 4 (6 oz each) catfish fillets
- 1/4 cup coconut milk
- 1 Scotch bonnet pepper
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup coconut milk, 1 finely chopped Scotch bonnet pepper (seeds removed), 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp lime juice, 1 tsp thyme, 1/2 tsp ground cumin, and 1 tbsp olive oil.
- Step 2: Place 4 catfish fillets (6 oz each) in a shallow dish and pour the marinade over them. Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
- Step 3: Preheat grill to medium-high heat (375°F). Brush grill grates with oil to prevent sticking.
- Step 4: Remove catfish from marinade, discarding excess. Grill for 4-5 minutes per side until fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
- Step 5: Season with salt and black pepper to taste, and serve immediately.









