Chipotle Mahi Mahi Burrito Bowls w/ Coconut Lime Rice + Strawberry-Mango Salsa.
Sooo…

Can we just talk about real life here for second?
Nothing sugar-coated, just truly what’s going on in my head.

When I started this blog I always said I would never be a real “photographer”. I just figured I would probably never be any good at it, or for that matter even like it. But the thing is, I have fallen in love with food photography.
The problem? ME!

Like most people, I am my hardest critic. Like beat it down, till I just can’t beat it anymore, but it is only because I truly just want to be the best I can be. With my photos I am always looking to improve them. The thing is? No matter what I do, it’s never good enough for me.
And before I ramble on anymore, I am not writing all this because I want you all to leave nice comments and make me feel more confident. Actually I try to avoid writing posts like this because, while I do LOVE the nice comments (they mean the world to me) they also make me a little embarrassed because well, I am me and I am totally shy and awkward. It’s been this way my entire twenty years.
So basically, don’t feel sorry for me, or even like you have to say anything.

I decided to write about this today because I think it is something a lot of people can relate to. The whole “I am never good enough, someone is always better” thing.
For me, the photos are something I struggle with daily. While I am absolutely in love with photography and growing in my knowledge, it’s my self-doubt, second guessing, over thinking and overly critical mind that I absolutely hate. Some days I end the day and I am beyond excited about what I just created. Other days, I am beyond bummed and a re-shoot is in order because I am a total perfectionist when it comes to anything involving this site.
That was yesterday for me, which is why you are hearing about it today. I just needed a good vent and to let you all know that even though the perfect picture can sometimes get painted, it is only temporary. Around here, nothing is perfect. Far from it actually.
But on to these bowls, because THEY are close to perfect. I may not love the photos, but I love the food and that should be what matters most anyway. I mean, this is a food blog after all.
These bowls are heavy on the tropical Mexican flavors and YOU GUYS? They are so good, super healthy and the best dinner. I served these to my Dad and we both loved them. The salsa makes the dish.
Oh and the colors. It’s like a fiesta!


Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Chipotle Mahi Mahi Burrito Bowls with Coconut Cilantro Lime Rice + Spicy Strawberry-Mango Salsa.
By halfbakedharvest
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chipotle, fish, lime, rice
These bowls are heavy on the tropical Mexican flavors. They are so good, super healthy and the best dinner. I served these to my Dad and we both loved them. The salsa makes the dish.
Ingredients
Mahi Mahi
- 1 pound wild-caught skin on, Mahi Mahi
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 whole chipotle chiles finely minced
- 2 cloves garlic minced or grated
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt + pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- a pinch of salt and pepper
Cilantro Lime Rice
- 1 1/2 cup uncooked jasmine or basmati rice
- 1 cup light canned coconut milk
- 2 cups coconut water or water
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 lime juiced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened flaked coconut
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
Spicy Strawberry Salsa
- 1 medium size ripe mango peeled, pitted + diced
- 1 1/2 cups strawberries chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped
- 1 jalapeño seeded + chopped
- 1 lime juiced
- pinch of cayenne pepper
- pinch of salt
To serve
- 4 [tortilla bowls | https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/crockpot-carnitas-tortilla-burrito-bowl/]
- 4 cups shredded lettuce
- 1 1/4 cups cooked black beans
- 2 ears of corn on the cob [grilled corn | https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/exactly-how-i-grill-my-corn-chipotle-lime-and-cotija-cheese-butter/] kernels removed from ears
- 1 cup guacamole
- greek yogurt or sour cream
- shredded cheddar + crumbled cajita cheese
- fresh cilantro
Instructions
-
In a medium bowl combine the olive oil, chipotle chiles, garlic, smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper and onion powder. Whisk to combine. Add the mahi mahi and toss well. Cover and place in the fridge while you start the rice.
-
Add the coconut milk and coconut water to a medium size pot. Bring to a low boil and then add the rice, salt, unsweetened coconut and coconut oil. Stir to combine, then place the lid on the pot and turn the heat down to the lowest setting possible. Allow the rice to cook ten minutes on low and then turn the heat off completely. Let the rice sit on the stove, covered for another 20 minutes (don't take any peeks inside!). After 20 minutes remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Add the cilantro and lime juice, toss well. Keep warm.
-
Meanwhile make the salsa. Add the diced mango, chopped strawberries, cilantro, jalapeño, lime juice, pinch of cayenne and a pinch of salt to a medium bowl. Toss well, cover and keep in the fridge until ready to serve.
-
Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
-
Once the grill is hot, add the mahi mahi, skin side facing up. Cook about 4-5 minutes and then flip and cook another 4-5 minutes or until crisp and mostly cooked through. Remove from the grill. Remove the skin and either flake with a fork or chop into chunks. This can also be done in a skillet if desired.
-
To assemble the bowls divide the rice among 4 tortilla bowls or regular bowls. Add the lettuce, black beans and corn. Divvy up the fish and then top each bowl with salsa, cheese, and a dollop of greek yogurt or sour cream. Eat!

And Thursday just seemed like a great day to break out those vibrant fiesta colors!
I always look forward to your posts because of the effort you put into your writing, photos, and recipes. You’re doing a great job! 🙂
Thank you so much, Liz!
Tieghan I think you know what I think of your photography! (I emailed you asking for advice!) I love it! We all need a little reassurance every now and then – you’ve got it from me – keep up the fantastic work you do!
Thank you so much, Kathy!! Means a lot!
Tieghan, sorry, but I do need to gush about your photography for a moment, because it is really gorgeous. As a new food blogger, I so relate to your struggles and self-doubt with photography… It has been my biggest challenge by far – the weakest link in my endeavor… Thanks for sharing your post, as it’s somehow comforting to know someone so hugely talented, who makes photography look effortless struggles too! Oh, by the way, the recipe looks insanely good 🙂
It was SO hard for me at first too, don’t worry you will get it over time!!
Thank you so much for your kind words!
Your photos are stunning……they just suck me into your site.
Looks like a party in my mouth =)
Thanks Laura!! Have a great weekend!
I think I pin a photo from your site every morning. Keep it up!!
Same here! We are all our toughest critics. All you can do is your best, so focus on giving photography your all and knowing that that’s what matters most!
Agree. Thanks Darcie!!
YA! Thanks!
Your photos and recipes are so incredible..they are true works of art. I love how you’ve been sharing more and more of yourself in your writing it really allows us a chance to get to know you and realize just how alike we all really are. Keep doing exactly what you’ve been doing…you and your blog are AWESOME!!!
Thank you so much!! 🙂
That means a lot!
Thank you for being honest and real. I love food photography so much but at the same time it brings me so much stress! Like right now, I am waiting for the dish to come out of the oven and the thought of styling and shooting it is making me so nervous. I can absolutely relate to never feeling like it’s good enough. What brings me assurance is looking back at my earlier photos and seeing the progress which means I will only keep moving forward. Your food photography along with incredible creativity is what keeps brining me to your site, Tieghan. You are so talented! I think that feeling of dissatisfaction is what drives us to improve. 🙂
Such a nice comment! I love that part about looking back, I need to do the same!
Thanks Julia! Have a great weekend!
Great idea for Cinco de Mayo – I love taco bowls. And mahi mahi is my favorite fish!
Thanks Ali! Have a great weekend!
I know exactly how you feel. Blogging is hard. I always feel like someone is doing something bigger, better and more creative than me. And the pics! I always look at mine so critically – totally get how you feel. However, these bowls look awesome and I think the pictures are great.
Blogging is hard. You hit it on the spot!
Thanks Liz!
I totally get it! I am a perfectionist myself, but it causes a lot of pain. SO sometimes I just deal with it and tell myself every shoot will not be the best shoot ever. You cannot ALWAYS do your best work. You may be rushed, your may have self doubt clouding your judgement. BUT the reason so many of us follow you is your consistently amazing work we aspire to! XOXO!!
Thanks so the kind and encouraging words, Sophia!!
Thanks for your daily comments and kind words!! Have a great weekend!
I can completely relate to your feelings on photography. I have a hard time posting pictures because I always find little bitty things I don’t like that probably nobody else would notice. Your photos are great though! I don’t eat fish but you’ve made me want to try these bowls. Looks delicious!
I do the same thing. It’s no fun.
Thanks so much for you kind words!! Have a great weekend!
Is food porn a compliment? I hope so because that’s how I feel about your site. The rusticness (totally aware that’s not a word) is part of the beauty. You have this beautiful fresh food with these gorgeous pieces of table, counter or whatever. It’s edgy hominess (I looked it up – this is a word).
Ha! Thank you so much, Linda! 🙂
These bowls look so flavorful and vibrant, perfect for Cinco de Mayo! I really appreciate this post and your honesty – I’m a total perfectionist and my own worst critic as well, so I can totally relate. Hope you have a great Thursday! 🙂
Thanks Laura!! Your photos are always gorgeous!
I hear ya! I’ve been like that more than usual lately and need to make some decisions on where to go w my blog. I think your posts & site are wonderful! Very inspiring.
Thanks Gwen! Hope you the best!
I can relate to what you’re saying, I’m really trying to improve my photography and constantly compare myself to other bloggers who have been doing this for years. My biggest struggle is with light room, I just go round and round in circles. Bla. I think your photos are amazing, in fact, your photos are the kind I aspire to take some day!
Comparing is the worst and I am so guilty of it!
Thanks Denise!!
This recipe looks amazing. I can’t wait to try it! Mahi mahi is divine and I’m always looking for new ways to make it. I love your blog and can totally relate to what you said..haha It’s a struggle. Keep up the great work!!.. You are my good blogging hero/inspiration!
Aww! Thank you so much, becca!!
Your photos are beautiful. And this dish, must have it!
Tieghan, yes, we are our own worst critics, but girl, your photography is top notch. I’ve watched it get better with every post. Keep moving forward you’re doing a great job!
Thank you so much, Norma! Have a great weekend!
Oh my god you’re only 20? Jealous 🙂 You’re photos are by far the most inspiring of all the food blogs I visit!!! I aspire to create photos as alluring, teasing, tempting as yours…I don’t usually comment and I wouldn’t if I didn’t mean it. I wish I had half of your skill!
Aww! Thank you so much! That means a lot!
Can you come make me dinner? 😉
xo Jennifer
http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com
Haha! I wish i could! 🙂
Thanks!
Your photo’s helped me find your site. I was looking for pita bread pictures (for my personal recipe collection) and stumbled on a photo with a beautiful blue background and a recipe with perfect proportions of ingredients. So I ditched my previous recipe and used yours. All thanks to the photo.
In my experience it’s the self doubt and the need for perfection that drives your creativity. Otherwise you’d do the same thing over and over. We don’t see the sweat and effort you put into your blog because it looks effortless. But it’s appreciated Tieghan : )
Thank you so much for this sweet comment, Kat! It is totally making my night! So happy you love my photos and the recipes! THANK YOU!
Ok, well here’s the part where I’m not going to listen to you and tell you how good of a photographer you are. Seriously!!! Your photos are amazing Tieghan. They are so vibrant and sharp, and your composition is so great. I think being a perfectionist can sometimes be a good thing (I consider myself one too for the most part–and I hated my photos today, for example), but just stop every once and a while and remember how talented you are!
You are the sweetest!! Thank you!! And do not doubt you self for a second. I envy your gorgeous photos!! The colors, the clarity and the styling is alway spot on. Todays photos included (or Thursdays!)!
First up? Your photography. It’s amazing, particularly as I’m guessing that you’re mostly self-taught!! The composition, use of props, definitely magazine worthy in my opinion. As for me? I used to be a perfectionist but then I realized how much of a negative impact it was having upon my mental health and self-esteem. So I’ve worked my ass off to try and ‘reform myself’… with varying degrees of success. Yep, I still overly criticize myself at times but I’ve also learned that ‘good enough’ can be a beautifully liberating thing. So have confidence in your abilities, you’re naturally going to keep improving as time goes on. You have heaps of time to have FUN with food photography. You’re naturally talented and that’s a great place to start! Anyway, back to these amazing burrito bowls. No idea why I never thought of cooking burrito tortillas like that before, it’s a fantastic idea! Definitely going to put this on my dinner list for next week. P.S you are AMAZING xx
Thank you so much for the ecouraging and kind comment!! I need to take your advice!!
Thanks again!
I wake up every morning, grab a cup of coffee and look up your blog to see what yummy things you have posted. Your photography is amazing so much so that I make a lot of your recipes. I made this last night for dinner and it was so good. The prep was easy and your marinades are fantastic. The only change I made was I only used 1/2 a chipotle in the marinade, other than that I kept everything the same.
Leftovers will be for lunch today…YEA!
THANK YOU!! This comments means so much, Laura! So excited you loved this!
Ughh, I do the exact same thing and somethings after a photo shoot, I can’t sleep because I’m thinking about how I need to re-shoot it again the next day and change some things around. As annoying as it is, I think it makes us better food photographers! I recently found your site and have been coming back because not only do the recipes sound great, but the pictures also look amazing 🙂 Also, how did you know that I am obsessed with burrito bowls and have been looking for some creative ways to change them up?!
Thanks so much! We sound very similar!
These look so delightful!
Thanks so much!
This bowl is the exact meal I want to eat every single day. Fresh and tasty salsa with fish and flavorful rice? You sing to my soul!
P.S. Your photos are beautiful. Never doubt yourself. You’ve got this, girl!
Thanks Julia!! Have a great Cinco de Mayo tomorrow!
These taste absolutely fabulous! Thanks for your recipes.
So happy you loved this! Thanks!
I can completely relate to this post! I am truly my toughest critic. And we all want our photos to be stunning and perfect, but honestly, perfection doesn’t exist! Just rest assured sweet girl, that your photos are stunning. Like Every. Single. Time!! 🙂 And love this dish, it’s like a tropical party for your mouth! Love it!
It truly does not! Thanks so much for the sweet comment, Jocelyn!
These sound really amazing and u would love to try them. But I am allergic to coconut. Do you know what I could sub for the coconut you used in the recipe? I’m dying to try these.
Hey Drew, just leave the coconut out and sub water. No big deal!
Hope you love this!
How do you take such fantastic photography?! In your “about” section, I fully expected you to be a professional photographer! LOVE it all – inspiring!
Haha! Thank you so much, means a lot! Hope you had a great day and thanks again for the kind words, Courtney!
Your photos are always gorgeous! They are inspiring as well. I want to make this recipe for sure but one little thing. I don’t eat fish. I don’t like fish. What would be the next best thing to substitute? Chicken? I’ve been following you for quite sometime. I love all that you do and thank you for sharing it with all of us!
Hey Rachel! First, thank you!! You are so kind!! Yes, I would use chicken, that will be great! 🙂
Hi there! Do you have nutritional information? If only for the fish and mango salsa?
Hi! I am so sorry but I do not calculate the nutritional information for my recipes! I find that online calculators work great, just make sure to divid by the serving size after you add it all in! Let me know if you have any other questions!
I think you know what I think of your photography
?
Ok, this one was awesome!!! I LOVED this receipe
Thank you so much Sophie!
Could I bake this in the oven? In college currently and trying to avoid using my cheap electric stove as much as possible (plus no good pans)
HI! I Am sure baking the fish will be just fine! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
Hi, I was just wondering what fish you can substitute Mahi Mahi with please?
Hi Maddi! I would recommend using a fish you love, salmon, tilapia, or even shrimp would all be great! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
Big hit at my house! I will definitely make this again and individual aspects of it separately…Coconut lime rice, mango strawberry salsa and the mahi mahi are all amazing additions to my recipe box!
Thank you Stephanie!! xTieghan
Delicious and my husband said it should be part of the regular rotation. Thank you!
Hey Mana,
Thanks so much for making the recipe, I am delighted it was enjoyed! Have a great weekend:) xTieghan