What do you call this fish?I grew up calling it dolphin, which is short for dolphinfish. That’s the English word for it, but sometimes people only associate that word with a mammal, not a fish. They’re also called dorado, the Spanish word for golden, which is fitting because they’re the most beautiful iridescent yellow, accented by deep blue fins and speckles of turquoise and green.  It seems like the name Mahi-mahi has gained popularity in recent years.  Even Florida restaurants have adopted this word for the fish, which means “very strong” in Hawaiian. I suspect they’ve grown tired of explaining it’s a fish, not Flipper, on the menu.
No matter what you call it, this is one delicious fish. It’s my top choice for a fish sandwich. In this recipe I’m combining the classic Florida fish sandwich with the bold flavors of a Vietnamese sandwich, or bánh mì.  I love the all those toppings: the spicy sauce, the aromatic herbs, and lots of thinly sliced fresh and pickled vegetables.The rolls are spread with spicy sriracha mayo. Spice it up even more by making some of my quick Vietnamese pickled vegetables. If you’re in a hurry, store-bought pickles will do.Add a big fillet of tender fish, and pile it high with veggies and herbs.
Dolphin, dorado, or mahi-mahi?  I’m going with mahi today, because it rhymes with bánh mì.