Braised Halibut With Asparagus Baby Potatoes And Saffron Recipes

ROASTED HALIBUT WITH SAFFRON-FENNEL BUTTER

Steps:

• Combine 1 tablespoon butter and the saffron in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave until the butter melts, about 1 minute. Let cool 5 minutes. Place the remaining butter and the fennel seeds in a food processor and pulse until smooth. Add the melted saffron butter, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and continue pulsing until the butter is bright yellow. Transfer to a piece of plastic wrap and form into a 4-inch log; freeze until firm, about 20 minutes. (The saffron butter will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.)
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Toss the sliced fennel, garlic, the juice of 1/2 lemon, 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2 tablespoons water in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons water and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cover with foil and bake until the fennel is tender, about 20 minutes.
• Toss the tomatoes with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Scatter the tomatoes over the fennel. Set the halibut on top of the vegetables; drizzle with the juice of the remaining 1/2 lemon and season with salt and pepper.
• Bake, uncovered, until the halibut is firm and no longer translucent, about 12 minutes; remove from the oven and top each piece with a thin slice of saffron butter. Return the halibut to the oven and bake until the butter just begins to melt, about 2 more minutes. Serve with fennel fronds.

ASPARAGUS WITH BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Peel the lower part (root end) of the asparagus stalks with a vegetable peeler.
• In a large nonreactive saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add the asparagus in one layer, cover and cook over high heat for about 6 minutes, to the desired tenderness. Lift asparagus from the water (most of it should have evaporated) and arrange on a platter.
• Meanwhile, heat the butter in a skillet until it is lightly browned and stops smoking. Sprinkle the asparagus with the salt and pepper, and pour the hot butter over it. Garnish with parsley, and serve immediately.

ROASTED HALIBUT OVER BRAISED POTATOES, TOMATOES AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Add the oil to a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat, then line the bottom with the potato rounds. Season with salt and pepper, add enough water to cover and bring to a boil. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Once the potatoes are softened, drain off the excess water so there is only a small amount left on the bottom. Scatter the lemons, shallots, tomatoes, wine, olives, capers and thyme over the potatoes. Dot with the butter. Season the fish with salt and pepper on both sides and put on top of the potatoes.
• Make a parchment lid for the skillet by cutting a piece of parchment paper that's larger than your skillet. Fold it in half, then fold it in half again in the other direction so you have creases on 2 sides of the paper. Starting with the folded tip, fold on the diagonal 3 times, like a fan, to form narrow triangles. Measure how large your parchment lid should be by placing the tip of the triangle above the center of the skillet and cutting it where it hits the edge of the skillet. Cut off the folded tip to make a small hole in the center. Open up the parchment and set aside.
• Open the parchment lid and place it over the skillet. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the potatoes are soft and the halibut is fully cooked and no longer translucent, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove the parchment lid. Serve, drizzled with some of the sauce from the skillet and some oil, then sprinkle with the parsley.

SEARED HALIBUT WITH PARMIGIANA ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• For halibut: Preheat a 12-inch saute pan over medium-high heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil and butter. Season halibut with salt and pepper and dust with the flour, shaking off the excess. As your butter starts to brown, gently lay each steak in your pan. Allow to cook until golden brown on both sides and cooked through, approximately 3 to 4 minutes on each side.
• For asparagus: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Trim and clean your asparagus. In a large bowl add cleaned asparagus, minced garlic, minced shallots, and extra-virgin olive oil. Season, to taste. Lay prepared asparagus on a half sheet pan and roast until tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Right before taking your roasted asparagus out of the oven liberally top with freshly grated parmesan cheese. The heat of your pan should melt your cheese.
• To serve, place 4 pieces of asparagus on a plate, top with golden brown halibut steak. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Garnish with a sprig of chervil or chives

BRAISED HALIBUT

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a skillet just wide enough to hold the fish. When hot add the vegetables and saute for a minute or so just to get them sizzling. Add the wine, cover and cook over very low heat until wilted, about 10 minutes.
• Set halibut over the vegetables, season with salt and pepper and add stock or broth just to cover. Simmer, covered, over low heat, until fish is just done, about 10 minutes.
• With a slotted spatula, remove haibut from the liquid and divide into two portions. Set each portion in the bottom of a deep soup plate and garnish with carrot threads or snow peas; season the broth and spoon it over the top; garnish with black sesame seeds if you wish.

ROASTED HALIBUT WITH TOMATOES, SAFFRON, AND CILANTRO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Place all tomatoes in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; toss to combine. Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper; place atop tomatoes.
• Whisk oil, vinegar, green onions, chopped cilantro, basil, and saffron in small bowl to blend. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. Pour dressing evenly over fish. Let stand 10 minutes.
• Bake until fish is opaque in center, about 10 minutes. Cool slightly. Place 1 fillet on each of 8 plates. Season tomato mixture to taste with salt and pepper. Top fish with tomato mixture, dividing equally. Garnish with cilantro sprigs. Serve warm.

LEMON-CAPER BRAISED HALIBUT

Steps:

• Season the halibut with salt and pepper. Coat a medium nonstick skillet with cooking spray; place over medium-high heat. Add the fish; cook for 5 minutes per side, until cooked through. Transfer to a platter and cover to keep warm.
• Reduce the heat to low. Add the oil, tomatoes, capers, and lemon juice; cook for 1 minute, stirring. Arrange the spinach on 2 serving plates; top with the fish. Spoon the sauce over the halibut and garnish with the parsley. Serve with the bread.

PAN-SEARED HALIBUT WITH OLIVE OIL POTATOES

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with lightly salted water. Bring to a boil and cook until tender when pierced with a knife. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, combine 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1/2 clove sliced garlic. Sauté over low heat until lightly golden, then add anchovy and 1/4 teaspoon thyme leaves. Transfer to a small food processor and add olives, 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon cold water. Purée until smooth and season to taste with white pepper; set aside.
• When potatoes are tender, drain and put through a food mill or mash them. Return to pot and place over low heat. Stir with a wooden spoon until potatoes start to stick to pot, then slowly add milk, 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 pound butter. Stir until very smooth, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside and keep warm.
• In a medium saucepan, combine remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil with 3 cloves sliced garlic. Sauté over medium heat until garlic is aromatic. Add shallot and sauté until translucent. Stir in peppers, 1 teaspoon salt and sugar. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 2 minutes. Add chicken stock and saffron; simmer, partially covered, until peppers are tender, about 8 minutes. Purée in a food processor, blender or with an immersion blender, and pass through a fine sieve. Transfer to a small pan and season with cayenne and salt to taste. Add 2 tablespoons butter and whisk or blend until frothy. Set aside and keep warm.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Season halibut fillets with salt and pepper to taste. Place a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat and add grapeseed oil. When oil is hot, add fillets presentation-side down. Cook for 1 minute on stove top, then place in oven for 5 minutes. Remove pan from oven and return to stove top on medium heat. Add remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons butter to pan. When it starts to foam, add remaining 2 cloves garlic and sprigs of thyme. Baste fish with butter for 1 minute. Remove fillets from pan when undersides are golden brown.
• To serve, place a large spoonful of potatoes in middle of four wide-rimmed plates or shallow soup bowls. Top with a halibut fillet, seared-side up. Place a spoonful of olive mixture on each fillet. Bring bell pepper emulsion to a boil and whisk until foamy, then pour around potatoes.

ROASTED HALIBUT AND POTATOES WITH ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Boil potatoes in well-salted water for 15 minutes, until tender. Rinse with cold water to cool, then cut each potato in half lengthwise.
• Transfer potatoes to shallow roasting pan, or rimmed baking sheet large enough to hold potato halves in 1 layer.
• Drizzle potatoes generously with 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil. Using your hands, massage the potatoes to coat with oil and turn potatoes cut-side up. Sprinkle lightly with salt. Roast potatoes, uncovered, until nicely browned, 20 to 25 minutes.
• As potatoes cook, prepare the fish: Season fish fillets on both sides with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with garlic, rosemary, red-pepper flakes and crushed fennel seeds, if using. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then rub seasoning into fillets.
• When potatoes are brown, use a spatula to push them to the sides of baking dish, leaving room in the center for the fish. Lay fillets side by side in 1 layer. Roast fish until opaque and just cooked through, about 15 minutes. It should flake when pressed gently.
• Transfer fish and potatoes to a warm platter or individual plates. In a small bowl, mix together parsley, lemon zest and finely chopped rosemary. Sprinkle parsley mixture over fish and potatoes. Serve with lemon wedges.