Michael Schlows Potato Crusted Halibut Recipes

POTATO-CRUSTED HALIBUT

Steps:

• Beat the egg yolks with salt and pepper in a shallow pan (a pie pan works great) to make an egg wash.
• Combine the potato flakes with the thyme leaves and spread out on a plate or shallow pan.
• Season the fillets with salt and pepper on one side only. Dip just the seasoned side of the fish into the egg wash, being careful not to let any egg wash drip down the sides of the fish. Dip the egg-washed side of the fish into the seasoned potato flakes and press down a bit to make them adhere. Set aside, crust-side down. Repeat with the remaining fillets.
• Pour olive oil into a large sauté pan, arrange the fillets crust side down in the pan, and place on the burner over medium-high heat. (Do not preheat the sauté pan; the fish will not stick.) After about 3 minutes, the crust should be golden brown; if it is not, raise the heat to high and continue cooking. When the crust has turned golden brown, season the fish with salt and pepper, flip it over, and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat; leave the fillets in the pan for 1 minute.
• Deglaze the pan with the lemon juice, being careful not to squeeze it directly on the fish, which would soften the crisp crust you have worked so hard to develop. Swirl the pan a few times to incorporate the lemon juice. Remove from pan and serve!

POTATO-CRUSTED HALIBUT

Steps:

• In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the olive oil, garlic, thyme, bay leaves, lemon zest, crushed red pepper flakes and fennel seeds. Bring to a boil then turn the heat off and let it sit for at least 1 hour. (*Big tip: This can be done ahead and used for LOTS of different things.)
• Using a mandoline, slice 1 potato extremely thin, (paper thin), in elongated rounds. Lay a piece of parchment paper on a clean, dry work surface. Arrange 3 potato slices in an overlapping vertical line pressing them together as you put them on the parchment. Repeat this process until you have a 4 by 6-inch overlapping potato rectangle that replicates fish scales. Brush the potato "scales" with the infused oil and sprinkle with salt. Season the halibut with salt. Lay the halibut fillet closer to 1 end of the potato rectangle than the other and then roll the fish up in the potato slices, using the parchment to help facilitate the rolling. Press to compact and really adhere the potatoes to the fish. Brush the outside of the potatoes with the infused oil to seal the potatoes and to prevent the potatoes from turning brown, this will also help make a nice tight "fish package". Reserve the fish in the refrigerator while preparing the remaining fillets. Refrigerate the fillets for at least 1 hour before cooking.
• To cook the fish:
• Add the infused olive oil to a large nonstick saute pan until the bottom is generously covered and bring the pan to a medium-high heat. Season the fish with salt and add to the pan. Cook the fish on both sides for 3 to 4 minutes frequently spooning the excess oil over the fish to "baste" it. The potatoes should be crispy golden brown and very well flavored and the fish will be succulent inside its crispy "scales". Transfer to serving plates and serve.
• This will make a fish lover out of anyone!