Oven Poached Halibut Provencale Recipes

MARIO BATALI'S OVEN-POACHED HALIBUT IN OLIVE OIL

Steps:

• Put a rack in the middle of the oven, and preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Pat the fish fillets dry, then sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Allow the seasoned fish to stand at room temperature for 10 minutes. Chop half of the capers.
• Arrange half of the lemon slices in one layer in an 8-inch square glass baking dish. Arrange the fish fillets in one layer over the lemon slices. Top with all of the capers, the remaining lemon slices, and the 3 tablespoons of parsley, then pour the oil over the composed fish.
• Bake, covered, until the fish just flakes and is cooked throughout - 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Serve the fish with some of the lemon slices, capers, and oil spooned over. Sprinkle with parsley leaves.
• COOK'S NOTE:
• To reuse the leftover olive oil, strain it through a paper towel-lined sieve and allow it to cool to room temperature. It will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to 1 week.
• Recipe adapted from: the website of The Jane Pauley Show (on which the technique was demonstrated).

MEDITERRANEAN HALIBUT PROVENCAL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°. Sprinkle both sides of the halibut with salt and pepper.
• Heat olive oil in an oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes until slightly browned. Add red pepper flakes and garlic. Cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute.
• Add wine, clam juice, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, anchovy paste, and Herbs de Provence. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes to reduce the sauce a little then remove from heat and stir in the olives. (If you want the sauce thinner, only simmer it for a minute).
• In a small dish, stir together the bread crumbs, olive oil, herbs, salt, and lemon zest.
• Arrange the halibut fillets over the tomato mixture then sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the top.
• Bake for 15 to 30 minutes until the fish is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork. Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the fish fillets. If the fillets are 1-inch thick, they will take approximately 22 to 25 minutes. If you have an instant-read thermometer, the halibut will be done when the internal temperature reads 130°F.

BAKED HALIBUT WITH TOMATO CAPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat, and add the onion. Cook, stirring often, until tender, three to five minutes, and add the garlic and the capers. Cook, stirring, for three to five minutes, until the onion has softened thoroughly and the mixture is fragrant. Add the tomatoes, salt, pepper and a pinch of sugar. Stir in the thyme, bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often, for 15 to 20 minutes, until the sauce is thick and fragrant. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve hot or cold.
• Make the sauce as directed and keep warm.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Oil a baking dish large enough for the fish to lie flat. Season the fish with salt and pepper, and arrange in the baking dish. Drizzle the olive oil over the fillets, and place a round of lemon on each one. Cover the dish tightly with foil, and place in the oven. Bake 15 minutes. Check the fish; if you can cut into it with a fork, it is done. If it doesn't yield, (halibut fillets tend to be thick can take time to cook), cover and return to the oven for five minutes. Remove from the oven, and check again. Remove the lemon slices from the fish.
• Place a spoonful of sauce on each plate, and place a piece of fish partially on top. Spoon some of the liquid from the baking dish over the fish. If you wish, top the fish with another spoonful of sauce, garnish with basil leaves and serve.

HALIBUT PROVENçAL WITH TOMATOES AND ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Brush a shallow, ovenproof casserole with olive oil.
• To make the sauce, heat the 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until soft and translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and chopped thyme and cook until fragrant, 45 to 60 seconds. Add the zucchini and tomatoes and sauté until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add the olives and vinegar. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper.
• To cook the fish, place the halibut in the prepared casserole and turn in the oil to lightly coat; season with salt and pepper. Spoon the vegetable mixture over the fillets. Bake until just opaque in the center, about 10 minutes. Garnish with additional sprigs of thyme.

BUTTER-POACHED HALIBUT

Steps:

• Clarify the butter: Preheat oven to 350 F. In a 4-quart, oven-safe saucepan, melt butter over medium heat and bring to a simmer, 5-7 minutes. Once white foam (milk solids) begins to form on the top, skim it off with a small ladle or spoon. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue skimming the milk solids until the butter is clear. Pour the clarified butter through a cheesecloth-lined strainer to catch the smaller milk solids. Set aside to cool to 155 F.
• Poach the fish: Season the fish on all sides with salt, about ¼ teaspoon per fillet. Gently lower the halibut into the clarified butter so all four fillets are submerged. Place the fish in the oven and bake, uncovered, 8 minutes.
• Assemble the dish: Fish is done when it's firm but not hard to the touch. Use a slotted spoon to remove the fish, drain off the butter, and plate. Serve with lemon wedges, crunchy salt, and dill.

QUICK HALIBUT PROVENCAL

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large nonstick saute pan over medium-high heat.
• Lightly season the fish with salt and add the fillets to the pan and sear until they have good color, about 4 minutes.
• Turn over the fillets, reduce the heat to low and cook 1 minute.
• Remove the fish to a plate and keep warm.
• Add the garlic and shallots to the pan and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
• Add the tomatoes, olives, capers, pepper flakes, vinegar and one-half teaspoon salt and saute 1 minute.
• Increase the heat to medium and simmer for about 2 to 3 minutes, until the vegetables are cooked through and the sauce is bubbly. Add the fish back into the sauce during the final minute of cooking.
• Transfer the fillets to a platter, spoon the sauce over and sprinkle with freshly ground pepper and the torn basil and serve immediately.