Licorice Poached Halibut Recipes

POACHED HALIBUT IN LEMON-THYME BROTH

Steps:

• Using a vegetable peeler, remove zest in strips from 2 lemons. Juice zested lemons. Transfer zest and juice to a 12-inch straight-sided skillet with a tight-fitting lid. Add stock, garlic, 4 sprigs thyme, and the peppercorns to the pan. Bring to a boil.
• Season each fillet on both sides with salt; carefully add to skillet. Cover skillet, and turn off the heat. Let stand until fish is opaque and firm to the touch, 9 to 12 minutes. Using a slotted spatula, transfer fish to a platter; tent loosely with foil to keep warm.
• Pour poaching liquid through a cheesecloth-lined sieve into a bowl; discard solids. Return to skillet. Bring to a boil; turn off heat.
• Divide broth among wide bowls; gently place a fish fillet in each. Cut remaining lemon into wedges. Garnish each serving with a wedge of lemon and a sprig of thyme, and lightly drizzle with oil.

POACHED HALIBUT

Steps:

• Place the fillets in a microwave-safe dish; sprinkle with bouillon. In a bowl, combine the next seven ingredients. Pour over fish. Place lemon over fillets. Cover and microwave on high for 3-4 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Remove fish and keep warm. Strain cooking liquid; reserve 2 tablespoons., For sauce, place butter and garlic in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 45 seconds. Add the remaining ingredients and reserved cooking liquid. Cook 30 seconds longer or until bubbly. Serve over fish.

LICORICE-POACHED HALIBUT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put licorice sticks on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes. Let cool, then use a knife (or hammer and nail) to carefully split the sticks into pieces. In a saucepan large enough to fit the fish in one layer, pour the half-and-half. Wrap the licorice sticks in cheesecloth and secure with string. Add to the pan. Heat on medium high until bubbles form around the edge, then turn the heat to low and keep warm for 20 minutes, or until the half-and-half tastes pleasingly of licorice. Remove licorice bundle and discard. You will return to the liquid later.
• Fill a small saucepan with water, add salt and bring to a boil. Add the haricots verts and blanch for 2 minutes. Shock in ice water, then dry. Split the beans lengthwise. Using a vegetable peeler, peel the outer layer from the celery and discard. Shave the remaining stalk into 4-inch-long pieces. You will need about 16 pieces. Put the onions in a small bowl, mix with a pinch of salt and let stand for 10 minutes. Rinse the onions and squeeze out excess liquid.
• In a bowl, mix the haricots verts, celery, onions, mint, lemon zest and almonds. Sprinkle with olive oil and a few drops lemon juice. Season with salt. Toss until evenly dressed.
• Place the half-and-half back on the heat and bring to 155 degrees (using a candy thermometer). Season the halibut with salt and white pepper. Lower the fish into the half-and-half and poach, turning once, for 8 to 10 minutes, or until just cooked through. Lift the fish from the liquid and set on a paper towel.
• Transfer about 1 cup cooking liquid to a medium bowl. Season with salt, if needed. Add 3 to 4 drops lemon juice. Using an immersion blender or milk frother, whip the liquid until foamy.
• On each of 4 plates, arrange a little of the haricots verts salad. Lay a piece of fish on top. Season it with fleur de sel and black pepper. Lay a few apple matchsticks on top, followed by a pinch of chives. Spoon the foamy sauce on the fish and around the plate.

HALIBUT POACHED IN OLIVE OIL

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 250 degrees F/120 degrees C.
• Lay the fish fillets in a baking dish just large enough to hold them. Pour over enough oil to cover. Add the orange zest, fennel seed, thyme sprigs, garlic and some pepper. Bake until just tender, about 10 minutes. Remove the fish from the oil. Garnish with the fleur de sel. Serve with a little of the cooking oil dribbled over.

OVEN-POACHED HALIBUT PROVENCAL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place wine and fish in an oiled 13"x9" baking dish.
• Combine tomato through garlic, and spoon over fish.
• Bake 35 minutes.
• Preheat broiler.
• Combine breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and olive oil.
• Sprinkle over fish, and broil until toasted.
• Serve.

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).

POACHED HALIBUT WITH EBERHARD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Blanch carrots in boiling water until tender. Transfer to ice-water bath to cool. Drain well, and set aside. Repeat with celery, onion, and leek.
• Season fish with salt and pepper. Place tarragon-vegetable broth in a straight-sided skillet just large enough to hold fillets in one layer. Add fish. Place over medium heat, and bring to a boil. Turn fish fillets, and cook 2 minutes more. Remove fish to shallow bowls, and keep warm.
• Add vegetables to broth, and reheat. Add chopped tarragon, and swirl in the butter. Taste broth, and adjust for seasoning. Ladle broth and vegetables over halibut. Garnish with sprigs of tarragon. Serve immediately.

POACHED HALIBUT WITH HERITAGE TOMATOES

Steps:

• Make the tomato broth the day before. Put the tomatoes and 1/ 2 tbsp flaky salt in a food processor and blitz to a pulp. Pour into a colander lined with a muslin cloth set over a bowl to catch the juices. Fold the cloth over the pulp and put a weight on top to help squeeze out the juices. Put in the fridge overnight to strain. Take the broth out of the fridge 1 hr before serving to bring to room temperature.
• The next day, toss the mixed tomatoes in a roasting tin with 1/ 2 tbsp flaky salt, the oil and garlic, then spread them out and leave for 1 hr.
• Next, put the wine, rosemary, shallot, stock and a good pinch of salt in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer, drop in the fish and reduce the heat so the liquid is just bubbling. Gently poach for 8-10 mins, then remove. Freeze the poaching liquor and use as a stock at a later date.
• Spoon the mixed tomatoes with their oil and garlic, the spring onions and broad beans into two serving bowls. Top with the cooked fish, then pour over the tomato broth.

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.