Romaine Wrapped Halibut Recipes

ROMAINE-WRAPPED HALIBUT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F and coat inside of a 13- by 9-inch glass or ceramic baking or gratin dish with 1 tablespoon butter. Cut 2 thin slices from each lemon half and squeeze juice from remaining lemon.
• Mash together remaining 2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and shallot and season well with salt and pepper. Sprinkle dish with remaining juice.
• Cook lettuce in a large pot of salted boiling water 1 minute. Immediately transfer with tongs to a bowl of ice water to cool. Drain lettuce and cut out ribs, leaving top 1 inch of leaves intact.
• Spread out 1 lettuce leaf lengthwise on a work surface. Place another leaf on first leaf, overlapping enough to cover any holes (use 2 extra leaves if necessary). Season 1 piece halibut with salt and pepper and place crosswise in center of lettuce. Spread top of fish with one fourth of shallot butter. Wrap lettuce over fish to form a packet (don't worry if ends aren't covered by lettuce) and transfer to baking dish. Make 3 more packets in same manner, arranging them close together in baking dish.
• Top each packet with a lemon slice. Cover packets with a sheet of wax or parchment paper, then tightly cover dish with foil.
• Bake in middle of oven until centers of packets are just firm to the touch, 15 to 20 minutes, depending on thickness of fish. Serve with pan juices poured over packets.

HALIBUT WITH LEMON-BUTTER AND CRISPY SHALLOTS

Steps:

• For the lemon butter: Whisk together the lemon juice, salt, pepper, lemon zest and butter in a deep medium bowl until well blended (mixture will be like a thick sauce). Set aside until ready to use.
• For the halibut and crispy shallots: Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper and garlic in an 8-by-8-by-2-inch glass dish. Whisk the marinade to blend. Add the halibut and turn several times to coat evenly. Let stand 15 to 20 minutes.
• Combine the grapeseed oil and shallots in a medium heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring often, until the oil heats up and the shallots turn golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the shallots with a slotted spoon to several layers of paper towels to drain and crisp. Sprinkle with salt and pepper just before using.
• Heat a large dry nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Lift the halibut from the marinade, letting the excess drain off. Add the halibut to the hot skillet and sear 3 minutes. Turn the fish over using a flexible metal spatula. Sear until still slightly pink in the center, about 3 minutes longer, depending on thickness. Transfer the halibut to plates. Top with a generous dollop of lemon-butter and pile the shallots alongside or scatter around the fish. Garnish with the lemon wedges and serve.

POTATO-WRAPPED HALIBUT

Steps:

• Halve potatoes lengthwise. Using a very sharp knife or mandolin, slice potatoes lengthwise into paper-thin rounds.
• Lay a piece of parchment paper on work surface; arrange potato slices, slightly overlapping, to form a 5-by-7-inch rectangle on parchment; season with salt and pepper.
• Place one fish fillet on potato rectangle. Using the parchment paper, wrap one side of the potatoes around the fish, pressing to adhere. Top with three parsley leaves. Wrap remaining side of potato rectangle around fish and over parsley, pressing to adhere. Carefully remove parchment paper and discard. Repeat process with remaining potatoes, fish fillet, and parsley.
• Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Pat potatoes dry with a clean towel and add fish, parsley side down; cook, turning, until potatoes are golden and crisp on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove from heat and serve immediately with beurre rouge sauce.

PHYLLO-WRAPPED HALIBUT FILLETS WITH LEMON SCALLION SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Lightly butter 1 sheet of phyllo dough. Lay another sheet directly on top of the first sheet, and lightly butter it. Repeat with remaining 2 sheets of phyllo. Cut sheets in half.
• Season halibut fillets with salt and pepper. Place a fillet near the bottom edge of one of the halved sheets of phyllo. Sprinkle with dill. Fold in the sides of the phyllo, then roll the fillet. Place on a baking sheet, and lightly brush with butter. Repeat with remaining fillet.
• Bake in a preheated oven until pastry is puffed and golden brown, about 12 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring lemon juice to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat. Boil until almost evaporated. Reduce heat to medium, and stir in cream. Simmer until the cream thickens somewhat. Stir in green onions, and season with salt and pepper. Serve halibut on a pool of sauce.

EASY HALIBUT FILLETS WITH HERB BUTTER

Steps:

• Make little aluminum foil trays sized to fit each fillet.
• Wipe the bottom of each tray with olive oil.
• Put the fillets ugly side up (skin side even if the skin is now removed) on the trays.
• Mix the butter with the chopped herbs throughly.
• Place 1 tablespoon of the butter on the halibut.
• Broil for 4 minutes.
• Carefully turn each fillet over, not spilling any of the melted herb butter.
• Broil for 4 more minutes.
• Remove and plate, pouring the melted sauce over each fillet.

PAN-SEARED MARINATED HALIBUT FILLETS

Steps:

• In a large sealable plastic bag, combine the 6 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, basil, salt, pepper and lemon juice. Add fish, seal bag, and turn to coat. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
• In a large flat skillet (do not use a ridged pan), pour light olive oil or vegetable oil, tilting pan to spread evenly. Warm over high heat until smoking, then add fish fillets. Brush top and sides with marinade. Cook until seared, about 3 minutes; turn and sear other side, about 3 more minutes. Brush top and sides with marinade again. Reduce heat to medium. Cook until centers of fillets are just opaque, 2 to 4 minutes more on each side depending on thickness, brushing with marinade as before. Garnish with parsley, if desired, and serve.