Ale Poached Halibut Recipes

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.

POACHED HALIBUT WITH TOMATO AND BASIL

Steps:

• Season fish with salt and pepper. In a large skillet add the oil. Arrange fish in the pan and turn to coat in oil, then add garlic, shallots and wine. Top each fillet of fish with 1/4 of the tomatoes. Place the pan on the stove top and bring the liquid to a boil over medium high heat. Top the pan with a tight fitting lid and reduce heat to moderate. Cook fish 8 to 10 minutes until opaque and flaky, but not dry. Carefully transfer fish topped with tomatoes to dinner plates or serving plate with a thin spatula. Spoon pan juices over the fish. Squeeze the wedge of lemon over the cooked fish and top each fillet with lots of torn or shredded basil. Serve immediately.

POACHED HALIBUT IN WARM HERB VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Put the mustard in mixing bowl and slowly whisk in 1 cup of the Vinaigrette. Whisk in the shallot. Put in a small saucepan and set aside. Bring the court bouillon to a boil in a 10-inch pot. Season the halibut with salt and pepper on both sides. Add the halibut to the pot and adjust the heat so the liquid just simmers. Poach until a metal skewer inserted into the center of the halibut meets only a little resistance and the skewer, when left in the fish for 5 seconds, feels barely warm when touched to your lip, about 5 to 6 minutes. The halibut should be rare (thinner steaks will be ready sooner). Take the steaks out ot the liquid as soon as they are done (discard the court bouillon). In a small saute pan with 1 tablespoon butter, saute leeks until tender. Meanwhile, add the herbs to the Vinaigrette and warm over low heat. Pull the skin off the halibut and place in the center of 4 plates. Spoon the Vinaigrette over and around the fish. Serve immediately, with steamed asparagus.
• Whisk together the mustard, salt, pepper, and vinegars. Whisking constantly, very slowly drizzle in the olive oil and then the corn oil. Store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

RED WINE POACHED HALIBUT WITH BACON & MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Put the wine, stock, thyme, peppercorns and a pinch of salt in a deep-sided frying pan and bring to just below the boil. Drop in the halibut, turn down the heat and poach for 8 mins or until flaking apart. While the fish is poaching, fry the bacon in a hot frying pan for 2 mins each side until crispy. Remove from the pan, cover with foil and keep warm in the oven.
• In the same frying pan, heat the oil and 1 tbsp butter until foaming. Add the mushrooms and cook until you get a lovely golden colour. (If using a king oyster mushroom, turn over to get an even colour on both sides.) Once cooked, add the lemon juice to taste and sprinkle with a little salt.
• Lift the cooked fish from the pan, lay on a plate, cover with foil and keep warm in the oven. Turn the heat up on the poaching liquid, reduce by two-thirds, then pour through a fine sieve.
• Wash the spinach in cold water and add to the mushrooms. Season, add more butter if needed, and cook for about 3 mins, stirring until wilted. Divide the spinach and mushrooms between two plates and serve the halibut on top. Spoon over the reduced sauce and top with a rasher of crispy bacon.

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.

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.

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.