Michael Schlows Potato Crusted Halibut Recipes

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!

HERB AND POTATO CRUSTED HALIBUT WITH CUCUMBER NOODLES AND ZUCCHINI BLOSSOMS

Steps:

• For the tomato water: Line a hand strainer with cheesecloth and set over a large bowl. Add the tomatoes, cucumbers, garlic and a nice big pinch of salt to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse a few times, scrape down the sides with a spatula, and pulse again. Pour the mixture into the cheesecloth-lined strainer. Set aside to strain for 2 hours, giving it an occasional stir to redistribute the juices.
• For the cucumbers: Add the fish sauce, rice wine vinegar, sugar and sambal to a large bowl and stir to combine. Trim the ends of the cucumbers so they are even in size. Using a mandoline, shave the cucumbers lengthwise on all sides, turning the cucumber when you get to the seeds. Discard the center with the seeds. Stack the shaved cucumber and slice lengthwise into noodles, about the width of linguine. Add to the dressing and sit for 30 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• For the fish: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Add the thyme, chives, parsley and potato flakes to a small bowl and mix to combine. Sprinkle the halibut with salt, then brush with the egg wash. Dip each piece of fish into the herb and potato flake mixture, pressing firmly to ensure the crust is tightly adhered. Place onto a sheet tray with the crusted side up and set aside.
• Heat a large saute pan with some olive oil and the smashed garlic over medium-high heat. Swirl the pan to infuse the oil with the garlic. Cook until the garlic is golden brown, a few minutes, then remove from the pan. Add the zucchini and cook to soften, 2 to 3 minutes, then toss in the corn and cook for another minute. Finally, add the diced tomatoes and season with salt. Cook for just a minute, then turn off the heat.
• Heat a large nonstick pan with some olive oil over medium-high heat until the oil shimmers. Add the fish, crusted side down. Cook until the crust is golden brown and crispy, about 5 minutes. Flip the fish, then transfer onto a sheet tray lined with a rack. Arrange the sliced tomatoes next to the halibut. Place into the oven and bake until it reaches an internal temperature of 125 to 130 degrees F when inserted with a thermometer, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Set up a deep fryer and heat canola oil to 350 degrees F. Combine the flour and wine in a small bowl and stir to make a batter. It should be the consistency of a thin pancake batter. If it's too thick, add a bit more wine. Dip the zucchini blossoms into the batter, then fry until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes, flipping halfway through. Drain on a paper-towel-lined plate and season with salt.
• To serve: Place a slice of the roasted tomato on the bottom of a shallow bowl and top with the cucumber noodles. Add some of the sauteed zucchini, corn and tomatoes over the top, followed by the fish, crust side up. Garnish with the fried zucchini blossoms and micro basil. Pour some of the tomato water around the edge of the plate right before serving.

HAZELNUT CRUSTED HALIBUT WITH GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place the potatoes into a large pot, and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. While the potatoes are boiling, mash the garlic with 1/2 teaspoon of salt into a smooth paste. Drain potatoes, then mash together with the garlic paste, butter, and pepper. Keep warm.
• Preheat an oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
• While the potatoes are cooking, Preheat an oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C). Pulse the hazelnuts and bread crumbs in a food processor until finely ground, but not ground into a paste. Pour onto a shallow dish. Season the halibut fillets on both sides with 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Gently press one side of the halibut fillets into the nut mixture, and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in an ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Place the halibut fillets nut-side-up into the skillet; cook until the halibut begins to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the fillets over, and place into the preheated oven. Bake, nut-side-down until the fish flakes easily with a fork, about 5 minutes.
• Melt the remaining 5 tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until it turns nut brown. Stir in the vegetable broth, and bring to a simmer.
• To serve, mound the potatoes onto the center of each dinner plate. Place a halibut fillet on top of the mashed potatoes nut-side-up, then drizzle with the browned butter sauce.

MICHAEL SCHLOW'S POTATO-CRUSTED HALIBUT

Steps:

• Beat egg yolks with salt and pepper in a pie pan. Combine potato flakes with thyme, and spread out on a plate. Season fillets with salt and pepper on one side only; dip that side into yolks (don't let any egg drip to the other side). Place fillets in flakes one at a time, egg-side down; press down so flakes adhere. Set fillets aside, crust-side down. Pour olive oil into a large saute pan; arrange fillets crust-side down. No need to preheat - just place pan over med-high heat for 3 minutes. Crusts should now be golden-brown; if not, raise heat and keep cooking until they are. Season tops with salt and pepper. Flip over, and cook for 1 minute. Remove pan from heat. Leave fillets in pan for 1 more minute, then remove. Add lemon juice to pan, and swirl to loosen remaining crust (this will be used as sauce). Sppon a side dish of your choice into the center of each dinner plate (ex. string beans and mushrooms, but rice or spinach also works). Arrange fish on top, crust-side up. Spoon sauce from pan over fish.