Poached Halibut With Black Truffles And Purple Potato And Crab Gratin Recipes

FILLET OF HALIBUT BAKED IN PARCHMENT WITH STEWED LEEKS, GOLDEN POTATOES AND TRUFFLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Heat 3 teaspoons butter in medium skillet over low heat, add leeks, orange zest, simmer gently until leeks soften, add mirin or white wine, coriander seed and continue to cook until liquid is evaporated, season with salt and pepper. Set aside to cool. Thinly slice washed, unpeeled potatoes (1/4-inch thick) toss slices with melted butter, roast in a single layer on a baking sheet until just tender, approximately 4 minutes. Remove from oven and cool. Combine all ingredients for truffle butter, stir to incorporate. Cut parchment into an elongated heart shape, lay in one layer of potatoes, then 1 teaspoon cooked leeks, then halibut seasoned with salt and pepper, then 1 teaspoon truffle butter. Start at the middle of the heart and fold while creasing well until package is completely enclosed, bake just before serving for 8 minutes.

PURPLE-POTATO AND CRAB GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Brush bottom and side of a 3-quart gratin dish (about 15 by 10 by 2 inches) with olive oil. With flat side of a heavy knife lightly crush garlic and rub over bottom and side of dish.
• In a small bowl stir together cream and nutmeg, sea salt, and white pepper to taste. Pick over crab meat to remove any bits of shell and cartilage and divide into 3 portions. Peel potatoes and with a mandoline or other manual slicer cut crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick slices. Divide potatoes into 4 portions. In gratin dish evenly arrange 1 portion potatoes and top with 1 portion crab, spreading evenly. Season crab layer with sea salt and white pepper. Repeat layering with remaining portions of potatoes and crab, seasoning each crab layer and ending with potatoes. Pour cream evenly over gratin and press down on top layer of potatoes to briefly submerge them in cream.
• Bake gratin, covered with foil, in middle of oven 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake gratin until potatoes are tender and lightly browned, about 25 minutes more.

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.

ROASTED HALIBUT AND POTATOES WITH ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Boil potatoes in well-salted water for 15 minutes, until tender. Rinse with cold water to cool, then cut each potato in half lengthwise.
• Transfer potatoes to shallow roasting pan, or rimmed baking sheet large enough to hold potato halves in 1 layer.
• Drizzle potatoes generously with 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil. Using your hands, massage the potatoes to coat with oil and turn potatoes cut-side up. Sprinkle lightly with salt. Roast potatoes, uncovered, until nicely browned, 20 to 25 minutes.
• As potatoes cook, prepare the fish: Season fish fillets on both sides with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with garlic, rosemary, red-pepper flakes and crushed fennel seeds, if using. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then rub seasoning into fillets.
• When potatoes are brown, use a spatula to push them to the sides of baking dish, leaving room in the center for the fish. Lay fillets side by side in 1 layer. Roast fish until opaque and just cooked through, about 15 minutes. It should flake when pressed gently.
• Transfer fish and potatoes to a warm platter or individual plates. In a small bowl, mix together parsley, lemon zest and finely chopped rosemary. Sprinkle parsley mixture over fish and potatoes. Serve with lemon wedges.

ROASTED HALIBUT OVER BRAISED POTATOES, TOMATOES AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Add the oil to a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat, then line the bottom with the potato rounds. Season with salt and pepper, add enough water to cover and bring to a boil. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Once the potatoes are softened, drain off the excess water so there is only a small amount left on the bottom. Scatter the lemons, shallots, tomatoes, wine, olives, capers and thyme over the potatoes. Dot with the butter. Season the fish with salt and pepper on both sides and put on top of the potatoes.
• Make a parchment lid for the skillet by cutting a piece of parchment paper that's larger than your skillet. Fold it in half, then fold it in half again in the other direction so you have creases on 2 sides of the paper. Starting with the folded tip, fold on the diagonal 3 times, like a fan, to form narrow triangles. Measure how large your parchment lid should be by placing the tip of the triangle above the center of the skillet and cutting it where it hits the edge of the skillet. Cut off the folded tip to make a small hole in the center. Open up the parchment and set aside.
• Open the parchment lid and place it over the skillet. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the potatoes are soft and the halibut is fully cooked and no longer translucent, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove the parchment lid. Serve, drizzled with some of the sauce from the skillet and some oil, then sprinkle with the parsley.

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.

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.