Saffron Halibut Packets Recipes

HALIBUT FILLETS WITH CREAMY SAFFRON SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk yogurt together with salt, pepper, Aleppo pepper or cayenne, and shallot. Rub saffron between your fingers to crush it, then stir it into yogurt mixture. Let sit for about 20 minutes (or covered and refrigerated for up to 2 hours). Just before serving, add juice, taste, and adjust seasoning.
• Sprinkle halibut with salt and Aleppo pepper or cayenne. Put butter in nonstick skillet large enough to hold halibut, and turn heat to medium. When the butter melts, add fish, and cook gently, turning once or twice, until a thin bladed knife meets little resistance when inserted into the thickest part, generally less than 10 minutes.
• Serve fish hot, warm, or at room temperature, with the sauce spooned over it.

ROASTED HALIBUT WITH SAFFRON-FENNEL BUTTER

Steps:

• Combine 1 tablespoon butter and the saffron in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave until the butter melts, about 1 minute. Let cool 5 minutes. Place the remaining butter and the fennel seeds in a food processor and pulse until smooth. Add the melted saffron butter, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and continue pulsing until the butter is bright yellow. Transfer to a piece of plastic wrap and form into a 4-inch log; freeze until firm, about 20 minutes. (The saffron butter will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.)
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Toss the sliced fennel, garlic, the juice of 1/2 lemon, 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2 tablespoons water in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons water and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cover with foil and bake until the fennel is tender, about 20 minutes.
• Toss the tomatoes with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Scatter the tomatoes over the fennel. Set the halibut on top of the vegetables; drizzle with the juice of the remaining 1/2 lemon and season with salt and pepper.
• Bake, uncovered, until the halibut is firm and no longer translucent, about 12 minutes; remove from the oven and top each piece with a thin slice of saffron butter. Return the halibut to the oven and bake until the butter just begins to melt, about 2 more minutes. Serve with fennel fronds.

BROILED HALIBUT WITH SAFFRON RICE

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Wipe the halibut steaks dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with lime or lemon juice and olive oil. Set aside. Mix the saffron with the wine and set aside.
• In a large skillet, soften the shallots, garlic and jalapena pepper in the butter. Add the rice and cook, stirring frequently, until the grains are opaque. Pour in the saffron wine mixture and bring to boil, stirring.
• Turn down heat and add a cup of stock or water. Simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally. As the liquid evaporates, add more. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Continue adding liquid and stirring for about 20 minutes, or until the rice is al dente. The liquid should be absorbed; the rice should be creamy.
• While the rice is cooking, broil the halibut steaks. If they are done before the rice, keep warm.
• Add the cream to the rice, stir thoroughly over low heat and correct seasoning. Place half a halibut steak on each plate, plus a serving of rice. Sprinkle with chives and serve.

HALIBUT IN FOIL PACKETS WITH NORTH AFRICAN FLAVORS

Steps:

• Build a campfire and let it burn down until the embers glow; you don't want flames to cook the fish. Otherwise, heat an oven to 400 degrees.
• Quarter the preserved lemons. Slice away and discard the flesh and pith. Cut the remaining zest into strips and combine with the olives, sliced garlic, and cumin and coriander seeds.
• Place each halibut steak in the center of a large double layer of aluminum foil. Fold up the edges slightly, then lightly season the fish with salt and pepper. Top with 1/4 of the olive mixture and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Bring the edges of the foil together and pinch them firmly to create an airtight seal. The packets can be made a few hours ahead and refrigerated.
• Place the packets in the medium-hot embers of the fire, or if the fire is too fierce, on a rack above it. Leave to cook for 10 minutes or so, depending on the heat of the fire. The fish should feel just firm if prodded through the foil with a wooden spoon handle. Otherwise, cook in the oven for 15 minutes. Unwrap the packets carefully and scatter with chopped coriander, if you like.

ROASTED HALIBUT WITH TOMATOES, SAFFRON, AND CILANTRO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Place all tomatoes in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; toss to combine. Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper; place atop tomatoes.
• Whisk oil, vinegar, green onions, chopped cilantro, basil, and saffron in small bowl to blend. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. Pour dressing evenly over fish. Let stand 10 minutes.
• Bake until fish is opaque in center, about 10 minutes. Cool slightly. Place 1 fillet on each of 8 plates. Season tomato mixture to taste with salt and pepper. Top fish with tomato mixture, dividing equally. Garnish with cilantro sprigs. Serve warm.

BRAISED HALIBUT WITH ASPARAGUS, BABY POTATOES AND SAFFRON

Steps:

• Crush saffron threads between your fingers and place in a small bowl or ramekin. Add 1 tablespoon warm water and set aside.
• In a mortar and pestle, pound together almonds, garlic and anchovies along with a pinch of salt into a paste. Set aside.
• In a heavy straight-sided skillet or wide saucepan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Season fish with salt and pepper. When oil is hot, sear fish for 1 minute on each side. Remove to a plate or platter.
• Reduce heat to medium and add anchovy paste to pan. Cook, stirring and scraping bottom of pan, until garlic is fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Stir in 3 cups water and stir to deglaze bottom of pan. Add potatoes and a pinch of salt. (Don't salt to taste now or broth will become too salty when reduced later.) Bring to a boil. Add saffron with soaking water, reduce heat, cover and simmer until potatoes are just tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Carefully add seared halibut fillets and asparagus to pan. Tip in any liquid that has accumulated on the plate or platter, and bring back to a bare simmer. Cover and poach gently for 5 minutes, or until fish is opaque and asparagus is tender. With a slotted spoon or tongs, carefully remove fish fillets to 4 warm wide soup bowls. If necessary, simmer asparagus for another minute or 2. It should be tender but not too soft.
• Divide potatoes and asparagus among the bowls. Turn up heat and reduce liquid in pan by half, stirring. Taste and adjust seasoning. Stir in parsley and basil and simmer 20 to 30 seconds. Spoon broth over fish and vegetables and serve.