Brioche And Pesto Crusted Halibut With Portobello Caps Broccoli Creamed Fennel And Sun Dried Tomato Beurre Blanc Food

PESTO HALIBUT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°. In a small bowl, combine oil, sauce mix and lemon juice; brush over both sides of fillets. Place in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. , Bake, uncovered, until fish just begins to flake easily with a fork, 12-15 minutes.

ROASTED PORTOBELLOS WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the stems of the mushrooms, and carefully scrape away the gills using a spoon. Toss with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place, rounded side down, on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Place in the oven and roast for 8 to 10 minutes, until the mushrooms are beginning to soften and throw off liquid. Remove from the heat and fill with the pesto. Return to the oven and continue to roast until thoroughly softened, about 10 more minutes.

ROAST ROCK COD WITH FENNEL AND BEURRE BLANC

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• With a sharp knife, cut 1-inch-deep incisions all along the length of the fish on each side of the backbone. Cut 1/2-inch-deep incisions into the fillets at 1-inch intervals perpendicular to the fish's length. Season the fish all over, including the incisions and its cavity, with salt and pepper. Put 4 of the fennel branches in the body cavity.
• Spread 2 of the sliced fennel bulbs, potatoes, onions, and tomatoes on a rimmed metal baking sheet. Sprinkle them with salt and pepper and the red pepper flakes. Drizzle generously with olive oil. Place the fish on top of the vegetables, body cavity down, and drizzle it generously with olive oil. Pour half of the wine over the fish and vegetables.
• Place the baking sheet on top of the stove over 2 burners set to medium-high heat. As soon as the liquid in the baking sheet starts to steam, transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven. Roast the fish, basting it occasionally with the juices from the pan, until its flesh easily separates from the bone when 1 of the incisions is probed with the side of the basting spoon, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a saucepan over medium-high heat, heat about 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the shallots and chopped fennel bulb and saute until translucent but not browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add the Pernod, which may flare up as its alcohol burns, and then pour in the remaining white wine and stir and scrape to deglaze the pan deposits. Simmer briskly until the liquid has reduced to about 1/4 cup, about 10 minutes.
• Whisking continuously, add the butter to the pan 1 or 2 pieces at a time until it melts, forming a thick, creamy sauce. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper and stir in the lemon juice. Pour the sauce through a fine strainer held over another saucepan, and press down on the solids with the back of a wooden spoon to press out all the liquid. Finely chop the fronds of the remaining fennel branch, stir all but a tablespoon or so of them into the sauce, and adjust the seasonings, to taste. Keep the sauce warm over low heat.
• Use a pair of large spatulas to transfer the fish to a serving platter. Arrange the roasted vegetables around the fish and drizzle with 1 or 2 spoonfuls of the sauce over it. Garnish the platter with lemons and parsley, drizzle the fish with a little more olive oil, and serve, passing the sauce separately.

PESTO BRUSCHETTA

Steps:

• Arrange bread slices on an ungreased baking sheet. Spread with pesto; top with tomatoes and cheese. Broil 4 in. from the heat for 3-5 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

CHEF JOHN'S BEURRE BLANC

Steps:

• Place wine, lemon juice, cream, shallots, and cream in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium, and let simmer until liquid is reduced by about 75%, 4 to 5 minutes. Reduce heat to the lowest setting and whisk in about 2 cubes of butter. Keep butter moving until it melts. When melted, add a few more cubes, whisking continuously so butter emulsifies into the wine/lemon juice mixture.
• Continue to add butter, a few cubes at a time until all of it has been incorporated and the sauce has a thick, luxurious texture, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Taste for seasonings and add a pinch of salt and cayenne, if desired. Serve immediately.

PARMESAN CRUSTED BAKED HALIBUT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 475° and brush a baking sheet with oil. In a small bowl, lightly beat egg and milk together. In a separate bowl, stir together parmesan cheese, flour, paprika, pepper and salt. Dip fish fillets in egg wash, and then dredge in flour mixture. Lay fish fillets in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Top with dabs of butter and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until crispy and baked through.