Fennel Crusted Halibut With Asparagus Food

FENNEL CRUSTED HALIBUT WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Cut the top 2-3 inches off the asparagus and set these tips aside. Trim off the tough ends, discard. Slice the remaining asparagus stalks into very thin, 1/4 inch thick disks, until you have about 1 1/2 cups. Any remaining stalks, add to the asparagus tips, cutting them to roughly the same size.
• In a small saucepan, cook the shallot in the butter or olive oil over medium heat until fragrant and golden, about 3 minutes. Add the 1 1/2 cups of asparagus disks and saute 1-2 minutes, stirring, then add the stock. Cover and simmer gently for 4-5 minutes or until asparagus is fork-tender.
• Don't overcook or you will lose the lovely color. Let this cool, then pour into a blender along with salt, tarragon and a squeeze of lemon. Blend until silky smooth. Taste and adjust lemon and salt. TIP: If you like a richer sauce- add more olive oil. If you want it more vibrant green- add more herbs or even a little handful of spinach. Blend until VERY smooth. Place in a small saucepan and set aside until ready to serve. ( This can be made ahead and refrigerated.)
• Pat the fish dry and sprinkle all sides with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the tops with fennel seeds and gently press down into the flesh.
• In a large skillet heat the butter or oil over medium heat. Place fish, fennel seed side-down, and sear until golden, about 4 minutes. Turn the fish over and add the asparagus tips and sliced radishes to the same pan. (You could also add other quick-cooking veggies like snow peas or fresh peas if you like.). Season with salt and pepper and lightly saute them alongside the fish.
• When the fish is done to your liking, squeeze with lemon juice and gently warm the Tarragon Asparagus sauce, stirring often. Do not cover or simmer the sauce, just warm it up, or you may lose the vibrant green color.
• Divide the sauce generously among two plates, top with the seared halibut and divide the asparagus and radishes. Top with sprouts or fresh tarragon leaves. Serve with lemon.

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.

SLOW-COOKED HALIBUT WITH GARLIC CREAM AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250°F. Place fennel in a large saucepan wide enough to fit fish comfortably. Add garlic, cream, and 1 Tbsp. plus 2 tsp. salt. Place over low heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until fennel is just tender, 12-15 minutes (do not let cream come to a boil). Remove from heat.
• Season fish with remaining 1 tsp. salt. Using tongs, carefully slip fish into pan (it should be mostly covered). Transfer to oven and cook fish, uncovered, until flesh easily flakes with a fork, 18-22 minutes.
• While the fish is cooking, finely chop reserved fennel fronds and place in a small bowl (you should have about 1/2 cup). Cut ends off lemon; discard. Place lemon upright on one end and cut lemon into four lobes, working around the center as you would an apple and leaving core and seeds behind. Finely chop lobes (peel and all) and transfer to bowl with fennel fronds. (You should have about 1/3 cup.) Squeeze juice from core over fennel fronds; discard core. Drizzle in oil and toss mixture to combine. Season fennel oil with salt and lots of pepper.
• Break fish into large pieces and divide among shallow bowls. Divide garlic and fennel among bowls and ladle some garlic cream on top; spoon fennel oil over.

SLOW-ROASTED HALIBUT WITH ASPARAGUS AND SALSA GENOVESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Put 1 1/2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a shallow baking dish. Place the fish fillets in the baking dish and turn to coat them with the oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Spoon the wine around the fish. Bake until the fish just flakes, about 20 minutes.
• Whisk a tablespoon or 2 of the juices from the baking dish into the salsa and oil mixture to thin and flavor it, then spoon the sauce over the fish. Serve at once.
• Add all the ingredients except for the olive oil and pulse until nearly pureed. With the machine running, add 6 tablespoons olive oil through the feed tube, pureeing until the mixture is almost smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
• Refrigerate in an airtight container with a thin film of olive oil on top to protect it from oxidizing. The flavors will stay lively for 2 to 3 days.

PAN SEARED ALASKAN HALIBUT WITH PONZU, LEMONGRASS SAUCE, AND LEMON RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Combine the salt and pepper on a plate large enough to accommodate the fillets. Dip the halibut in the salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the oil and swirl to coat the pan. When the oil shimmers, add the halibut and sear, 4 to 6 minutes per side, until brown.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, ponzu, shallot, and grapeseed oil. Toss the vinaigrette with the watercress and season, to taste, with the salt and pepper.
• Plating: Place a ring mold on each plate and fill with the rice. Remove the ring and place an even amount of salad on top of each rice mold. Lay a fillet on top of the salad and drizzle the sauce around the plate. Sprinkle the tomatoes and chives on top of the sauce.
• Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the oil and swirl to coat the pan. When the oil shimmers, add the onion, ginger, and lemon zest and stir-fry until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring until the rice is opaque, about 5 minutes. Add the wine and allow to reduce by 80 percent. Add the chicken stock, cover the rice with foil and place over the lowest heat for 25 to 30 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork and sprinkle with the parsley.
• Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the oil and swirl to coat the pan. When the oil shimmers, add the garlic, ginger, shallot, and lemongrass and saute, stirring, until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the ponzu and reduce by 50 percent. Add the chicken stock and reduce again by 50 percent. Puree mixture with immersion blender. Add the artichoke slices and cook several minutes until just tender. Mount the sauce with 2 tablespoons butter and season with salt and pepper.

SLOW-ROASTED HALIBUT WITH SHAVED ASPARAGUS AND FENNEL SALAD

Steps:

• For salad:
• Whisk lemon juice and mustard in small bowl. Gradually whisk in oil, then add capers. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature and rewhisk before using.
• Place 1 asparagus spear flat on work surface. Using vegetable peeler, shave asparagus into long thin strips. Place asparagus strips in medium bowl with shaved fennel. DO AHEAD: Can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover and chill.
• For fish:
• Coat rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray. Mix breadcrumbs, cheese, herbs, and lemon peel in another medium bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drizzle melted butter over. Using fork, toss to incorporate evenly.
• Place halibut fillets on prepared baking sheet, spacing apart. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Divide breadcrumbs among fillets to cover top (about 1/3 cup each), pressing to adhere. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 hour ahead. Cover and chill.
• Preheat oven to 300°F. Bake halibut until opaque in center, about 20 minutes. Turn on broiler. Broil halibut just until breadcrumbs start to brown, about 1 minute.
• Place 1 halibut fillet on each of 6 plates. Pour dressing over asparagus and fennel mixture; toss to coat. Season salad to taste with salt and pepper. Divide salad among plates and serve.

HALIBUT WITH TOMATOES AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Cook couscous according to package instructions.
• In a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid, heat oil over medium. Add fennel and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent, 4 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and cook, stirring frequently, until they beginto soften and release their juices, 3 to 4 minutes. Nestle halibut in tomato mixture and season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook until fillets are opaque throughout, 8 minutes.
• Fluff couscous with a fork. Reserve 2 1/4 cups for another meal. To serve, divide remaining couscous and halibut-tomato mixture among 4 shallow bowls and sprinkle with fennel fronds, if desired.

HALIBUT IN PERNOD BROTH WITH FENNEL AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add fennel, asparagus, carrots, and shallots; sauté until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer vegetables to bowl. Add clam juice, Pernod, and herbs to same skillet; bring to boil. Add halibut fillets. Reduce heat to very low, cover, and simmer until fish is just opaque in center, about 10 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer fish to large shallow soup bowls. Return vegetables to skillet. Add lemon juice and butter; stir until butter melts. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon warm vegetables and broth over fish.