Fillet Of Halibut Baked In Parchment With Stewed Leeks Golden Potatoes And Truffle Butter Food

TRUFFLE-STEAMED HALIBUT ON MELTED LEEKS WITH TRUFFLE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Combine the truffle peelings and Madeira in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve, separately reserving the liquid and peelings.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the same saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, 1/4 cup of the chopped carrot, celery, and sachet. Saute for about 4 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. Add the reserved Madeira liquid and stir to de-glaze the pan. Continue to cook for about 3 minutes or until the pan is almost dry. Add the rich chicken stock and cook about 4 minutes or until the liquid is reduced by half. Immediately strain through a fine sieve into a medium size, heat-proof bowl. Discard the solids. Set the liquid aside to cool.
• When the liquid is cool, whisk in the vinegar, 1/2 cup of the remaining olive oil, and the truffle oil. Season the truffle vinaigrette to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Remove the green part from the leeks (you may want to reserve this for making stock). Split leeks in half, lengthwise, down to but not through the root ends. Holding the leeks together by the root, rinse thoroughly under cold running water to remove all the grit. Pat dry.
• Place the leeks in a medium saucepan along with the chicken stock, butter, minced parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until the leeks are soft. Add the 1/2 cup of remaining diced carrots and simmer for 3 minutes. Cover and turn off the heat, but leave the pan on the burner to keep the leeks warm until ready to serve.
• While the leeks are cooking, prepare the halibut.
• Lightly season each piece of halibut with salt and freshly ground white pepper to taste. Place 2 truffle slices and 1 tarragon leaf on each side of the halibut. Using a large pastry brush, very lightly coat one side of 6 10-inch by 10-inch squares of plastic wrap with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Securely wrap each piece of fish in an oiled plastic wrap square. Place the halibut in the top half of a steamer over lightly simmering water. Cover and steam for 8 minutes per inch, or until the fish is just firm but slightly underdone in the center. Remove the fish from the steamer.
• Whisk the fines herbs into the reserved truffle vinaigrette.
• Spoon equal portions of the melted leeks into the center of each 6 warm dinner plates. Unwrap the fish and place one piece on top of the leeks. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the fish and around the edge of the plate. Garnish top with crispy leeks and serve.
• Add oil to deep fryer, or a 3-inch deep saute pan. Heat over medium-high until very hot but not smoking, and add the leeks. Quickly fry until the leeks are crisp, about 30 seconds. Remove leeks from oil immediately. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt.

HALIBUT FILLETS WITH LEEKS

Steps:

• Before chopping, rinse thoroughly between the leek leaves and pat dry. Chop the leeks as finely as possible. There should be about 3 1/2 cups.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the butter in a saucepan and add the leeks. Cook, stirring often from the bottom, about 3 minutes. Add the 2/3 cup of wine and stir. Bring to the boil and cover. Cook 10 minutes. Keep warm.
• Meanwhile, using the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter, grease the bottom of a heavy skillet large enough to hold the fish pieces in one layer without crowding. Sprinkle the bottom of the skillet with shallots and arrange the fish pieces over it. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Pour the remaining 1/2 cup of wine over the fish. Bring the wine to a boil and cover the skillet closely. Cook 4 minutes or less until the fish just loses its raw look.
• Transfer the fish pieces to a warm serving platter. Cover closely with foil and keep warm.
• Cook down briefly the skillet liquid to 1/2 cup and then pour it into a saucepan. Add the cream. Bring to a boil and cook over moderately high heat about 4 minutes or until reduced to 3/4 cup. Set aside 6 tablespoons of this sauce to be added to the linguine, which will accompany this dish.
• Spoon four equal portions of the cooked leeks onto four individual serving dishes. Top each portion of the leeks with one piece of fish. Spoon all but the reserved 6 tablespoons of sauce over the fish. If serving with linguine, toss pasta with the reserved sauce and 2 tablespoons butter. Serve alongside the fish.

HALIBUT BAKED IN PARCHMENT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Divide halibut into 4 pieces. Brush with olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• On a baking sheet, place fish in parchment cooking bag or on a large sheet of parchment paper. Scatter green onions and capers over fish. Close bag tightly or wrap up parchment.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes. Fish is done when you can see liquid bubbling in the cooking bag and the parchment is very lightly browned.

PAN-SEARED MARINATED HALIBUT FILLETS

Steps:

• In a large sealable plastic bag, combine the 6 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, basil, salt, pepper and lemon juice. Add fish, seal bag, and turn to coat. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
• In a large flat skillet (do not use a ridged pan), pour light olive oil or vegetable oil, tilting pan to spread evenly. Warm over high heat until smoking, then add fish fillets. Brush top and sides with marinade. Cook until seared, about 3 minutes; turn and sear other side, about 3 more minutes. Brush top and sides with marinade again. Reduce heat to medium. Cook until centers of fillets are just opaque, 2 to 4 minutes more on each side depending on thickness, brushing with marinade as before. Garnish with parsley, if desired, and serve.