Fresh Alaskan Halibut With Wild Huckleberry Harissa Sauce Caramelized Shallots And Crispy Oyster Mushrooms With Fresh Basil Food

FRESH HALIBUT STEAMED IN SWISS CHARD WITH THAI CURRY CREAM

Steps:

• Season halibut lightly with salt, pepper and lime zest and set aside. Blanch chard leaves in lightly salted water for 5 to 10 seconds until softened and then immediately plunge into ice water to stop cooking and set color. Pat dry and wrap halibut pieces completely with leaves.
• To serve: Add mushrooms, scallions and olive oil to an oven-proof saute pan large enough to hold fish in one layer. Saute mushroom mixture until its just beginning to color. Place wrapped fish on top of mushroom mixture, add the wine and stock and cover. Finish cooking fish on top of stove over moderate heat or in a preheated 400 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until fish is cooked through. With a spatula, lift fish and its mushroom bed and place attractively on warm plates. Pour sauce around and garnish with cilantro sprigs and deep fried leeks on top of wrapped fish.

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.

HALIBUT WITH LEMON-BUTTER AND CRISPY SHALLOTS

Steps:

• For the lemon butter: Whisk together the lemon juice, salt, pepper, lemon zest and butter in a deep medium bowl until well blended (mixture will be like a thick sauce). Set aside until ready to use.
• For the halibut and crispy shallots: Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper and garlic in an 8-by-8-by-2-inch glass dish. Whisk the marinade to blend. Add the halibut and turn several times to coat evenly. Let stand 15 to 20 minutes.
• Combine the grapeseed oil and shallots in a medium heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring often, until the oil heats up and the shallots turn golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the shallots with a slotted spoon to several layers of paper towels to drain and crisp. Sprinkle with salt and pepper just before using.
• Heat a large dry nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Lift the halibut from the marinade, letting the excess drain off. Add the halibut to the hot skillet and sear 3 minutes. Turn the fish over using a flexible metal spatula. Sear until still slightly pink in the center, about 3 minutes longer, depending on thickness. Transfer the halibut to plates. Top with a generous dollop of lemon-butter and pile the shallots alongside or scatter around the fish. Garnish with the lemon wedges and serve.

BRODO WITH PACIFIC HALIBUT QUENELLE AND SHAVED WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Place a very large saucepan over medium-high heat, add the New Mexican chiles, Thai bird chiles, ancho chiles, porcini mushrooms, garlic, red onions, lemongrass, peppercorns, bay leaves, 2 big pinches salt, and the white wine. Add the bones, head and tail from the fish and cover with about 2-inches cold water over the bones. Bring to a simmer for about 30 minutes, skimming occasionally to remove any impurities that float to the top.
• Place the halibut scraps into the chilled food processor bowl with a bit pinch of salt and pulse to blend to a similar size. Be careful not to over process because the food processor does create heat and the fish will get tough. Add the egg whites and pulse to combine. Add about 3 to 4 ounces heavy cream and blend to combine. Add a touch more heavy cream if needed; you are looking for a fluffy mousse or mashed potato consistency. Pour the mixture into a clean bowl and place back over an ice bath to keep chilled. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to shape into quenelles.
• Remove some of the broth and add to a high sides saute pan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Using 2 large metal spoons form the fish into quenelles and place onto a hotel pan or baking sheet covered in plastic wrap for easy removal. Add the fish quenelles to the gently simmering broths and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes until they are cooked through.
• For plating: (1 serving)
• Place a coffee filter over a wire mesh strainer over a bowl and add 4 to 5 cups broth. Allow to strain through, pushing with a spoon if needed.
• To a French press, add the kaffir lime leaves, star anise, cinnamon stick and pour over the strained broth. Allow the mixture to steep, about 2 minutes. Press and taste for seasoning.
• Place 1 of the cooked quenelles into the middle of a serving bowl. Top each with some of the mushrooms, chervil, chiles, and lime zest. Pour the broth over the quenelle.

PAN-ROASTED HALIBUT WITH CLAMSHELL MUSHROOMS AND LEMON BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil and 1 tablespoon butter in heavy skillet over medium-high heat until butter melts and begins to foam. Add mushrooms and a pinch of salt; saute in hot butter and oil golden brown, about 5 minutes. Push mushroom to the edges to clear a space in the center of the skillet.
• Season halibut on each side with salt and cayenne pepper. Place halibut fillets in the center of the skillet and cook until the fillets begin to flake, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer halibut to a warm serving plate.
• Pour the water into the pan and bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits of food off of the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon, until water is reduced by half, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour lemon juice into mushroom mixture and stir.
• Stir butter and parsley into mushroom mixture. Stir constantly until butter melts and forms a sauce; remove from heat and season with salt and black pepper. Spoon sauce and mushrooms over halibut.