Micheles Lemon Pepper Pan Seared Alaskan Halibut Served Over Organic Spring Salad Food

PAN SEARED BRAISED HALIBUT IN A PUTTANESCA SAUCE SERVED WITH GNOCCHI AND ESCAROLE

Steps:

• Liberally salt and pepper the halibut. Place 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium-sized, non-stick pan. When oil is shimmering, place the halibut, skin-side down, in pan. Cook on both sides for 2 minutes or to desirable color. Place halibut aside. In a medium-sized saute pan over medium heat, add remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Once it is hot, add the shallots, red pepper flakes, and parsley, and saute for 2 minutes. Then add 3 of the 4 garlic cloves, and cook another minute. Deglaze pan with 1/2 cup of the white wine and add tomatoes, capers, olives, and halibut. Cook on low heat until most of the liquid is evaporated and fish is firm to the touch.
• To plate: Place escarole in center of plate; put halibut on top of escarole, then surround fish and escarole with Gnocchi. Finish with sauce as needed.
• Place olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes in a small saute pan over medium heat. When the garlic starts to brown add roughly chopped escarole until wilted add a dash of salt and pepper and finish with white wine.
• On a clean cooking surface (cutting board) place the flour spreading it out to make a well about 6 inches in diameter. In the middle of the well place the eggs, cheeses, salt, and pepper. Stir mixture, then slowly incorporate flour to wet mixture until the mixture becomes cohesive. Continue kneading until dough is dry to touch (add more flour, if needed.) Cut small pieces of dough, roll out to make 6-inch rolls, 1-inch in diameter, then using a large chefs knife cut into 1-inch long pieces. When finished, add to a pot of boiling water, gnocchi are done when they float to the top. Drain.

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.

FRESH ALASKAN HALIBUT WITH WILD HUCKLEBERRY HARISSA SAUCE, CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS AND CRISPY OYSTER MUSHROOMS WITH FRESH BASIL

Steps:

• For the huckleberry sauce: Put the huckleberries, vinegar, sparkling wine, Harissa, sugar, salt and mint in a large saucepot over high heat. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Let simmer for 30 minutes over low heat to dissolve the sugar, evaporate the alcohol and let the flavors mingle. Next, pour the contents through a sieve to drain. Repeat a few times and use a paper towel or coffee filter to make the final "ready for reduction" sauce very smooth and silky.
• When ready to serve, pour about 1 cup sauce into a saute pan over medium-high heat and let reduce or bubble until your desired color and thickness, about 5 minutes. It should be dark crimson in color and coat the back of the spoon. Taste for salt and spice; add more Harissa if you'd like to turn up the heat. Keep warm until ready to plate fish.
• For the halibut: Halibut is very delicate and will turn into sawdust if overcooked. It only takes a few minutes to cook and is very flaky and juicy when cooked accurately. The longer you let the halibut sit after cooking, the dryer it will become. Have your plates ready for when you start cooking the halibut.
• Pat the halibut dry and then sprinkle the fillets with salt and pepper. Add the oil to large saute pan over medium-high heat (use anything other than nonstick for a nice golden sear). When the oil is just about to start smoking, lay the fillets gently in the pan as it drops in, falling away from your body, and immediately give the pan a shake. If the pan is hot enough, the fish will not stick. Let the fish cook until brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Gently flip the fillets over and deglaze with the white wine. Cover and let cook 3 more minutes.
• To serve, ladle the huckleberry sauce on the plate first, and then put the fish on the sauce; don't cover up all of the sauce as it shines like a jewel. Place a dollop of Caramelized Shallots on top of the fish. Serve Crispy Oyster Mushrooms alongside; lay the mushrooms on the plate, like a bouquet of flowers with the round part of the mushroom facing up. Place a few of the fresh huckleberries on the plate to garnish. Serve with risotto or rice if desired.
• Add the garlic to a food processor and pulse until chopped. Add the chipotle peppers, cumin, paprika, mint, oregano and salt. Puree until smooth. Slowly add the olive oil to emulsify. Yield: about 1 1/2 cup.
• In a small saute pan over low heat, melt the butter and add the salt. Add the shallots and cook until soft and brown, about 20 minutes. Make sure to achieve the brown color, which is the caramelization of the shallots and gives the great flavor. Save on the back burner on low until the fish is finished. Yield: about 1/2 cup.
• In a small saute pan over medium-low heat, melt the butter and add the salt. Add the mushrooms, reduce the heat to low and cook until the mushrooms turn brown and crispy, 7 to 8 minutes. You can do this at the beginning of your dinner and keep them crispy over low heat. Before plating, add the basil leaves and toss a few times. Doing this just before you plate will help keep the basil leaves bright green. Yield: about 1 cup.