Romaine Wrapped Halibut Food

ROMAINE-WRAPPED HALIBUT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F and coat inside of a 13- by 9-inch glass or ceramic baking or gratin dish with 1 tablespoon butter. Cut 2 thin slices from each lemon half and squeeze juice from remaining lemon.
• Mash together remaining 2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and shallot and season well with salt and pepper. Sprinkle dish with remaining juice.
• Cook lettuce in a large pot of salted boiling water 1 minute. Immediately transfer with tongs to a bowl of ice water to cool. Drain lettuce and cut out ribs, leaving top 1 inch of leaves intact.
• Spread out 1 lettuce leaf lengthwise on a work surface. Place another leaf on first leaf, overlapping enough to cover any holes (use 2 extra leaves if necessary). Season 1 piece halibut with salt and pepper and place crosswise in center of lettuce. Spread top of fish with one fourth of shallot butter. Wrap lettuce over fish to form a packet (don't worry if ends aren't covered by lettuce) and transfer to baking dish. Make 3 more packets in same manner, arranging them close together in baking dish.
• Top each packet with a lemon slice. Cover packets with a sheet of wax or parchment paper, then tightly cover dish with foil.
• Bake in middle of oven until centers of packets are just firm to the touch, 15 to 20 minutes, depending on thickness of fish. Serve with pan juices poured over packets.

POTATO-CRUSTED HALIBUT

Steps:

• In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the olive oil, garlic, thyme, bay leaves, lemon zest, crushed red pepper flakes and fennel seeds. Bring to a boil then turn the heat off and let it sit for at least 1 hour. (*Big tip: This can be done ahead and used for LOTS of different things.)
• Using a mandoline, slice 1 potato extremely thin, (paper thin), in elongated rounds. Lay a piece of parchment paper on a clean, dry work surface. Arrange 3 potato slices in an overlapping vertical line pressing them together as you put them on the parchment. Repeat this process until you have a 4 by 6-inch overlapping potato rectangle that replicates fish scales. Brush the potato "scales" with the infused oil and sprinkle with salt. Season the halibut with salt. Lay the halibut fillet closer to 1 end of the potato rectangle than the other and then roll the fish up in the potato slices, using the parchment to help facilitate the rolling. Press to compact and really adhere the potatoes to the fish. Brush the outside of the potatoes with the infused oil to seal the potatoes and to prevent the potatoes from turning brown, this will also help make a nice tight "fish package". Reserve the fish in the refrigerator while preparing the remaining fillets. Refrigerate the fillets for at least 1 hour before cooking.
• To cook the fish:
• Add the infused olive oil to a large nonstick saute pan until the bottom is generously covered and bring the pan to a medium-high heat. Season the fish with salt and add to the pan. Cook the fish on both sides for 3 to 4 minutes frequently spooning the excess oil over the fish to "baste" it. The potatoes should be crispy golden brown and very well flavored and the fish will be succulent inside its crispy "scales". Transfer to serving plates and serve.
• This will make a fish lover out of anyone!

EASY HALIBUT FILLETS WITH HERB BUTTER

Steps:

• Make little aluminum foil trays sized to fit each fillet.
• Wipe the bottom of each tray with olive oil.
• Put the fillets ugly side up (skin side even if the skin is now removed) on the trays.
• Mix the butter with the chopped herbs throughly.
• Place 1 tablespoon of the butter on the halibut.
• Broil for 4 minutes.
• Carefully turn each fillet over, not spilling any of the melted herb butter.
• Broil for 4 more minutes.
• Remove and plate, pouring the melted sauce over each fillet.

BACON WRAPPED HALIBUT WITH RED PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Toss the peppers in a bowl with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a little bit of salt. Over a gas burner or on a hot grill roast the peppers until charred all over on all sides. Remove and place in a bowl then cover tightly with plastic wrap. Once cooled, remove the seeds and peel the skin off of the peppers.
• In a sauce pot over medium high heat add the roasted peppers, heavy cream, and rosemary. Simmer until reduced by about one third. Remove from heat season with salt and pepper and take out the rosemary. Once cooled slightly puree in a blender or food processor until very smooth. Return to the pot, cover, and keep warm.
• Cut the halibut into 6 long rectangular pieces about 2" wide and 2" thick. Season with salt and pepper. Lay the bacon on a work surface so that the edges of each slice overlap just a little, using enough slices to extend the length of the halibut pieces. Place the fish on one side of the loose ends of the bacon and carefully roll to wrap tightly with the bacon. Trim off the bacon when necessary so as not to use more than what is needed to create one wrap around the fish that overlaps by about 1" on the underside.
• Heat a skillet over medium high heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. When hot but not smoking, place the wrapped fish pieces in and cook until golden on all sides, about 2 minutes per side. Remove and place onto a baking pan with a rack inside.
• Cook in the oven until firm and the center is fully cooked,about 5 minutes, test by cutting into one piece. Remove and let rest for a few minutes.
• Carefully arrange the fish neatly on a platter, drizzle with the sauce and serve.

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.