Seared Halibut With Gnocchi And Porcini 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.

SUMMER GNOCCHI WITH SWEET CORN AND MIXED MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the mushrooms in an even layer and cook, undisturbed, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Toss mushrooms, season with a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper, then continue to cook until tender and golden brown all over, about 3 minutes more. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
• Return the skillet to medium-high heat and add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the leek, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook until leek is just tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in the corn and garlic, then continue to cook until corn is bright yellow and tender, 2 to 3 minutes more. Stir in the vinegar and honey, then stir in the reserved mushrooms and toss to combine.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the gnocchi and cook according to package directions. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking water, then drain the gnocchi and add to the skillet with the corn and mushroom mixture. Add the reserved cooking water and cook over low heat, stirring to coat, about 1 minute. Add the butter, 1 pat at a time, until well coated and saucy. Remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper and top with fresh basil.

CUMIN-SEARED HALIBUT WITH SWEET CORN SAUCE

Steps:

• For the sweet corn sauce: In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, add the canola oil, onions, garlic, thyme, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Sweat on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the wine, if using, and cook until it evaporates, about 5 minutes.
• Add the corn kernels, reserved cobs and stock. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and cook for about 10 minutes.
• For the halibut: Meanwhile, in a large plastic bag, combine 5 teaspoons of the canola oil, the cumin, lemon zest and juice, salt and pepper with the halibut fillets and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Discard the corn cobs, thyme and bay leaf from the sauce. Carefully pour the mixture into a blender and puree on high speed for 4 to 5 minutes. The natural starches will activate and thicken the sauce. Pour the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean saucepan. Simmer over low heat until it reduces by half, about 15 minutes.
• To finish the halibut, in a medium sauté pan, heat the butter and remaining 3 teaspoons canola oil over high heat until the butter melts and the oil is hot (a little smoke indicates it's ready). Place the halibut fillets in the pan skin-side up and cook until a nice crust forms on the bottoms, about 4 minutes. Carefully flip the fillets and cook 3 minutes more. Lower the heat and continue to cook until the internal temperature registers 140 degrees F, about 4 minutes. Let rest, covered with foil, for a few minutes. Serve topped with the sweet corn sauce.

PANKO-CRUSTED HALIBUT WITH SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• 1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a small pot. Stir in the breadcrumbs, half the shallots, the parsley, lemon zest, and season with salt and pepper.
• 2. Sprinkle both sides of the halibut fillets with salt and pepper. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on top of each fillet, then press the panko mixture on top.
• 3. Heat the remaining 3 tablespoons butter in a 12-inch skillet. Add the rainbow chard stems and remaining shallots. Cook 2 minutes, then turn off the heat. Fold in the torn chard leaves, 2 tablespoons water, and salt and pepper, to taste. Place the halibut fillets on top of the chard leaves.
• 4. Transfer the skillet to the oven until the fish is just cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.

SEARED HALIBUT WITH ANCHOVIES, CAPERS AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put a large skillet, preferably nonstick, over medium-high heat, and leave it there until hot. Add oil and butter together. Butter should sizzle. When butter foam subsides, add fish, and season it lightly with salt and pepper. Brown fish, basting with pan juices, then turn, and brown again. Do not worry about cooking through. Turn off heat, put fish on an ovenproof plate, and place it in oven.
• Turn heat under skillet to medium, and add anchovies and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until anchovies break up, just a couple of minutes. Add capers and wine, and turn heat to high. Cook until wine is reduced by half. Return fish and its juices to pan, and turn it in sauce once or twice. Fish should be cooked through by now. (A thin-bladed knife inserted into its thickest part will meet little resistance.)
• Taste sauce, add some lemon juice, then taste again. It should be strong-tasting but only mildly acidic. Remove fish to serving plate, spoon sauce on top, and garnish with parsley.