Mushroom Halibut

This is a variation on a recipe from Jay Harlow in his cookbook “west coast seafood” the single best cookbook on earth. His is a simplified version of an Aqua dish from back in the day. Sauce and mushrooms can be done in advance. Make sure to do the mashed potatoes in advance as well.

Ingredients (for 4)

  • 1.5 lb of fresh halibut
  • .75 lb of mushrooms to saute
  • Small packet of dried porcini’s
  • Olive oil
  • 4 tbsp salted butter
  • White pepper
  • Salt
  • 3 tbsp Dry Sherry
  • Soy Sauce
  • 1 cup Chicken (or beef) broth. I like beef.

First marinate the fish:

  1. Cut into 4
  2. Season with kosher salt and white pepper (mortar and pestle)
  3. Drizzle w soy sauce and a tbsp of the sherry
  4. Set aside at room temp for 30 min

Then make the sauce: (if you didn’t earlier)

  1. In a coffee grinder, grind up half the mushrooms into small enough chunks to use as the crust (set aside)
  2. Grind the other half up a touch, but leave as chunks
  3. Heat the broth and add 2 tbsp of the sherry
  4. Add the larger shroom chunks
  5. Simmer for a while and cook way down (1/2 to 2/3)
  6. Strain the chunks
  7. Set aside

Now do the mushrooms

  1. Get rid of stems
  2. Slice up
  3. Saute in butter to your liking (more than you normally would)
  4. Set aside

Finally, the fish

  1. Take the halibut, which is getting close to room temp and dry the heck out of it with a paper towel
  2. Coat one side with the mushrooms
  3. Olive oil a hot pan (can add a touch of butter)
  4. Sear, crust side first
  5. After a minute or a bit more flip it (dont burn)
  6. Finish, either in oven or in pan…..however you normally perfect Halibut

Finally:

  1. Reheat the mushrooms and the sauce.
  2. Plate the fish along side mashed potatoes and an in-season vegetable.
  3. Swirl the butter into the sauce slowly, once its perfect, add a touch of thickener
  4. Spoon over fish
  5. Spoon mushrooms over fish
  6. BAM

Pairs with earthy Pinot in spectacular fashion.

Ways to ruin:

  • Marinate the fish for too long
  • Burn the mushroom crust
  • Skimp on butter
  • You MUST have mashed potatoes, the crust and sauce swirled into a bite of mashers is sublime
  • By not tipping your fishmonger and getting crappy fish

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