Halibut is a delicious and versatile fish that can be prepared in many different ways. Learning how to cook halibut like a professional chef can help you create a restaurant-quality seafood dish at home. In this article, I will instruct you how to cook halibut in three different ways: pan-seared, baked, and grilled.
1. How To Cook Halibut in Pan
Ingredients
- 4 6-oz fresh halibut fillets, about 1-inch thick
- 2 tbsp olive oil or grapeseed oil, divided
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp minced shallot
- 1⁄4 cup dry white wine
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill
Instructions
Pat the halibut fillets completely dry with paper towels and brush both sides with 1 tbsp of oil. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. Add the remaining 1 tbsp oil and carefully lay the fillets in the pan away from you.
Cook for 4-5 minutes per side until golden. Resist the urge to move the fillets as they cook.
Place 1 piece of butter on each fillet while they cook in the pan. Baste the melted butter over the fish several times.
Flip the fillets gently with a thin spatula and cook until opaque and flakes easily, about 4 more minutes.
Transfer the cooked fillets to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm.
Add the shallots to the pan and cook for 1 minute. Deglaze with the wine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom. Simmer until reduced by half.
Remove pan from heat and whisk in remaining butter until incorporated. Season sauce to taste.
Pour sauce over plated fillets, garnish with dill and serve.
2. How To Cook Halibut in Oven
Ingredients
- 4 6-oz fresh halibut fillets
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 4 thin lemon slices
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 2 tbsp minced fresh chives
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Pat halibut fillets dry with paper towels. Arrange fillets on prepared baking sheet.
Next, brush tops and bottoms of fillets with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Then top each fillet with a lemon slice and 1 tbsp of butter pieces.
Bake for 12-14 minutes until fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
Remove pan from oven and sprinkle fillets with chives. Tent loosely with foil and let rest 5 minutes before serving.
3. How To Cook Halibut on Grill
Ingredients
- 4 6-oz halibut fillets or steaks, about 1-inch thick
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1⁄2 tsp black pepper
- Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
Prepare a clean, well-oiled grill for direct high-heat cooking. Heat grill to 450°F.
Pat halibut dry with paper towels. Brush both sides with oil and sprinkle evenly with chili powder, salt and pepper.
Place fish directly over heat. Grill thinner fillets skin-side down in a grilling basket if needed.
Cook 4-5 minutes per side until nicely charred and fish flakes easily with a fork. Halibut cooks fast, so watch carefully.
Remove from grill and let rest 5 minutes before serving with lemon wedges.
With these simple instructions, I believe that you can achieve perfect pan-seared, oven-baked, or grilled halibut right at home. Cooked properly, this mild white fish is succulent, flaky, and full of flavor. Use the freshest fillets or steaks you can find and resist overcooking for sensational results.
