Pan Roasted Halibut with Red Pepper Coulis, Fennel and Grape Tomatoes, Kalamata Tapenade and Fennel Oil

“I like to cook delicate proteins, such as halibut, in a lower temperature oven," says Bill Roll, executive chef of the Molly Pitcher Inn in Red Bank. "It creates a more evenly cooked piece of fish and keeps it moist."

Pan Roasted Halibut

Ingredients:
 
Pan Roasted Halibut
4, 8-ounce halibut fillets
3 ozs vegetable or grapeseed oil
4 sprigs thyme, fresh
4 ozs butter, unsalted
salt & white pepper
 
Sautéed Fennel & Baby Grape Tomatoes
4 cups fennel, core removed, sliced julienne ( save fronds for fennel oil  for garnish )
1 cup red grape tomatoes, cut in half
2 tbs garlic, sliced very thin
2 tbs basil, chiffonade
2 ozs olive oil
salt & pepper to taste

Preparation:
 
1) Season fish with kosher salt and white pepper and sear in a very hot nonstick pan with the presentation side down. Don’t touch!—the fish needs to form a nice crust.

2) After 3 minutes, add a small knob of butter and 4 sprigs of fresh thyme and baste the fish with the butter and thyme for another minute.

3) Place the halibut in a 300-degree oven and cook 3 minutes or until the fish is just cooked through.

Ingredients:
 
 Roasted Red Pepper and Extra Virgin Olive Oil Coulis
4 red bell peppers, charred, peeled, seeded, large dice
2 tsp garlic, sliced, sautéed
1 tb shallot, sliced, sautéed
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
salt & pepper to taste 

Preparation:

1) Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until entirely smooth. Taste for seasoning.

Ingredients:
 
Kalamata Olive Tapenade
1 cup kalamata olives, pitted, chopped fine
3 cloves garlic, fine dice
1 piece shallots, fine dice
1 tsp anchovy, chopped fine
1/2 tsp capers, rinsed, chopped fine
1 tb. flat leaf Italian parsley, chopped fine
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 tb aged sherry vinegar

Preparation:
 
1) Add all ingredients in a small bowl, mix and taste for seasoning.

Ingrediants:
 
Fennel Oil
1/2 cup fennel fronds, saved from the top of the bulb
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Preparation:
 
1) Blend the fronds and the oil in the blender until smooth. Let sit for a hour. Strain.
 
To serve, place a small amount of pepper coulis in the center of each plate. Add the sautéed fennel & tomatoes in the center of the coulis. Then place the halibut fillet on top of the fennel mixture and garnish the fish with the tapenade and the fennel oil.

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