Description
Spring on a plate! Perfectly steamed halibut sits atop creamy butternut squash puree, finished with pomegranate and hazelnuts.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 fillets (378 g) Halibut Fillets
- 3.5 tbsp whole hazelnuts
- 1 bunch scallions
- 1 (397 g) small butternut squash
- 1 pomegranate
- 1 tbsp honey
- 0.5 tbsp (7 ml) lemon oil
- 0.25 cups (60 ml) heavy cream
- 1.5 tbsp butter
- Sea salt
- Cracked black pepper
- 0.5 tbsp (7 ml) vegetable oil
- 0.5 cups (120 ml) chicken stock
- Olive oil
Instructions
For the Butternut Squash Puree
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Cut the squash in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, drizzle with olive oil, and season with sea salt and cracked black pepper.
- Roast in the oven for 35-40 minutes until golden brown and tender. Allow to cool, then remove the skin.
- Add the roasted squash, chicken stock, heavy cream, and butter to a blender. Blitz until smooth and creamy, adjusting with extra stock or cream if needed.
For the Hazelnut Crumb
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Season the hazelnuts with a pinch of sea salt and a sprinkle of brown sugar.
- Roast the hazelnuts for 5-6 minutes, or until golden brown and fragrant. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes.
- Pulse the cooled hazelnuts in a food processor until they reach a crumb consistency.
For the Charred Scallions
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch the scallions for 4 minutes, then transfer them to ice water to cool.
- Heat vegetable oil in a hot pan and char the scallions for 2-3 minutes, or grill until they develop a nice char.
For the Pomegranate Reduction
- Roll the pomegranate firmly on the chopping board to loosen the seeds. Cut it in half and tap each side to release the seeds into a bowl.
- Remove any white pulp and strain the juice into a saucepan.
- Add honey and a sprig of rosemary, then reduce the juice over medium heat until it thickens to a syrup-like consistency (about 2/3 of the original volume).
For the Halibut
- Drizzle the halibut fillets with lemon oil and season with sea salt and cracked black pepper.
- Steam the halibut for about 5 minutes, or until opaque and flakes easily. Alternatively, pan-sear the fillets in a hot skillet with a little olive oil for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown.
To Plate
- Spread a generous spoonful of butternut squash puree on the plate.
- Arrange the charred scallions on top of the puree.
- Place the steamed halibut fillet on top of the scallions.
- Add the hazelnut crumb on the fish.
- Drizzle the pomegranate reduction and a bit of lemon oil around the fish.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, use roasted butternut squash instead of pre-cooked puree.
- If you don’t have heavy cream, substitute with full-fat coconut milk for a subtly different flavor profile.
- Leftovers can be stored separately (puree, halibut, and toppings) in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Steaming
- Cuisine: Irish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: One halibut fillet
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 35
- Cholesterol: 80