Fish/ Recipe

Pan Seared Halibut with Fresh Peas and New Potatoes

Good morning darlings!
 
…Small side note before we get to things today: This Wednesday is week 7 of the Fresh Foods Blog Hop! I’d love to see all the fresh, seasonal nom-noms (did I just say “nom-noms”?) you’re cooking and receiving from your farmer’s market excursions, CSA hauls, front or back yard gardens, etc… The linky goes live on Wednesday at midnight EST – so make sure you come by and link up some of your amazing posts! FYI: Even if you don’t have a blog and want to participate, you still can. Come back Wednesday to find out how!
 
I have a confession to make to you: I am absolutely in love with food. Like you couldn’t tell, right? 
 
fresh shelling peas
But I don’t mean “love” like love – I mean, like, total and complete annihilationistic kind of obsessive compulsive must-do-now-or-die love. 
 
I live to eat. 
 
grilling onions
Actually, John and I were talking on our way home from brunch yesterday and he half-jokingly stated that I need a whole other clock to dictate times of the day. There would be a color block for breakfast, one for second breakfast, another for lunch, yet another for my daily afternoon nap, one for dinner, and one more for bed time. Because really, I spend about 98% of my free time planning meals, cooking, eating and of course, after the inevitable post-food drowsiness sets in, sleeping. The other 2% is reserved for reading, pooing, and transportation. Not all at the same time.
 
It’s a hard life.
 
I love to eat. And to sleep. And to eat.
 
halibut
Which is why, after my trip to Toronto a couple weeks ago, I felt the need to recreate some of the dishes that inspired me so. I’ve already prepared this condiment and put it in this recipe, and now I have one more dish that I seriously just could not stop thinking about. Well, two more. But one is for here and the other for sister blog, Taste Buds. Interestingly, all 4 recipes were brought on by two dinners at the restaurant, Luma. If you’re in Toronto at all, give them a pop by and mow down my friends because it is by far, one of my new favorite restaurants and I am sure that if you like fresh, seasonal, local cuisine, you’re gonna fall and fall hard. Like Die Hard hard.

Pan Seared Halibut with Fresh Peas and New Potatoes

Ingredients

  • 4 5oz Pieces of Fresh Halibut (you can sub any white fish for a cheaper version but IMO, nothing beats a good piece of halibut), patted dry and seasoned well on both sides with salt and pepper.
  • 1 1/2 Lb. New Potates (I used a combination of French Fingerling; Dutch AnaBells; Purple Viking), halved or quartered if very big.
  • 2 C Fresh Shelling Peas, shelled.
  • Grilling Onions or Leeks, very thinly sliced with a mandolin.
  • 2 Tbsp Butter, room temperature.
  • 1 Lemon, for juice.
  • 3 Tbsp White Wine Vinegar.
  • 3 + 2 Tbsp Good Quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
  • 2 Tsp Dried Oregano.
  • Small Handful of Fresh Parsley, roughly chopped.
  • 1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard.
  • 1/2 C Dry White Wine.
  • Coarse Sea Salt & Fresh Cracked Black Pepper.

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat with a good pinch of salt and the potatoes. Boil until just fork tender and not falling apart. Drain and set aside.
  2. As the potatoes boil, make the dressing by putting the lemon juice, vinegar, 3 Tbsp of olive oil, oregano, parsley, Dijon, and a good helping of salt and pepper in a container or mason jar. Cover and shake well. Taste - add more flavor if it needs it. Set aside and allow the flavors to develop.
  3. *In a cast iron pan, heat the remaining 2 Tbsp of oil and 1 Tbsp of butter over medium heat. Once the butter starts to sizzle add the fish, skin side down if applicable and brown about 3-4 minutes. Flip. Continue to cook a further 3 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside on a wire rack, cover with foil.
  4. As the fish rests, toss the other Tbsp of butter in the pan along with the onions or leeks and shelled peas. Stir. Add the dressing you made earlier and the wine. Turn the heat down to medium-low and allow to simmer for about 4 minutes or until the liquor cooks out of the wine. Add the potatoes and heat through for about 30 seconds.
  5. Serve with a big heaping ladle or two of the veggies and top with fish.
  6. Eat.

Notes

*It is important to take the fish out of the fridge 20-30 minutes before you cook it to ensure there won't be cold spots. This will make sure it cooks evenly.

 

 
 
What do you love to do?
 

 

This post is linked up with The Hearth & Soul Blog Hop via the 21st Century Housewife; Tasty Tuesdays; Slightly Indulgent Tuesday; Tuesday Talent Show; Cast Party Wednesday; Whole Foods Wednesday; Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways; Tastetastic Thursday; Full Plate Thursday; Showcase Your Talent Thursday; Keep it Real Thursdays; Foodie Friday; Fight Back Friday; Fresh Bites Friday; Wellness Weekend.

  • April @ The 21st Century Housewife
    August 13, 2012 at 3:07 PM

    There are so many things I love to do – cook, eat, travel, write…luckily they all seem to go together rather well 🙂 I’m glad you had a good trip to Toronto. Your Pan Seared Halibut looks amazing. I love the simplicity of how you have served it, really letting top quality ingredients shine though. The dressing sounds amazing.

    I’ll have to check out Luma soon. I’m going to be in Toronto overnight in early September but I’m not sure if I’ll have time that visit…it’s definitely on the list though!

    • Kristy Lynn
      August 14, 2012 at 12:02 AM

      thanks April! if you do get the chance on your trip, you should stop by Luma – so good. so very, very good 🙂

      p.s. you sure seem to travel a lot! haha. 🙂 lucky lady!

  • Amanda Cobb
    August 13, 2012 at 3:27 PM

    This looks and sounds so tasty!

    • Kristy Lynn
      August 14, 2012 at 12:02 AM

      thanks Amanda!

  • Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe
    August 13, 2012 at 5:55 PM

    Gah, this looks gorgeous AND delicious! I love me some halibut!

    • Kristy Lynn
      August 14, 2012 at 12:03 AM

      i know, right! i just wish it wasn’t so bloody expensive! (22 bucks for 2 servings!)… ouch! but so, so good. it’s alright to indulge from time to time, yes?

  • Cheap Ethnic Eatz
    August 14, 2012 at 12:50 AM

    I have about the same view of love of and for food 😉 Nice summery fish dish. Will have to check it out next time in T.O.

    • Kristy Lynn
      August 14, 2012 at 5:07 PM

      which is why we get along, yes? 😉

  • Tanya @ Lovely Greens
    August 14, 2012 at 9:55 AM

    That looks amazing Kristy…YUM YUM YUM!

    • Kristy Lynn
      August 14, 2012 at 5:07 PM

      thank you Tanya! 🙂

  • luckiest1
    August 14, 2012 at 12:45 PM

    Sadly, not sure I’ve ever had a good, fresh piece of halibut….this looks super delicious. I’ve also never been to Luma, I’ll have to look it up. Heading to Toronto next weekend. I love to eat too.

    • Kristy Lynn
      August 14, 2012 at 5:07 PM

      how is that possible?? i’m so nervous to move from the ocean… have fun on your trip! let me know if you make it to luma!

  • thecookssister
    August 14, 2012 at 1:43 PM

    Love this dish! The peas are a very tasty and beautiful addition! One of my favourite summer vegetables!

    I’ll be in Toronto next week… I may need to look up this restaurant!

    • Kristy Lynn
      August 14, 2012 at 5:08 PM

      oooh! maybe you and lisa should meet up. haha. let me know if you go and how it was 🙂

  • Miz Helen
    August 16, 2012 at 5:43 PM

    Hi Kristy Lynn,
    I am featuring your fabulous dish on my Face Book page! Thanks for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a great day!
    Miz Helen

    • Kristy Lynn
      August 17, 2012 at 4:12 PM

      oh thank you Miz Helen! I’m honored 🙂

  • Patsy
    August 16, 2012 at 9:15 PM

    Saw this on Miz Helen’s fb page. Oh, dear, this looks incredible! I am a new follower on GFC,, patsy

    • Kristy Lynn
      August 17, 2012 at 4:12 PM

      nice to have you Patsy!! thank you for stopping in and for joining up 🙂

  • Carole
    August 17, 2012 at 12:47 AM

    I like your blog. I have just signed up as a follower. Please drop by to Carole’s Chatter and check it out. You might like my Food on Friday series which focuses on a different ingredient. Last week it was Pork. This week it is slow cooker dishes. If you like my blog it would be great if you followed me back. Have a good week.

    • Kristy Lynn
      August 17, 2012 at 4:13 PM

      i’ll check it out Carole – thank you and nice to see you!

  • Diane Balch
    August 19, 2012 at 2:30 PM

    Kristy,
    Now your halibut looks terrific but I can’t stop staring at your peas. Ah, fresh peas… beautiful meal. Thanks for sharing it on foodie friday.

    • Kristy Lynn
      August 19, 2012 at 4:48 PM

      haha – you can look at my peas anytime Diane!