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Jennifer Bushman's Seared halibut with pea puree & pesto

Seared Alaskan Halibut with Pea Puree & Pesto over Focaccia

Jennifer Bushman
Course Breakfast, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

Halibut:

  • 4 6-ounce halibut fillets 1.5 lb total
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

For the Pea Puree:

  • 2 cups English peas freshly shucked
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 medium shallot
  • 2 cups vegetable stock
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon white pepper

Additional ingredients

  • Baby greens or arugula
  • Sheets of fresh focaccia
  • Fresh pesto

Instructions
 

Prepare the halibut

  • Use paper towels to pat the halibut fillets completely dry - this will ensure even browning.
  • Season the fish on both sides with garlic powder, paprika, sea salt, and black pepper. Set aside.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Add the fish fillets in a single layer (you can do it in batches if all the fish won't fit in a single layer). Sear, without moving, for 3-4 minutes, until the edges of the fish are opaque. Flip and cook for 2-4 minutes, until cooked through. Remove the fish from the pan and cover tightly with foil to keep warm.

Make the pea puree

  • Meanwhile, add the vegetable stock to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium high heat.
  • Add the peas and shallots then boil until tender, about 8 minutes. Drain the peas and shallot into a bowl of ice water reserving one cup of the liquid. Drain the peas and shallots once cool and add them to a blender with ΒΌ cup of the cooking liquid.
  • Puree until smooth adding more liquid until the puree is the consistency of a thickened milk shake.

To serve

  • Heat the focaccia; brush with olive oil.
  • Spread the focaccia with a layer of the pesto..
  • Add the greens and dollops of the pea puree.
  • Break the fish into pieces and place over the greens.
  • Cut the sheet of focaccia into pieces and serve.
Wine Category Chardonnay