Pan-Seared Halibut With Olive Oil Potatoes

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds (3 medium) Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled
• Sea salt
• 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 5 ½ cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• Half a small anchovy fillet
• ¼ teaspoon fresh thyme leaves plus 2 whole sprigs
• ½ cup pitted Kalamata olives
• White pepper
• ¼ cup milk
• ½ pound plus 3 1/2 tablespoons butter
• 1 small shallot, thinly sliced
• 2 large red bell peppers, cored and seeded, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 ½ cups chicken stock or canned broth
• 1 teaspoon saffron threads
• 2 pinches cayenne pepper
• 1 ½ pounds halibut fillet, skin removed, cut into 4 equal pieces
• 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil

• Nutritional Information

  • Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

    1094 calories; 88 grams fat; 40 grams saturated fat; 2 grams trans fat; 32 grams monounsaturated fat; 9 grams polyunsaturated fat; 41 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams dietary fiber; 7 grams sugars; 37 grams protein; 233 milligrams cholesterol; 1276 milligrams sodium

  Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
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4 servings

Preparation

1. Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with lightly salted water. Bring to a boil and cook until tender when pierced with a knife. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, combine 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1/2 clove sliced garlic. Sauté over low heat until lightly golden, then add anchovy and 1/4 teaspoon thyme leaves. Transfer to a small food processor and add olives, 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon cold water. Purée until smooth and season to taste with white pepper; set aside.
2. When potatoes are tender, drain and put through a food mill or mash them. Return to pot and place over low heat. Stir with a wooden spoon until potatoes start to stick to pot, then slowly add milk, 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 pound butter. Stir until very smooth, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside and keep warm.
3. In a medium saucepan, combine remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil with 3 cloves sliced garlic. Sauté over medium heat until garlic is aromatic. Add shallot and sauté until translucent. Stir in peppers, 1 teaspoon salt and sugar. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 2 minutes. Add chicken stock and saffron; simmer, partially covered, until peppers are tender, about 8 minutes. Purée in a food processor, blender or with an immersion blender, and pass through a fine sieve. Transfer to a small pan and season with cayenne and salt to taste. Add 2 tablespoons butter and whisk or blend until frothy. Set aside and keep warm.
4. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Season halibut fillets with salt and pepper to taste. Place a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat and add grapeseed oil. When oil is hot, add fillets presentation-side down. Cook for 1 minute on stove top, then place in oven for 5 minutes. Remove pan from oven and return to stove top on medium heat. Add remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons butter to pan. When it starts to foam, add remaining 2 cloves garlic and sprigs of thyme. Baste fish with butter for 1 minute. Remove fillets from pan when undersides are golden brown.
5. To serve, place a large spoonful of potatoes in middle of four wide-rimmed plates or shallow soup bowls. Top with a halibut fillet, seared-side up. Place a spoonful of olive mixture on each fillet. Bring bell pepper emulsion to a boil and whisk until foamy, then pour around potatoes.

1 hour 45 minutes