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Modern Huntsman Recipes

Sautéed Halibut with Lemon-Pesto Butter

Words By - Emma Teal Laukitis and Claire Neaton, The Salmon Sisters
Photography By - Brian Grobleski and Dawn Huemann

We used to spend the afternoons jigging for halibut from our mom’s skiff in Ikatan Bay, sometimes bringing home a forty- to hundred-pound fish that would feed our family for many meals. One reason we love halibut so much is that it’s incredibly versatile but also easy to cook. This recipe is a good example of how tasty it can be with a simple preparation—all you really need is halibut, butter, herbs, and a good pan. Paired with lemon or pesto pasta, this is one of our family’s favorite weekday dinners. 


Makes 4 to 6 servings


INGREDIENTS

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus 1 tablespoon for coating the pan 

1 tablespoon homemade or store-bought pesto 

1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh basil 

1 teaspoon finely chopped shallots 

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest 

6 (4-ounce) skinless halibut portions2 teaspoons flaky sea salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 


DIRECTIONS

1. Combine the butter, pesto, basil, shallots, and lemon zest in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring until the butter is melted and all is well blended. 

2. Heat a large cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the halibut evenly on both sides with the salt and pepper. Coat the pan with butter. Once melted, add the halibut and cook for 5 minutes on each side. Test doneness by cutting into the center of a fillet with a knife. The fish should flake apart and appear opaque white, not translucent. Pour the lemon-pesto butter over the fish before serving. 

More Salmon Sister Recipes

(c) 2020 by Emma Teal Laukitis and Claire Neaton. All rights reserved. Excerpted from The Salmon Sisters by permission of Sasquatch Books.

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