Olive Oil Poached Halibut

Method

1. 1

   30 minutes ahead. Combine 1 cup of kosher salt with ½ cup of granulated sugar in a mixing bowl. Zest the lemon and mix the zest into the sugar and salt. This is the citrus cure.

2. 2

   Fill a large pot with water, cover with a lid, and bring to a boil. Place a layer of citrus cure on a plate, put the halibut fillets on top, and cover with the rest of the cure. Allow the fish to cure for 10 minutes Peel and slice the shallot, zest and dice the orange, trim the broccolini, and slice the potato into ¼ inch thick rounds. Place the orange dice in a strainer set over a mixing bowl and season with truffle salt or flaky sea salt. Set the zest aside in another bowl to finish the Hollandaise.

3. 3

   Remove the fish from the cure, rinse with cold water, pat dry with paper towels, and allow to sit on a plate to temper. Place the shallot, white wine, Champagne vinegar, water, and black peppercorns into a small pot. Heat the pot over medium heat and reduce the liquid by half. This is the hollandaise reduction. Clean the small pot, add the clarified butter, and melt the butter on low heat.

4. 4

   Place the slices of potato into the medium pot so that everything fits snugly in one layer. Fill up a small pot halfway with water and bring to a simmer. Add the olive oil into the medium pot with the potatos and place on a burner over low heat. The goal is to heat the oil to 150F, so keep the burner temperature as low as possible to try and retain this temperature. You might need to turn the burner off from time to time to achieve this.

5. 5

   Once the oil is at 150F, place the halibut into the oil on top of the sliced potatoes and allow the halibut to gently poach for 10-15 minutes until cooked through. While the fish is cooking, it’s time to make the hollandaise: Place the egg yolks and hollandaise reduction in a metal bowl and set over the small pot with simmering water. Whisk constantly, taking the bowl on and off the heat, until the yolks have thickened and cooked through. Remove from the heat and continue whisking as you slowly drizzle in the melted butter. Season with orange zest, lemon juice, and truffle salt or flaky sea salt. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place. This is the sauce hollandaise!

6. 6

   After the hollandaise is made, blanch the broccolini in the pot of boiling water for 2 minutes or until al dente. Once the fish has cooked, remove it from the oil, dab it dry of excess oil, and set onto your favorite plate. Top with a dollop of beautiful hollandaise, place a few orange pieces on top, and top with a few leaves of cilantro for garnish. Plate the fish alongside the beautiful broccolini and potatoes.

7. 7

   Dig in and enjoy the silky smooth texture and deliciousness of olive oil-poached halibut!!