Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Grilled Halibut with Smashed Fingerlings and Tomato Butter

Tomato butter? I mean, that's genius. Tomatoes are my boyfriend's favorite things on the planet so kudos to Caroline Styne, co-owner of the tasty eatery AOC, for giving me the great idea. We all know that I am not a fish person and I know that this slimy creature is my biggest culinary hurdle but I can appreciate a great dish when I see one. As far as prep goes, this is an easy one. The fresh herbs make it so definitely do not used dried.

Grilled Halibut with Smashed Fingerlings and Tomato Butter

  1. 1/2 cup chopped parsley
  2. 1/4 cup chopped tarragon, plus 1/4 cup whole leaves
  3. Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
  4. Four 6- to 7-ounce skinless halibut fillets
  5. 2 pounds fingerling potatoes
  6. Salt
  7. 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  8. 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  9. 2 medium shallots, thinly sliced
  10. Freshly ground pepper
  11. 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  12. 1 pint cherry tomatoes
  1. In a medium bowl, toss the parsley with the chopped tarragon and lemon zest. Rub the herbs all over the halibut; cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
  2. In a large saucepan, cover the potatoes with water and bring to a boil. Salt generously and simmer over moderately high heat until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and let cool to room temperature.
  3. Light a grill. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the 1/4 cup of olive oil. Add the garlic and shallots and cook over moderately high heat until golden, about 2 minutes. Add the potatoes and cook over low heat, smashing them gently with a spatula, until they start to break apart. Continue cooking, stirring a few times, until the potatoes are browned and crisp, about 5 minutes total. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. In a medium skillet, melt the butter. Add the whole tarragon leaves and cook over moderate heat until the tarragon is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes burst and the butter is browned, about 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
  5. Drizzle the halibut with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the fillets over moderately high heat until nicely charred and just cooked, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the fish to plates and spoon the tomato butter on top. Serve immediately with the smashed potatoes.

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