Herb Crusted Alaska Halibut Cassoulet of White Beans
- Prep Time: 10 minutes, not including bean-soak time (overnight)
- Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minute
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minute
- Servings: Serves 4
- Yield: 4 (5-6 oz each) halibut and approx. 1 cup beans
Ingredients
Halibut
- 4 portions of Alaska halibut, 5 to 6 oz. each, skin and bones removed
- 2 each beefsteak tomatoes, sliced in 1/3" slices
- 4 oz butter, softened
- 2 oz fresh soft breadcrumbs
- 4 oz chopped basil, parsley and chives in equal amounts
Beans
- 1 cup white beans (tarbais or cannellini beans are best) soaked in 1 gallon of water overnight
- 4 cups rich chicken stock
- 1 each carrot, peeled and diced
- 1 each yellow onion, peeled and diced
- 4 garlic cloves, smashed
- 1 bunch of thyme tied with twine
- 1 each lemon to zest
Seasoning
- Kosher salt
- Olive oil
Instructions
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Step 1 Prepare the herb panande
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch the herbs, shock in ice water and blend in a food processor with breadcrumbs and soft butter. Season with salt. Blend until smooth. Reserve. It will be served at room temperature.
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Step 2 Prepare beans
In a pot, sweat out the onions, garlic, celery and carrots in a touch of olive oil until the vegetables are soft. Add drained beans, herbs and chicken stock. Simmer over low flame until the beans are tender. There should be lots of stock left, not dry. If too dry, add more stock. Cool overnight if possible. Re-heat the next day over a low flame. Check for seasoning and add salt as needed.
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Step 3 Prepare halibut
Set oven to 250° F. On a cookie sheet put sliced tomatoes down and the halibut on top so the fish does not touch the cookie sheet. Keep cooked tomatoes for another use. Season the halibut with salt and top with the panade, left at room temperature so it easily spreads on the fish. Bake fish until cooked through, about 10-15 minutes. Serve the halibut on top of the beans in a large bowl. Zest lemon on top of fish.
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Step 4 Set oven to 250° F.
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Step 5 For the Herb Panade
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Step 6 Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch the herbs, shock in ice water and blend in a food processor with breadcrumbs and soft butter. Season with salt. Blend until smooth. Reserve. It will be served at room temperature.
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Step 7
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Step 8 For the Beans
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Step 9 In a pot, sweat out the onions, garlic, celery and carrots in a touch of olive oil until the vegetables are soft. Add drained beans, herbs and chicken stock. Simmer over low flame until the beans are tender. There should be lots of stock left, not dry. If too dry, add more stock. Cool overnight if possible. Re-heat the next day over a low flame. Check for seasoning and add salt as needed.
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Step 10
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Step 11 For the Halibut
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Step 12 Heat oven to 250° F. On a cookie sheet put sliced tomatoes down and the halibut on top so the fish does not touch the cookie sheet. Keep cooked tomatoes for another use. Season the halibut with salt and top with the panade, left at room temperature so it easily spreads on the fish. Bake fish until cooked through. Approximately 10 minutes. Serve the halibut on top of the beans in a large bowl. Zest lemon on top of fish
