Halibut, which lives in the northern Pacific and northern Atlantic oceans, is known for its fresh, light flavor. It has a low fat content with dense flesh, and tastes best with a light seasoning or sauce. The most popular ways to eat halibut are broiled, grilled, or marinated. Read on to find out more about the best methods for preparing this delicious fish.
Steps
-
Choose halibut steaks that are fresh in appearance. The flesh should be a translucent, white and shiny. It should spring back when you press it. Avoid steaks that look mottled, discolored, or dull.
-
Keep the fish moist. Halibut is naturally low in fat, so it can dry out quickly during the cooking process. To prevent this, brush both sides with oil or melted butter before cooking halibut. You can also marinate the fish in oil or a flavored prepared marinade for a few hours before you cook it.Advertisement
-
Limit how much you handle the fish. Only turn the fish when it is halfway done. This will help keep it from breaking apart and will help ensure even cooking throughout the fillet. Turn the halibut over using a wide spatula or turner to make sure you flip the whole fillet.
-
Season in moderation. The flavor of halibut is delicate and light, so it's important to avoid over-seasoning the fish and losing its natural flavor. Avoid heavy spices or thick sauces. Instead, choose a light sauce or marinade to complement the flavor of the fish.Advertisement
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:
Broiled or Grilled Halibut
-
Gather your ingredients. You only need a few simple ingredients to make a healthy and delicious broiled or grilled halibut. Here's what you need:
- Halibut steaks
- Olive oil or melted butter
- Minced garlic
- Salt and pepper
- Lemon wedges
-
Marinade overnight if desired.
-
Turn on the broiler to heat your oven. If you're grilling your halibut, light your grill. Make sure it is heated evenly before proceeding.
-
Place the halibut steaks skin side down in a glass or metal baking pan. If you're using a grill, place them directly on the grill. -
Brush the steaks with olive oil or melted butter. If you wish, top the butter with a teaspoon or two of minced garlic.
-
Sprinkle the halibut with salt and pepper.
-
Broil halibut for about 10 minutes. Test it with a fork for doneness. Serve garnished with a lemon wedge.
- Cooked halibut will flake away from the fork easily, while undercooked halibut will still feel solid and fleshy.
- Cook halibut without drying it out by watching the cooking time carefully. Grilled halibut should be cooked for no more than 10 minutes per inch thick.
- To be sure, use a food thermometer to make sure it has reached 145 °F in the middle.
-
Finished!Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:
Halibut Ceviche
-
Gather your ingredients. You only need a few ingredients to make halibut ceviche. The best part is that you don't have to cook it in the traditional sense. Here's what you'll need:
- One pound halibut, chopped into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 Tablespoons lime juice
- 2 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted and diced
- 1/2 cup diced tomatillos
- 1/4 cup diced onion
- 1 jalapeño, stemmed, seeded, and finely chopped
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
-
Place halibut cubes in a medium bowl.
-
Coat with salt. Toss the pieces to be sure they are evenly coated.
-
Pour the lime juice over the fish. Toss to make sure they are evenly coated.
-
Allow the fish to marinate. After about 30 minutes, the flesh should be opaque. If the flesh is still translucent, allow to marinate for another 15 minutes.
-
Add avocados, tomatillo, onion, jalapeño and olive oil. Toss the mixture so the ingredients are evenly distributed.
-
Serve with tortilla chips.Advertisement
Community Q&A
Search
-
QuestionDo you rinse halibut before cooking it?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYes, most chefs recommend rinsing halibut with cool water before cooking it. Pat the fish dry with a paper towel when you’re done.
-
QuestionShould you cook halibut with the skin on?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYes, cooking with the skin on helps prevent the flesh of the fish from sticking to the pan or grill. Plus, the skin can get deliciously crispy when you cook it properly!
-
QuestionHow do you not overcook halibut?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerPoaching your fish is a good way to avoid overcooking it, since it involves using a liquid to keep the fish moist as you cook it. However you cook it, check it frequently—when it’s done, it should be opaque all the way through and easy to flake with a fork. Depending on the size of the piece of halibut, most cooking methods don’t take more than about 5-10 minutes.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Things You'll Need
- Ingredients listed above
- Glass or metal baking pan
- Wide spatula or turner
- Grill or broiler
Tips
- Try pan-frying or baking halibut as an alternate method. In either case, cook it for 6 or 7 minutes per side, then check it for doneness before cooking it longer.Thanks
- If you are in the United States, choose halibut from the Pacific hatchery. The Atlantic halibut stock has been overfished, and is on the verge of going extinct. Even if you're buying halibut on the east coast, Pacific halibut is the more environmentally friendly choice.Thanks
Advertisement
Warnings
- Halibut has a moderate level of mercury. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, it can be safely consumed by adults once a week, by children over 6 three times a month, and by children under 6 two times a month.Thanks
Advertisement
About this article
Article Summary
X
To cook halibut on the grill, start by preheating your grill. Then, place the halibut directly on the grill grate, and brush some olive oil or butter over it before seasoning it with salt and pepper. Next, cook the halibut for 10 minutes per 1 inch of thickness, flipping it over halfway through so it cooks evenly. Finally, serve the halibut when it flakes away from a fork easily. To learn how to make halibut ceviche, scroll down!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 241,085 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "Baked it as you recommended at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes and it was perfect. Thank-you......"
Advertisement
80%
of voters found this recipe helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"Baked it as you recommended at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes and it was perfect. Thank-you......"
"Easy to follow. I feel comfortable now giving it a try!"
