Hazelnut Crusted Halibut with Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Servings: 2
Yield: 2 servings

Description

This pan-roasted, hazelnut crusted halibut recipe is served with rich and creamy garlic mashed potatoes that make a perfect date-night meal.

Ingredients

1 pound red potatoes, cut into chunks
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 cup hazelnuts
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
2 halibut fillets
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
5 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons vegetable broth

Directions

1 Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. While potatoes are boiling, mash garlic with 1/2 teaspoon of salt into a smooth paste. Drain potatoes, then mash together with garlic paste, butter, and pepper. Keep warm.
2 Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
3 While potatoes are cooking, pulse hazelnuts and bread crumbs in a food processor until finely ground, but not ground into a paste. Pour onto a shallow dish. Season halibut fillets on both sides with 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Gently press one side of halibut fillets into nut mixture, and set aside.
4 Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in an ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Place halibut fillets nut-side-up into the skillet; cook until halibut begins to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn fillets over, and place into the preheated oven. Bake, nut-side-down until fish flakes easily with a fork, about 5 minutes.
5 Melt remaining 5 tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until it turns nut brown. Stir in vegetable broth, and bring to a simmer.
6 To serve, mound potatoes onto the center of each dinner plate. Place a halibut fillet on top of mashed potatoes nut-side-up, then drizzle with browned butter sauce.