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Cooking tips and techniques for preparing delicious halibut dishes

Lemon Herb Butter Halibut

A comforting yet elegant dish of halibut cooked to perfection and topped with a flavorful lemon herb butter sauce.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Seafood
Calories: 320
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Halibut Preparation
  • 2 pieces halibut fillets (6–8 oz each) Make sure the fillets are dry for better browning.
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste For seasoning.
  • 2 tbsp olive oil Use to sear the fish.
Lemon Herb Butter Sauce
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter Use unsalted butter to control salt.
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely minced Fresh garlic provides more flavor.
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice Brightens the flavor.
  • 1 tsp lemon zest Adds brightness.
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped For garnish and flavor.
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried) For flavor.
  • Optional: pinch of paprika or white pepper Use for a flavor boost.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Pat the halibut dry and season both sides with salt and black pepper.
  2. Heat a skillet over medium-high and add 2 tbsp olive oil; the oil should shimmer, not smoke.
Cooking
  1. Place fillets in the pan skin-side down. Cook 4–5 minutes without moving, until edges look opaque and bottoms are golden.
  2. Carefully flip the fillets and cook 4–5 more minutes. The fish is done when it flakes easily and reads 135–140°F at the thickest part.
Making the Sauce
  1. Melt 4 tbsp unsalted butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir gently until it foams.
  2. Add 2 cloves minced garlic and cook 30–60 seconds until fragrant, watching so it doesn’t brown.
  3. Stir in 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp lemon zest, parsley, thyme, and a pinch of paprika or white pepper if you like.
Serving
  1. Spoon the warm lemon herb butter over the hot fillets and serve right away.

Notes

Store in an airtight container up to 2 days; freeze cooked halibut for up to 1 month. Reheat gently in a 300°F oven for 8–10 minutes.