Weekend Recipe: Braised Halibut with Fennel and Tarragon

When it comes to methods for cooking fish, braising is often overlooked. But this approach, shown in this Cook's Illustratedrecipe, which requires cooking the fish in a small amount of liquid so that it gently simmers and steams, has a lot going for it: As a moist-heat cooking method, braising is gentle and thus forgiving, all but guaranteeing moist, succulent fish. Plus, it makes a one-pot meal since the cooking liquid becomes a sauce, and it’s easy to add vegetables to the pan to cook at the same time.

We chose halibut for its sweet delicate flavor and firm texture that made for easier handling. Because the portion of the fillets submerged in liquid cooks more quickly than the upper half that cooks through in the steam, we cook the fillets for a few minutes in the pan on just one side and then braise the fillets parcooked side up to even out the cooking. Vegetables that held their shape but cooked through quickly worked best. For the cooking liquid, wine supplemented by the juices released by the fish and vegetables during cooking delivered a sauce with balanced flavor and just the right amount of brightness. Butter gave it some much-needed richness and the right velvety texture.

Braised Halibut with Fennel and Tarragon
Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

4 (6- to 8-ounce) skinless halibut fillets, ¾ to 1 inch thick
Salt and pepper
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 (10-ounce) fennel bulbs, stalks discarded, bulbs halved, cored, and sliced thin
4 shallots, halved and sliced thin
¾ cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon lemon juice, plus lemon wedges for serving
1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon

INSTRUCTIONS

We prefer to prepare this recipe with halibut, but a similar firm-fleshed white fish such as striped bass or sea bass that is between 3/4 and 1 inch thick can be substituted. To ensure that your fish cooks evenly, purchase fillets that are similarly shaped and uniformly thick.

1. Sprinkle fish with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Melt butter in 12-inch skillet over low heat. Place fish in skillet, skinned side up, increase heat to medium, and cook, shaking pan occasionally, until butter begins to brown (fish should not brown), 3 to 4 minutes. Using spatula, carefully transfer fish to large plate, raw side down.

2. Add fennel, shallots, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables begin to soften, 2 to 4 minutes. Add wine and bring to gentle simmer. Place fish, raw side down, on top of vegetables. Cover skillet and cook, adjusting heat to maintain gentle simmer, until fish registers 135 to 140 degrees, 10 to 14 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and, using 2 spatulas, transfer fish and vegetables to serving platter or individual plates. Tent loosely with aluminum foil.

3. Return skillet to high heat and cook until sauce is thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat, stir in lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon sauce over fish and sprinkle with tarragon. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

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