My easy Pan Seared Halibut with Creamed Spinach Recipe will show you how to prepare pan-seared halibut perfectly every time!
After spending six weeks in Europe this summer I realized that I needed to get more seafood in my diet. Too much red meat, white meat or any kind of meat is not good for the body.
Now don’t get me wrong I love meat, but it just needs to be eaten in moderation and in smaller portions. My goal is to eat seafood 2-3 times a week and halibut has become one of my favorite fish to eat.
It’s Important to Find a Trusted Source of Quality Seafood
If you don’t have a good source for fresh seafood in your area (and I don’t mean your local grocery store) there are many online sources for fresh frozen and cryovaced portions of fish.
What Ingredients do you need to make pan seared halibut?
Let’s gather the ingredients for this dish which is referred to as the mise en place in chef speak, which means everything in its place. This is always a good way to start your recipe so all the ingredients are at ready (and in the house) before you start cooking.
I knew I wanted to pan-sear my halibut and as I thought about how to serve it without making an additional sauce, creamed spinach seemed like the perfect companion to this light flaky fish.
Tips for Perfect Pan-Seared Halibut
It’s not difficult to pan-sear halibut (or other fish) if you follow these few simple steps.
- remove the halibut from the refrigerator and let stand for 15 minutes before starting
- dry the surface of the fish very well in between two paper towels
- preheat your skillet (I used cast iron but stainless steel works well too) over high heat
- add a small amount of vegetable oil to the pan, heating the oil until it starts to shimmer slightly
- place each fillet skin side up (good side down) carefully onto the heated pan
- lightly press down on the fish with your spatula to create the perfect crust
Create a Restaurant Style Dish in your home
Creating mouth-watering restaurant-style dishes is a lot easier than you think. It all comes down to getting quality products to create your dishes.
So get in your kitchen and start cooking. I promise after you make this dish you’ll be trying more of my seafood recipes in your home and have fun in the process.
You’ll be creating delicious restaurant-style meals in your own home at a fraction of the cost of going out to dinner. And you’ll have full control of the ingredients used in making your dinner, that’s the best part.
More Seafood Recipes You’ll Love!
- Blackened Salmon with a Gorgonzola Cream Sauce
- Ginger Garlic Pan Roasted Swordfish
- How to Poach Mahi-Mahi (or your favorite fish)
- Grilled Atlantic Rockfish
- Pan Seared Rockfish
Pan Seared Halibut with Creamed Spinach
Ingredients
Pan Seared Halibut
- 12 ounces halibut fillets 2- six ounce fillets
- sea salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 ounce vegetable oil for searing
Creamed Spinach
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup Vidalia onion minced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 12 ounces baby spinach stems removed
- sea salt and black pepper to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup Romano cheese grated
Instructions
Pan Seared Halibut
- season each side of the halibut fillets generously with sea salt and black pepper before searing.
- Preheat a large cast-iron or stainless steel pan over high heat. Add just enough oil for a good coating of the pan. Heat until oil starts to shimmer slightly.
- Add each halibut fillet very carefully to the pan with the good side down.
- Lightly press down on the fish with a spatula to create direct contact with the pan to create the crust for 30 seconds to a minute. Continue to cook the fish for 2-3 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and turn over the fish to the other side. Continue cooking the fish for 2-4 minutes until cooked all the way through. Be careful not to overcook. Undercooked slightly overcooked.
Creamed Spinach
- In a medium saute pan over medium-high heat, melt butter and then add the olive oil.
- Mix in the onions and garlic, cook for 2 minutes until soft.
- Add the spinach and saute until wilted.
- Reduce heat to medium and add the salt, pepper, nutmeg, Romano cheese and the heavy cream. Mix well.
- Cook until liquid reduces by half and sauce thickens. About 5-6 minutes.
Assembly
- Place creamed spinach on a plate and serve pan-seared halibut on top of the spinach. Serve immediately
Marysa says
That looks like a perfect combination! I am not too familiar with cooking fish, but I think I can handle this recipe. It is nice to have something different to serve when we have guests.
Kristine Nicole Alessandra says
Halibut is so delicious! I like this pan-seared recipe and I am making this for dinner soon as I am able to get some halibut!
Ice Cream n Sticky Fingers says
Your meals always look fantastic but I’m not a huge fan of fish. I’ve never been a huge fish eater unless I catch it myself. Fresh fish always tastes so much better.
rika says
My family love fish and Halibut is one of them! I love how easy it is to make, and super healthy too!
Catalina says
I’ve tried this recipe and it’s fabulous! My family loved it and it’s our new favorite dinner!
Rachel says
I never know how to make fish. This looks like a delicious recipe to try.
Kathy says
This looks like such a great dish. I’m going to have to try the recipe out. I like how it’s a simpler recipe too.
Lynndee says
I had halibut in a restaurant before and it was so good. I just saved your recipe. I’m definitely going to try this ASAP. I bet it is delicious!
Ruth I says
Looks like it’s something made from a cooking show. The combination of that fish and veggies is delightfully just amazing.
Brandy says
I’ve never had halibut before, but I do love a good seafood dish. I also love ideas that use spinach. I’ll be trying your recipe as soon as possible, I am not quite sure where to buy halibut around here though, so have to figure that out first.
Theresa says
Quality seafood delivered right to my door? Sign me up! The creamed spinach sounds like the perfect accompaniment to the seared halibut. I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Sarah Bailey says
Do you know I can’t remember the last time I had halibut but now I want to try it asap! As this looks and sounds like it would be absolutely delicious.
Denise says
This looks so good. I love to cook fish so I find posts like this really helpful. It gives me tons of new ideas and looks really easy
Alli Smith says
Pan-seared halibut is one of my favorite dishes to prepare. I have got to make your creamed spinach to go with the halibut the next time I make it. This seafood dish looks delicious.
Nancy says
very yummy and so easy, because of the fat calories I am going to say, as Chef Dennis says, a special occasion meal. Impress your friends, this will do it!
Chef Dennis Littley says
thanks for the great review Nancy and this is a delicious special occasion dinner for sure.