Pan-Seared Halibut with Cherry Tomatoes & Basil
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A simple, summery pan-seared halibut with a sweet cherry tomato and basil sauce—ready in about 30 minutes.
Fresh Pacific halibut is a seasonal splurge. It needs very little to enhance its flavor—in fact, it’s almost a sin to fuss too much with it. I like to prepare it simply: pan-seared until golden and crisp with a quick sauté of sweet, garlicky cherry tomatoes on the side. Depending on how long you cook the tomatoes, they can be firm and fresh or soft and jammy. I usually aim for somewhere right in between, but they’re delicious either way.
Pair this easy halibut recipe with focaccia or garlic bread for soaking up the sauce, or serve it with spaghetti aglio e olio or couscous for a more substantial meal.
“I made this for dinner guests last night. Seriously, they thought they were eating at a 5-star restaurant. It was FANTASTIC!”
What You’ll Need To Make Pan-Seared Halibut with Cherry Tomatoes & Basil
To make this simple halibut recipe, you’ll need halibut fillets, olive oil, cherry tomatoes, fresh garlic, red wine vinegar, and fresh basil.
Pacific halibut is a lean, firm, flaky white fish with a mild, slightly sweet flavor. It’s available fresh from about March through November and is well worth seeking out—avoid frozen halibut fillets, which tend to be dry.
If fresh halibut isn’t available, substitute another firm white fish, such as cod, haddock, mahi-mahi, sea bass, or tilapia.
Step-by-Step INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1: Prep the tomatoes. In a medium bowl, toss the tomatoes, garlic, vinegar, salt, and pepper.
Pro Tip: Letting the tomato mixture sit while you prepare the fish gives the salt and vinegar time to draw out the juices, creating a more flavorful sauce once it hits the pan.
Step 2: Sear the fish. Season the halibut with salt and pepper. Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Carefully place the fish in the hot pan, ensuring it sizzles and is not crowded.
Pro Tip: A hot pan is the trick to a perfect crust. If the fish doesn’t sizzle immediately upon contact, remove it and wait another minute; otherwise, it will steam rather than sear.
Step 3: Flip and finish. Cook the fish without moving for 3 minutes until golden and crisp. Flip the fish, lower the heat to medium, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes more until opaque and just firm. Transfer the halibut to a platter.
Pro Tip: Use a wide, flexible spatula (a fish spatula) to support the entire fillet.
Step 4: Cook the sauce. Add the remaining oil and the tomato mixture to the skillet (no need to clean it first). Stir occasionally over medium heat for a few minutes, until the tomatoes soften and release their juices.
Pro Tip: Use your spoon to gently press down on a few of the tomatoes as they cook. This helps them release their juices faster to create a saucy consistency that coats the halibut.
Step 5: Finish with basil. Stir in the basil, then taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper, if you like.
Step 6: Serve. Serve the halibut filets with the cherry tomatoes and juices spooned over top.
More Simple Seafood Dishes You’ll Love
Pan-Seared Halibut with Cherry Tomatoes & Basil
Ingredients
- 1 pint cherry/grape tomatoes, halved (preferably mixed colors)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 4 (6-oz) skinless halibut fillets (or other mild white fish)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, garlic, vinegar, a heaping ¼ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon pepper. Set aside.
- Season the halibut all over with ¾ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a 12-in (30-cm) nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot and shimmering. Place the fish, presentation-side down, in the pan and cook, without touching, until golden brown and crisp, about 3 minutes. Flip the fish and lower the heat to medium; continue cooking until the halibut is just firm to the touch and opaque when you pry open a thicker piece with a paring knife, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the cooked halibut to a plate or serving platter.
- Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the pan, followed by the cherry tomato mixture. Cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat until the tomatoes start to break down and release their juices, a few minutes. Stir in basil, then taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Serve the halibut filets with the cherry tomatoes spooned over top and alongside.
Pair with
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Simple and delicious!
This is my new favorite way to cook fish. I have used the halibut but I find the thinner rockfish was easier and better. It made a huge splatter mess so I treated myself to a splatter shield for the pan. Can’t wait to try it. I added a splash of white wine and tablespoon of butter at end. It was restaurant worthy. But great without it too. I love all of these recipes – my go to source.
Great recipe to Serve to guests. Restaurant quality. I add a dash of butter and it is superb served over Israeli couscous. If you want to impress guests serve this. Easy to adjust for 6 people. Recipe is very forgiving.
This is our favorite recipe from Jenn’s first book. The kids request it regularly. For adults, it does look and taste like a dish at an upscale restaurant. Thank you, Jenn – yum delicious!
Perfection! What a treat. My son also enjoyed this dish. ( I didn’t put any of the tomatoes on his, just the saucey bits.) Can’t believe how easy this was and how gourmet it tasted.
My husband doesn’t like tomatoes.
Nor is he big into fish.
He likes to remind me every time I make seafood that he ‘Can’t really do seconds of fish’ still to this day- even after 18 years together, as if I could forget.
I’ll probably have to get it etched on his headstone so he can Rest In Peace knowing I won’t forget that truly valuable piece of information.
Well you got his number with this one! Not only did he eat an entire second portion, there wasn’t a tomato left on his plate.
🙂
Simple, easy and delicious. I used Mahi Mahi and paired with cooked quinoa.
Just made this tonight with the Mahi my husband caught while fishing last night! Holy moly the sauce complemented the fresh fish SO well. We are already brainstorming on what else we can use this tomato topping! Thanks for yet ANOTHER delicious recipe, Jenn! (Also made your chunky peanut butter cookies for dessert because why not?!)
Taylor
Stop whatever you are doing. Run to the store. Buy the ingredients for this recipe. Make it for dinner tonight! You will be amazed at the wonderful dish you created! I made this for dinner guests last night. Seriously, they thought they were eating at a 5-star restaurant. It was FANTASTIC! I made the sauce in advance, so all I had to do was cook the fish right before we ate and pour the sauce on it. Instant happiness. And is very simple to make.
Absolutely delicious! If you’re like me and prefer plain, grilled halibut, try this as a change-up! I have made the tomato mixture, along with some added shallots, served over thin spaghetti with Parmesan cheese for a vegetarian dinner, too.
The tomatoes are an amazing accompaniment to the fish. I had some bass fillets in the freezer and my cherry tomato plant is being super productive this year. I shared this recipe with my vegetarian daughter and she will try it with tofu. Thanks Jenn, another winner.