This easy seafood tutorial will show you how to broil halibut (without it drying out!). Plus, check out our favorite broiled halibut recipes.
The first time I cooked halibut, I was intimidated.
Majorly intimidated.
First of all, halibut was a more expensive fish than I was used to working with.
But also, I knew halibut has major potential to be out-of-this-world amazing, and I was so worried that I'd ruin it.
If you're currently feeling worried about cooking halibut, let me reassure you. There is a very easy way to cook halibut.
This tutorial will walk you through how to broil halibut, plus give you a few easy recipe ideas.
Once you've mastered broiling, then you can move onto other techniques, such as learning how to pan-sear halibut.
Want more seafood 101? Learn how to broil salmon, how to pan-sear salmon, where to buy seafood online and how to steam + crack crab legs.
Why Broil Halibut?
In my opinion, it's one of the easiest ways to cook halibut. Or really, any fish.
Your oven's broiler provides a lot of concentrated heat, making it easy to cook fish quickly without it drying out.
How to Broil Halibut: The Basics
Start by patting the halibut dry. Season it with a little sea salt.
Brush a heavy, oven-safe pan (or a sheet pan) with a high-smoke point oil. I like to use this Lodge 12" carbon steel skillet and avocado oil.
Set the fish in the pan and brush the fish with oil.
Slide the pan into the oven directly under the broiler.
Cook the halibut for about eight minutes per 1-inch thickness, or until the fish is opaque and easily flakes apart. You may see the tops of the fillets just beginning to brown.
Easy Serving Options
At this point, you've got lots of options!
I like to serve broiled halibut with an easy yogurt sauce or topped with a Parmesan-mayonnaise mixture.
Broiled halibut fillets are also delicious topped with a compound butter, like basil butter, chive butter or mushroom butter.
One of my favorite things to do is flake the halibut apart and serve it in halibut tacos, cilantro lime fish tacos or fish nachos.
How to Broil Halibut
Ingredients
- 8 ounces halibut (2 fillets) Or substitute cod
- 2 tablespoons oil (olive or avocado)
- pinch salt + pepper
- 1 lemon, divided
Instructions
- Move an oven rack to about 4" away from the broiler. Preheat broiler to high.Brush halibut fillets with half the oil, and then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add remaining oil to an oven-safe pan or casserole dish. Slide the pan into the oven.
- Cook halibut for 8 minutes per 1" thickness, or until the fish is opaque and the edges are beginning to brown.Do not flip the fish halfway through cooking.When the halibut is done cooking, remove it from the oven. Serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
- Add sliced lemon while broiling. Discard the lemon slices after cooking and serve along with fresh lemon wedges.
- Top cooked fish with compound butter. (Soften butter and beat in flavorings with a spatula.) We love serving broiled halibut with herbs and citrus zest added to the butter.
- Flake apart and use in tacos. After cooking, use the flaked halibut meat in your favorite fish taco recipe.
jojobe says
Tonight and in good company!
Alisha Trenalone says
So glad you enjoyed!
-Alisha at Champagne Tastes
Pamela says
Though frozen, my halibut was moist and tasty. Good recipe!
Thank you!
Alisha Trenalone says
So glad it turned out well! Thanks for letting us know ☺
-Alisha at Champagne Tastes