Eye for a Recipe

This tasty dish from Food and Wine takes about 20 minutes to make. Sear the fish in butter and then transfer to the oven to roast. Meanwhile, fry bread cubes and then add lemon juice, wine, capers and herbs. Serve the sauce over the fish and dinner is ready!

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Make sure the butter does not contain colour and the bread is preservative-free. Use freshly squeezed lemon juice and a wine with a sulfite level of less than 10 parts per million. I use wine from Frogpond Farm organic winery. Unico capers are additive-free.

Sear fish

Fry croutons and then add lemon juice, wine, capers and herbs

Fish with Capers and Croutons

Ingredients:

¾ cup (180 ml) unsalted butter, divided

1 teaspoon (15 ml) olive oil

4 skinless fish fillets, such as cod, halibut, tilapia or skate (about 2 pounds/1 kg total)

Kosher salt

White pepper

½ pound (250 g) crusty bread, cut into ½-inch (1.25 cm) cubes (about 3 cups/750 ml)

3 tablespoons (45 ml) fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons (30 ml) dry white wine

¼ cup (60 ml) salt-packed capers, rinsed well and drained

¼ cup (60 ml) chopped parsley

¼ cup (60 ml) chopped tarragon

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 475° F (245° C). In a large ovenproof skillet, melt ¼ cup (60 ml) of the butter with the oil. Season the fish with salt and pepper, add to the skillet, and cook over moderate heat until bottom is browned, about 3 minutes. Flip the fish, transfer the skillet to the oven, and roast until the fish is just white throughout, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to plates and loosely cover with foil to keep warm.

In the same skillet, melt the remaining ½ cup (125 ml) of butter. Add the bread cubes and cook over moderate heat, turning occasionally, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add the lemon juice and wine, and cook until reduced slightly, about 1 minute. Stir in the capers and herbs. Spoon the mixture over the fish and serve. Serves 4.

From Food and Wine

This is a new take on traditional salade Niçoise from Bon Appetit calls for halibut instead of tuna and a variety of seasonal vegetables. I used garlic scapes, green beans, baby potatoes and cherry tomatoes. The Green Olive Tapenade is great on fish or as a dip or spread.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Check the anchovies, olives and capers for additives. Use freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Grilled halibut Niçoise with vegetables and olive tapenade

Ingredients:

4 large eggs

1½ pounds (675 g) skin-on halibut fillets

2 tablespoons (30 ml) plus ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil

Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

2 pounds (1 kg) mixed vegetables (such as scallions, garlic scapes, Romano beans, halved small eggplants, halved baby or new potatoes)

4 cups (1 L) torn lettuce leaves (such as romaine, red leaf, or butter)

1 cup Sun Gold tomatoes, halved

1 bunch small breakfast radishes, trimmed, halved lengthwise

1 cup (250 ml) Green Olive Tapenade

Green Olive Tapenade

10 oil-packed anchovy fillets, finely chopped

2 cups (500 ml) green olives, pitted, crushed

1 cup (250 ml) coarsely chopped parsley

1 cup (250 ml) olive oil

¼ cup (60 ml) coarsely chopped, drained capers

2 tablespoons (30 ml) finely grated lemon zest

¼ cup (60 ml) fresh lemon juice

Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

Preparation:

Green Olive Tapenade

Mix anchovies, both olives, parsley, oil, capers, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a large jar or medium bowl; season with salt and pepper.

Tapenade can be made 1 week ahead. Cover and chill.

Fish and salad

Place eggs in saucepan of water, covering them by at least 1 inch (2.5 cm). Bring water to rolling boil, then cover and remove pan from heat. Let eggs stand in water 18 minutes.  Drain and place in a large bowl of ice water; let cool.

Prepare a grill for medium-high heat. Rub halibut with 2 tbsp. (30 ml) oil; season with salt and pepper. Grill, skin side down, until skin is charred and fish is nearly cooked through, 5–8 minutes. Turn and grill just until cooked through, about 1 minute. Transfer halibut to a plate and remove skin.

Toss vegetables with remaining ¼ cup (60 ml) oil in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper. Grill, turning occasionally, until lightly charred and tender. Time will be different for each vegetable (about 2 minutes for scallions and garlic scapes, 4 minutes for Romano beans, 8–10 minutes for eggplants, 10–15 for potatoes). Transfer to a plate as they are done.

Carefully peel and halve eggs. Arrange lettuce leaves on a platter and place halibut, grilled vegetables, tomatoes, radishes, and eggs in separate areas on top. Spoon some Green Olive Tapenade over; serve remaining tapenade alongside. Serves 4.

From Bon Appetit

This recipe from the LCBO’s Food and Drink is company-worthy. Halibut fillets are dredged and covered with panko, briefly fried and then baked. Meanwhile, fry some capers for a crunchy, salty garnish and sauté zucchini and cherry tomatoes for a colourful and delicious accompaniment.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Check the chili powder and panko for colour and preservatives. Look for a Dijon with no sulfites or sodium benzoate; I use President’s Choice Old-Fashioned Dijon. Canola can sometimes contain additives, so buy one that is 100% pure. Unico capers are additive-free.

You will need three shallow bowls or pans for the dredging

Dredged halibut

Brown the halibut until the coating is golden, then bake

Meanwhile, saute the zucchini and tomatoes

Fried capers make a crispy, tangy garnish

Crispy halibut with zucchini saute and fried capers

Ingredients:

½ cup (125 ml) all-purpose flour

2 tsp (10 ml) chili powder

½ tsp (2 ml) salt

1 egg

¼ cup (60 ml) milk

1 tbsp (15 ml) Dijon mustard

1 cup (250 ml) panko

4 pieces, each 6 oz (175 g) skinless halibut fillet

3 tbsp (45 ml) canola oil

2 tbsp (30 ml) capers, drained, rinsed and patted dry

1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil

2 small zucchini, cut on the bias into ovals or halved lengthwise and cut into half-moons

1 cup (250 ml) red and yellow cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

1 tsp (5 ml) chopped garlic

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp (30 ml) chopped Italian parsley

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).

Make a dredging station for the fish: combine flour, chili powder and salt in a shallow bowl. Beat egg with milk and Dijon in another bowl, and place panko in the third bowl.

Dredge fish first in flour, then in egg mixture and then in panko to coat.

Heat 2 tbsp (30 ml) canola oil in a large frying pan on medium-high heat. Add fish and fry, turning, for 2 to 3 minutes or until crumbs are golden. Transfer fish to a baking sheet and bake for 7 minutes or until fish is cooked through.

Wipe out pan, add remaining 1 tbsp (15 ml) canola oil and heat on high heat. Add capers and fry for 2 to 3 min or until crispy. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain.

Add olive oil to pan over medium heat. Add zucchini and fry for 1 minute or until just beginning to soften. Add tomatoes and garlic; fry 1 minute longer or until they have begun to release juice. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with parsley and fried capers.

Serve fish over zucchini mixture, spooning some sauce over fish. Serves 4.

From Food and Drink magazine