Easy Grilled Halibut and a Provencal Wine Pairing
The thing is, we weren’t planning on grilled halibut for dinner. But sometimes, that is how things go when you get to the grocery store, and they don’t have what you had planned.
In most cases, that isn’t too complicated a switch, but for this meal, we had planned a cooking and wine pairing with Susan and Towny in New Hampshire via Zoom. I quickly called Susan from the seafood counter to let her know our planned protein was unavailable and to make sure Towny hadn’t left for their fishmonger. We were having a virtual dinner party, and the goal was also to find a good food match for a rosé from Château Sainte Roseline.
The menu was simple but perfect: herb and lavender marinated halibut fillets grilled over hot coals, accompanied by new potatoes bathed in butter and sprinkled with parsley and fresh asparagus. Keep reading here for the results of the wine pairing.
Grilled Halibut Provencal
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil plus extra for serving
- 1 1/2 tsp fresh basil finely chopped
- 1 1/2 tsp fresh thyme finely chopped
- 1 tsp Dried Culinary Lavender Buds
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- healthy pinch Hot Pepper Flakes I used Piment d’Espelette
- 2 Halibut Fillets with skin, about 6 ounces each
- Lemon Wedges
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together into a paste all the ingredients except fish and lemon. Spread the paste evenly on the non-skin side of the fish fillets. Let marinate for 20-30 minutes to allow the flavours to settle in.
- Grill, skin side down, on a well-seasoned rack over direct high heat until the flesh is opaque throughout and starting to flake, 7-8 minutes, without turning. Serve hot with a drizzle of olive oil and garnish with lemon wedges.
- Note: My grill temperature was 500°F (260°C) to start and I reduced the temperature to 400°F (200°C) as soon as I set the fish on the grill.
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