Name: Braised Halibut with Mushrooms and Shrimp
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil; 1/2 pound large shrimp, shelled and deveined; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; 3/4 pound white or cremini mushrooms, trimmed and thinly sliced; 2 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced; Four 8-ounce halibut steaks, cut 1/2 inch thick (see Note); 3/4 cup Albariño or other dry white wine; Crusty bread, for serving

Braised Halibut with Mushrooms and Shrimp

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This simple and homey dish of Albariño-braised fish is the essence of Galician cooking, getting its deep, earthy flavor from mushrooms sautéed with garlic. In Spain, Encarna Méndez uses hake, but in the U.S., halibut is a more sustainable choice.

By Encarna Mendez

Updated on March 8, 2017

Braised Halibut with Mushrooms and Shrimp — Photo: © Roland Persson

Total Time:

35 mins

Yield:

Ingredients

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 pound large shrimp, shelled and deveined
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3/4 pound white or cremini mushrooms, trimmed and thinly sliced
2 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
Four 8-ounce halibut steaks, cut 1/2 inch thick (see Note)
3/4 cup Albariño or other dry white wine
Crusty bread, for serving

Directions

In a very large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Add the shrimp, season with salt and pepper and cook over moderate heat, turning a few times, until pink and curled, about 3 minutes. Transfer the shrimp to a large plate.
Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to the skillet and, when it's hot, add the sliced mushrooms. Cook over moderately high heat, stirring a few times, until any liquid evaporates and the mushrooms are browned, about 7 minutes. Push the mushrooms to the side of the skillet and add 1 more tablespoon of the olive oil. Add the sliced garlic and cook over low heat until golden, about 1 minute. Toss the garlic together with the mushrooms in the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Transfer the mushrooms and garlic to the plate with the shrimp.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet. Season the halibut steaks with salt and pepper and add them to the skillet. Cook over moderate heat for about 3 minutes, then carefully turn the halibut. Add the Albariño, cover and cook until the halibut is just white throughout, about 2 minutes longer.
Return the shrimp and mushrooms to the skillet along with any accumulated juices and stir gently until heated through. Remove the skillet from the heat and season the pan sauce with salt and pepper. Transfer the halibut steaks to plates. Spoon the shrimp, mushrooms, and Albariño sauce over the fish and serve immediately with crusty bread.

Notes

The backbone in halibut steaks helps keep the fish moist as it cooks. Boneless fish fillets are often easier to find than steaks and can be substituted here.

Suggested Pairing

This seafood dish tastes richer than it seems, making an Albariño with some depth the best wine partner. Look for an Albariño that's aged in stainless steel tanks on its lees (spent yeasts from fermentation) for extra complexity. Classic examples of this style include the minerally 2008 Pazo de Señoráns and the 2008 Pazo San Mauro Sanamaro.