Sunday, April 15, 2012

Parmesan-Pesto Crusted Halibut



Pesto seems to be one of those things that people either love or hate.  Personally, I love it.  And to be honest, I don't understand why you wouldn't.  Basil, parmesan, garlic, pine nuts... what's not to love?  Not to mention pesto's versatility:  tossed with pasta, used as a sandwich spread, on crostini, thinned out with a little oil and used as a salad dressing, a marinade for meat, swirled into bread dough or scones... seriously, the options are endless.

This recipe uses pesto in a way that I never have before.  Beautiful halibut fillets are coated with pesto, then topped with a crust of Parmesan cheese and panko.  The combo of the pesto with the parmesan crust is really great - nice and flavorful, with a crispy and crunchy coating.  The fish kind of absorbs the pesto as it cooks, so the whole fish is permeated with delicious pesto flavor.  And perhaps the best part?  It's one of the fastest dinners I've made in quite a while.  Halibut is always a big hit with both Joey and Caroline, so this was a slam dunk dinner.

Pesto-Parmesan Crusted Halibut
barely adapted from Curisine at Home, Cuisine Light


As I mentioned, I used halibut for this, but I think any mild white fish would work just as well.  Just adjust the cooking time depending on the thickness of the fish.  

  • 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 Tbs lemon zest
  • 8 tsp basil pesto, divided
  • 4 halibut fillets, each about 1 inch thick and 4 oz each.
  • cooking spray
  • fresh lemon juice, for serving
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and line a baking sheet with foil.  Spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.

Meanwhile, combine the panko, Parmesan, and salt and pepper to taste in a small bowl.  Stir the lemon zest into the basil.

Arrange the halibut in a single layer on the baking sheet and pat dry with a paper towel.  Season with salt and pepper, and spread 2 teaspoons of basil over each piece of fish.  Press the parmesan-panko mixture over the pesto.  Spray with nonstick cooking spray.

Cook until the top is turning golden-brown and the fish flakes easily with a fork, about 10 to 12 minutes.  Squeeze the lemon juice over the top and serve immediately.


14 comments:

Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips said...

What a great idea! I make parmesan crusted tilapia, and this sounds like a great way to change it up a bit.

Eileen said...

Ooh, yes please.! Herbs crust and delicate fish--I love it.

Maggie @ A Bitchin' Kitchen said...

Whaaaat?! People hate pesto? That just makes me sad...how could anyone hate something so delicious? This looks great - I'm always looking for new ways to prepare fish!

Alaina @ Fabtastic Eats said...

I love Parm, love pesto, and love encrusting foods! This sounds awesome!

Laura said...

This sounds incredible, I know we'd all love it. What did you serve it over? Is that orzo or brown rice? Looks delish as well!

Katie said...

this sounds divine! I probably make fish at least twice a week and am always looking for new recipes to try!

Ben and Alli said...

This does look amazing! Printing it out right now. :o) Will you be posting the yummy pasta salad that it's sitting on?

Made in Sonoma said...

Looks great!

Joanne said...

I think pesto is one of those ingredients that adds pizzazz to whatever it touches. Whenever I want to make a meal more addictive...I add pesto. This sounds so delicious! Love how easy it is.

Jessica said...

I can't understand how anyone could not like pesto! I think it sounds especially good when you add in the panko and parmesan!

Josie said...

Laura and Ben&Alli,
I just sautéed some zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and onion and mixed it into orzo with kalamata olives, parsley, salt, and pepper. It was a good side dish!

Zee said...

wow this looks amazing!

Ben and Alli said...

Thanks for the info, Josie. I love your blog and have saved so many recipes!
Alli

Anonymous said...

LOVE halibut, LOVE pesto, love all that good stuff. Sounds like the perfect low-fat heart-healthy recipe for a weekday night!

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