Thai-Style Halibut with Coconut-Curry Broth

I have to admit that while I like fish (mild fish at least), I don't love it or crave it like pasta. I usually buy it because I feel like I should, since I know it's so good for me. So I really appreciate a fish recipe that's not boring and makes me look forward to dinner. This one not only has a rich, flavorful broth, but it includes greens, so you're killing two birds with one stone. Or two fish with one hook. Or even better, just stop killing stuff.

THAI-STYLE HALIBUT WITH COCONUT-CURRY BROTH

Yield: 4 servings

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

4 shallots, finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)

2 ½ teaspoons red curry paste (or 2 teaspoons curry powder)

2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

1/2 cup light coconut milk

1/2 teaspoon salt, plus 1/4 teaspoon (plus more as needed for seasoning)

4 (6 oz.) pieces halibut fillet, skin removed

5 cups washed baby spinach, steamed for 2 minutes

1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro leaves

2 scallions (green part only), thinly sliced

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

freshly ground black pepper

2 cups cooked brown rice, for serving

1.      In a large saute pan, heat the oil over moderate heat. Add the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the curry paste and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the chicken broth, coconut milk, 1/2 teaspoon salt and simmer until reduced to 2 cups, about 5 minutes.

2.      Season the halibut with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Arrange the fish in the pan and gently shake the pan so the fish is coated with the sauce. Cover and cook until the fish flakes easily with a fork, about 7 minutes.

3.      Arrange a pile of steamed spinach in the bottom of 4 soup plates. Top with the fish fillets. Stir the cilantro, scallions, and lime juice into the sauce and season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Ladle the sauce over the fish and serve with rice.

from Ellie Krieger

shallots, cilantro and scallions

adding red curry paste to shallots

pouring in chicken broth

pouring in coconut milk

fish added (I used cod instead of halibut)

flaking the fish

The fish was kind of falling apart, so I
just flaked it all and served it like a stew.

spinach

fish on top of spinach

cilantro, scallions and lime juice added to the broth

broth added to the bowl

thai-style halibut with coconut-curry broth
(except it's really cod)

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