Blackened Halibut Recipe

This blackened halibut recipe is so delicious! The inside of the fish is tender and flaky while the outside is crusty and well-seasoned.

This blackened halibut is wonderful. Halibut is a mild-tasting fish, and halibut recipes are often mildly flavored. But blackening turns this fish into an intensely flavorful dish that my entire family enjoys.

What is the blackening cooking technique?

When blackening food, the food is dipped in melted butter and then dredged in a mixture of herbs and spices. It is then cooked in a very hot cast-iron skillet.

This creates e characteristic brown-black crust on the food, the result of browned milk solids from the butter and charred spices. So the fish becomes crispy and blackened when the seasonings used to coat it become charred in a hot skillet.

Blackening is a very tasty way of preparing fish. The inside is tender and flaky while the outside is crusty and boldly seasoned. Blackened salmon is excellent too.

Is blackening healthy?

There seems to be a link between the frequent eating of large amounts of charred food and disease, although the actual non-laboratory risk is probably very small.

Still, I wouldn’t eat blackened halibut every day. The decision is yours, of course, but like everything else, moderation is a good idea. My personal choice is to make this recipe for my family about once a month.

The ingredients needed for this recipe

These are the simple ingredients you’ll need to make this tasty main dish (the exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below):

1. Spices: paprika, thyme, oregano, onion and garlic powders, and cayenne pepper.
2. Kosher salt: If using fine salt, you might want to reduce the amount you use.
3. Halibut fillets: I like to use skin-on fillets.
4. Butter.

How to make blackened halibut

It’s so easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

1. In a shallow dish, whisk together the spices and salt.
2. Sprinkle the halibut fillets with the spice mix.
3. Fry the halibut fillets in butter over medium-high heat until cooked through, about 4 minutes per side.
4. Spoon the pan juices on top of the fish and serve.

What to serve with blackened halibut?

It’s really quite versatile and can go with many side dishes. I like to serve it with any of the following sides:

• Cauliflower pancakes
• Okra stew
• Roasted vegetables
• When I’m especially lazy, I serve it with creamy cucumber salad.

What to do with leftover blackened halibut?

If you have leftovers, you can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 3 days. Make sure you reheat them very gently though, so as not to dry out the fish. Reheat them covered in the microwave, on 50% power.

More tasty fish recipes

Another good halibut recipe is this recipe for grilled halibut. It’s excellent, and my husband and I really enjoy it. And keto fried fish is amazing. You get to eat fish ‘n’ chips (well, at least the “fish” part), but it’s healthy! 

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4.96 from 321 votes

Blackened Halibut

A simple recipe for blackened halibut. The fish comes out juicy and very flavorful, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time20 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: fish, halibut

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 239kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 4 (6 oz) halibut fillets, 1 to 1/12-inch thick
• 2 tablespoon butter

INSTRUCTIONS

• In a shallow dish, whisk together the paprika, thyme, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt and cayenne.
• Sprinkle the halibut fillets with the seasoning mixture, pressing with your fingers to help the coating adhere.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, 2-3 minutes. Traditionally you would use a cast iron skillet, but I use a nonstick hard anodized aluminum skillet to minimize the risk of sticking. 
• Add the butter to the hot skillet and swirl to coat. Add the halibut fillets. Cook 4 minutes on each side, until the fillets turn from translucent into opaque and white (it’s fine to cut a small slit and peek).
• Spoon the pan juices on top of the fish, and serve. 

NUTRITION INFO Nutrition info is approximate and may contain errors. It is calculated using the SparkPeople.com recipe calculator, and the carb count excludes sugar alcohols. Please feel free to make your own calculations. Please read the disclaimers in our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Please verify they are before using.

Nutrition Facts

Blackened Halibut

Amount Per Serving (1 halibut fillet)

Calories 239 Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Sodium 378mg16%

Carbohydrates 6g2%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 36g72%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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