These Pan Seared Halibut Steaks are fried in a skillet until perfectly golden and flaky and then topped with a savory lemon butter sauce! This mild white fish makes for a popular low carb seafood dish.
Seafood isn’t usually my first choice for meals but we’ve been trying to work more of it into our diet given the health benefits associated with it.
We mostly prefer to stick with the more popular types of seafood like white fish, salmon, or shrimp. It’s something everyone in the family can enjoy and that’s exactly what you’ll get with this pan seared halibut!
Halibut is a nice, mild fish that is perfect for pan frying, grilling, baking, or broiling! If you enjoy this recipe you’ll also want to check out this flavorful blackened mahi mahi and this simple but satisfying lemon baked cod!
What Does Halibut Taste Like?
Halibut is a mild, flaky white fish that doesn’t have a very strong fishy odor or taste which makes it a popular type of seafood that most people can enjoy!
It’s a meaty fish and the texture is firm but flaky, not too oily or soft. Not only do the taste and texture make halibut a popular choice but it can also be cooked with a variety of methods.
It compares to other mild white fish such as cod, mahi mahi, haddock, and flounder.
Pan Seared Halibut
Ingredients
- 2 halibut steaks thawed (about 1-inch thick, 8-ounces each)
- ½ teaspoon salt more to taste
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter softened
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Pat halibut steaks dry with a paper towel.
- Preheat a pan over medium-high heat. Add the oil and let heat.
- Salt and pepper both sides of the halibut steaks and then add to the pan.
- Cook for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking, until golden brown on the outside, and nearly cooked through.
- Top each steak with a tablespoon of butter and teaspoon of lemon juice.
- Cover the pan with a lid and continue cooking over low heat for about 2 minutes to let the butter melt over the halibut.
- Remove from the heat and sprinkle with the fresh parsley before serving.
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Information:
- Fresh: There’s nothing better than fresh fish cooked with fresh, simple ingredients! The lemon butter sauce keeps this low carb seafood dish light, zesty, and refreshing!
- Flavor: Halibut is a firm but flaky mild white fish that doesn’t have a strong odor or flavor which makes it a popular choice that most anyone can enjoy, even the kids!
- Customizable: We love a simple base recipe that you can customize to suit your own tastes or just for a bit of variety. It’s simple to change up the seasonings on this recipe to keep dinner interesting.
Ingredient Notes:
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Halibut – You’ll need a couple of halibut steaks (halibut fillets) that are about 1″ thick. Fresh is best but frozen and thawed is okay too. If you can’t find halibut then you could use cod or mahi mahi as an alternative!
Lemon & Butter Sauce – We love seafood with lots of lemon and butter! The citrus helps tenderize the fish and brighten the flavor while the butter adds richness.
Other – You’ll need some kosher salt or sea salt and black pepper for seasoning, plus extra virgin olive oil for pan frying the halibut. We garnish the halibut with freshly chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges!
Citrus Juicer
Freshly squeezed lime and lemon juice is useful in lots of recipes, and this tool makes it easy and mess free.
How To Make Pan Seared Halibut:
- Prepare – Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and pat the halibut steaks dry with a paper towel before seasoning both sides with the salt and black pepper.
- Sear – When the pan is good and hot start searing the halibut. Cook for 8 minutes, flipping once halfway, until it is golden brown on the outside and nearly cooked through.
- Lemon Butter Sauce – Top each halibut fillet with a tablespoon of butter and a teaspoon of lemon juice. Cover the pan with a lid of some foil and continue to cook for about 2 minutes while the butter melts over the halibut!
- Finish – When ready remove the pan from the heat and top with some fresh parsley. We like to serve these pan seared halibut steaks with fresh lemon wedges or lemon slices too for more of that citrus flavor!
We’re keeping the seasonings pretty simple for this pan seared halibut recipe! Just some salt and black pepper, but you could easily change that up with whatever seasonings you like. Cajun or Creole seasoning will add a bit of spice, smoked paprika will add some flavor and color, or you can keep it simple with garlic powder. Fresh minced garlic and fresh herbs are fine too!
What To Serve With Pan Seared Halibut:
You can serve this keto seafood recipe with a variety of sides. We like green veggies! Halibut would pair well with this air fryer asparagus, my bacon wrapped green beans, and definitely this smashed brussels sprouts recipe!
You don’t have to limit yourself to green veggies either, just about any roasted vegetables, such as roasted radishes, would also make a nice side!
A bed of roasted cauliflower rice isn’t a bad choice either. You can serve the fish and sauce right over it!
These keto cheddar bay biscuits are also an excellent non-veggie low carb side that is perfect for serving with seafood!
FAQ’s:
If you’ve got leftover pan-fried halibut you can keep it stored in an airtight container in the fridge for about 2 to 3 days.
Sure! It’ll freeze about as well as any other cooked white fish would. It’s probably best to wrap it in plastic first before storing in a freezer safe container for up to a few months.
Yes it is! Halibut is a nutritious and healthy source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and essential vitamins and minerals. It’s a great choice for a keto diet!
You can leave the skin on while cooking if you would like but it may take a few extra minutes to cook through.
Leave a Review