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Delicious Pairings: 8 BEST Side Dishes for Halibut

It’s hardly possible to know about seafood without knowing about halibut.

While many people know the fish, some have never tasted its delicious flavor and succulent meat.

Halibut is an extremely large flatfish that inhabits cold waters around North America, Europe, and Asia.

There are three species of halibut, the Atlantic, the Pacific, and Greenland.

Halibut has a mild but delicious flavor.

It is best served baked, broiled, or pan-fried, depending on preference.

Halibut is an extremely versatile fish that can be seasoned with various spices and sauces to create an array of different flavors.

For instance, the combination of lemon juice, olives, and garlic would pair well with halibut.

A great side to serve with halibut would be steamed vegetables, especially carrots and peas.

Quick steam of the veggies in water flavored with salt and pepper will create a tasty side dish that pairs well with all seafood dishes, including halibut.

In this article, we will list eight delicious sides to serve with halibut.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Halibut?

why consider serving side dishes for halibut

Halibut provides a very rich and meaty flavor that is unfiltered by any spices or flavors.

Instead, the dish should focus on complementing this taste with its side dishes.

Some great flavors to pair with halibut include bright and refreshing tones, such as acidic vegetables or tangy fruit.

To give a more warm tone, sweeter vegetables work well for this fish dish.

Another reason to consider side dishes for halibut is that the fish itself can be very rich and filling.

A lighter side dish can be a great way to balance out the flavors and make your stomach feel slightly less full.

Also, many people use halibut as an opportunity to experiment with new dishes or flavors they wouldn’t try otherwise.

Keeping the side dish unique and new will make your meal more interesting.

The next time you prepare halibut, consider some fun and innovative side dishes.

What to Serve with Halibut? 8 BEST Side Dishes

what to serve with halibut best side dishes

So you’ve bought that beautiful halibut steak or fillet, and now you’re wondering what to serve it with.

Well, here are eight recipes for delicious sides to help complete your meal.

1 – Lemon Couscous

lemon couscous

Lemon couscous is a little different than your standard sides.

It’s more of a lemony, refreshing pasta salad than anything else.

Lemons are one of those versatile ingredients that go great with so many flavors and food types.

This dish takes advantage of its ability to cut through richer flavors while adding its unique tang.

To make lemon couscous, cook whole-wheat couscous according to the package directions.

Then, mix in salt, pepper, olive oil, garlic powder, and grated lemon zest.

Once you have that done, you need to add lemon juice, so your dish doesn’t taste one-dimensional.

You can also choose to add red onions and bell peppers for some added flavor and color.

2 – Braised Fingerling Potatoes

braised fingerling potatoes

If you’re looking for a fast and easy way to make your meat more filling, you can’t go wrong with potatoes.

Fingerling potatoes are the perfect side dish because they have so many different varieties of flavors.

Braised fingerling potatoes rely on two key ingredients: Baby carrots and shallots.

  • Cover the potatoes and carrots with chicken stock to make this side dish, and add some salt and pepper to taste.
  • Bring the mixture to a boil and then simmer for about thirty minutes until the potatoes are tender enough to pierce with a fork.
  • Sauté shallots in some butter until they’re golden brown before adding them into the mix.

Once that’s done, add some fresh parsley, and you’re all set.

3 – Sautéed Baby Bok Choy with Shallots

sauted baby bok choy with shallots

This dish takes its flavor inspiration from Southeast Asia.

It’s a really easy way to make your halibut taste new again without having to worry about muddling the flavors together.

The great thing about this side dish is that you can make it ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.

Sautéing bok choy isn’t hard, but there are a few things you should know before diving in.

First off, remove the baby bok choy from any larger stalks because they won’t cook well.

Then, sauté the stalks for about five minutes to make them tender.

Finally, add shallots and garlic towards the end until they are fragrant.

If you want, you can also add rice vinegar for a little bit of acidity.

4 – Creamy Parmesan Spinach

creamy parmesan spinach

Spinach is a great way to bulk up a meal and make it seem more filling.

This side dish also benefits from some cream cheese for some added richness.

To make creamy parmesan spinach, you’ll need some olive oil, butter, baby spinach leaves, as well as some shallots and garlic powder.

To start, sauté the shallots and garlic in some olive oil until they’re fragrant.

Then, add the spinach leaves and cover them up for a minute or two to help wilt them.

Next, add salt and pepper to taste, along with some cream cheese for richness.

Finally, you can choose to top your dish off with parmesan or feta cheese.

5 – Maple Glazed Carrots

maple glazed carrots

Carrots are a classic side dish, and one of the main reasons is that they taste great paired with so many different flavors.

In this case, we’ve chosen to make maple glazed carrots to go along with our halibut.

Making maple glazed carrots is a lot easier than you might think.

All you have to do is add some water, butter, and salt to a pot before adding the carrots.

Bring the mixture to a boil and then simmer for about fifteen minutes before adding maple syrup.

Then, cook them uncovered for fifteen more minutes or until they’re tender enough to pierce easily with a fork.

6 – Watercress Salad with a Balsamic Reduction

watercress salad with a balsamic reduction

Watercress salad is a great side dish to have with halibut because it’s so light and fresh.

The citrus from the orange slices also helps brighten up the flavor of the balsamic vinegar, so your main dish remains as the star.

To prepare this salad:

  • Wash some watercress, and then pat it dry. You can also place some orange slices on top of the watercress for a little bit of color.
  • Make some balsamic reduction by heating some balsamic vinegar and sugar in a saucepan until the mixture is reduced to about half its original volume.
  • Add some salt and pepper to taste before pouring it over the watercress and oranges.

7 – Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan Cheese

roasted asparagus with parmesan cheese

This side dish adds a little bit of green to your plate without having too much flavor.

It also goes perfectly with halibut because asparagus is one of those vegetables that can be cooked in so many ways without losing its original flavor.

This site requires some olive oil, asparagus, salt, and pepper, as well as some parmesan cheese.

To start, toss the asparagus with the oil, so it gets coated evenly.

You can also add some garlic powder or fresh garlic cloves if you’d like to boost the flavor a little bit.

Next, add some salt and pepper before roasting the asparagus for about fifteen minutes at 375 degrees.

Finally, top it off with parmesan cheese, and you’re all set.

8 – Sautéed Collard Greens

sauted collard greens

Not only are collard greens a superfood that’s packed with antioxidants, but they also taste amazing when sautéed with some garlic.

In this case, we’ve chosen to make a traditional southern dish called “fried greens,” but the recipe still tastes delicious when prepared as a side for halibut.

To make these fried greens:

  • Depending on your preference, start by sauteing some chopped collard leaves in olive oil with bacon or ham hock.
  • Add in some onions along with some oregano and thyme for a little extra flavor.
  • Add some salt and pepper to taste before simmering the greens until they’re tender enough to eat.
  • Remember – you can always serve more sauce on the side, so your halibut doesn’t dry out.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are a variety of great side dishes that go perfectly with halibut.

Whether you choose to make maple glazed carrots, watercress salad, or sauteed collard greens – this list should give you everything you need.

Furthermore, these recipes all take no longer than twenty minutes to prepare so that they can be whipped up in no time at all.

what to serve with halibut

What to Serve with Halibut? 8 BEST Side Dishes

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Side Dishes
Servings 1 Serving

Ingredients
  

  • Lemon Couscous
  • Braised Fingerling Potatoes
  • Sautéed Baby Bok Choy with Shallots
  • Creamy Parmesan Spinach
  • Maple Glazed Carrots
  • Watercress Salad with a Balsamic Reduction
  • Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan Cheese
  • Sautéed Collard Greens

Instructions
 

  • Choose your favorite recipe from the list of options.
  • Organize all required ingredients and prepare a delicious meal in 30 minutes or less!
Did you make this recipe?Mention @EatDelights or tag #eatdelights!

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