Hazelnut Crusted Halibut with Shrimp Bearnaise...

hazelnut crusted Halibut with shrimp Bearnaise sauce.

We are finally in the lazy days of summer here....they say that summer doesn't start in the Seattle area until the day after the 4th of July.....used to be a joke, but it is no longer one...it really does start July 5th....

Halibut is my favorite white fish...It is so meaty. It holds up well. I don't eat it very often because it costs a bazillion dollars....So this was a real treat! This recipe is easy to make and really looks like you did something fancy....there are many hazelnut trees here in the northwest....they are so good!

roast your hazelnuts in a pan on low heat until they are nice and brown....then whirl them in the food processor until you have a nice crumb...

measure nuts and mix with same amount of bread crumbs...about 1/2 cup nuts to 1/2 cup of bread crumbs

press your halibut into the crumb mixture and turn over...

add all pieces to hot olive oil about a medium heat...when brown flip to other side and then 

put in a 375 oven to finish cooking about 15 minutes....

gives you enough time to make the bearnaise sauce...1 1/2 sticks of butter softened....2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons dry while wine, 1/4 cup finely chopped shallots, 1 tablespoon finely chipped tarragon leaf, 3 egg yolks, 1 tablespoon water and salt and pepper....

Combine the vinegar, wine, shallots, black pepper and tarragon in a saucepan...cook over medium hear until it reduces by half...about 5 minutes...

mix the egg  yolks with the water and add to vinegar mixture while you are whisking like crazy...add the softened butter a tablespoon at a time whisking all the way....

finally you have your sauce...if it starts to separate, just whisk it a little more it will come back together...this sauce is a little bit of work but oh so worth it! It is so buttery and velvety, mine is a little more yellow than yours will be because of the fresh eggs from my chickens...I did not add any more salt...the vinegar gave it enough zing....

saute your shrimp and add the Bearnaise....

by this time your halibut will be coming out of the oven and ready to serve...

I had mine with garlic mashed potatoes and my oh my!!!! Heaven on a plate!!!

You will want to make this real soon, hurry....

Cheers to Happy !!