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Plated halibut topped with zesty lemon butter sauce, garnished with herbs.

Halibut with Zesty Lemon Butter Sauce

A light, restaurant-style dinner featuring flaky halibut fillets paired with a smooth lemon-infused beurre blanc sauce, perfect for busy nights or date nights at home.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 2 servings
Calories 300 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the halibut

  • 2 fillets halibut fillets (150–200 g each)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil For cooking

For the sauce

  • 60 ml dry white wine
  • 1 medium shallot, minced
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest From 1 lemon
  • 30 ml fresh lemon juice From 1 lemon
  • 60 g cold butter, cubed Chilled for emulsification

For garnish

  • 1 tbsp chopped parsley

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Pat the halibut dry, season with salt and pepper, and let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.

Cooking the halibut

  • Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a heavy skillet.
  • Place the halibut fillets skin-side down (if applicable) in the skillet and press gently for 10 seconds.
  • Cook for 4–5 minutes per side until golden and the fish flakes easily. Transfer to a warm plate.

Making the sauce

  • Add white wine and minced shallot to the same skillet. Boil on high, scraping browned bits, and reduce by half (about 3 minutes).
  • Stir in lemon zest and lemon juice, simmer for 2 minutes.
  • Lower heat to medium-low and whisk in the cold cubed butter, one piece at a time, until the sauce is smooth.

Plating

  • Spoon the sauce over the halibut and garnish with chopped parsley.

Notes

For streamlined meals, pair with an egg bake for a complete brunch. To avoid sauce separation, chill the butter before adding and incorporate it slowly.

Nutrition

Serving: 150gCalories: 300kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 24gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 400mgSugar: 1g
Keyword Halibut, Lemon Butter Sauce, Quick Dinner, Restaurant-style, Seafood
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