Something really weird happened to me at Whole Foods the other day when I was buying salmon. I asked the guy which salmon to buy and he walked me through the different types they offered, of course getting me to buy the most expensive one (the king salmon- to wit, he quoth, "They wouldn't call it "king" unless it was the best, right?") So after spending like 40 bucks on salmon he says, "Since you've spent so much with me here today, I'm going to give you a little something on the house." I thought, well that's weird, but whatever. "Do you like halibut?" he asked. "I guess so," I replied. I thought he might be on the make, but that was the end of it. So there you have it- free halibut from Whole Foods.



So I had this hunk o' halibut and had no clue what to do with it, since I so rarely make sea creatures at home, but it was lunchtime and my stomach was growling. So I pulled out some leftover rice and looked in the fridge/cabinets for inspiration and this is what I came up with. It was damn fine, and now I feel all healthy for eating fish and brown rice for lunch instead of my usual (2 slices of thin crust, cheese only pizza dipped in ranch dressing from Escape from New York.) Go me! Go free halibut!


Coriander-Crusted Halibut With Arugula Rice
This just makes enough for one person, because I only got one piece of free halibut.

Ingredients:

• one halibut filet, about 6 oz.
• about 2 tsp crushed coriander seeds (I did it in the coffee grinder, but mortar+pestle or big knife+perseverance work as well)
• about 1 cup roughly chopped arugula leaves
• about 1 cup cooked rice
• 1 small shallot or garlic clove, minced
• salt
• couple tsp olive oil

Method:

• Rinse the halibut and pat dry with paper towels (VERY IMPORTANT to dry it well.) On the top (non-skin side, if your filet has skin like mine did) press the coriander seeds all over. Sprinkle with salt and set aside.
• Put about 1 tsp oil in a nonstick saute pan over high heat. When hot, add shallot or garlic and arugula. Cook, stirring, about 20 seconds. Add rice and season with salt. Cook a couple minutes until heated through. Remove to plate and wipe out pan with paper towels.
• Heat 1 tsp olive oil to VERY hot, like really super crazy hot. OK so maybe not really super crazy hot but hotter than you think. Smokin' hot is the term, I believe.
• Add halibut, coriander side down and cook about 1 minute.
• Flip over and cook on other side about 1 minute.
• If not cooked through, cover halibut with a lid and cook about 1 more minute.
• Remove and lay on top of rice. Serve with orange or lemon slice to squeeze over before eating.