Thai Coconut Curry Halibut With Fresh Sauteed Spinach Recipe 445

Steps:

• In a large saute pan, heat the oil over moderate heat. Add the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the curry paste and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the chicken broth, coconut milk, 1/2 teaspoon salt and simmer until reduced to 2 cups, about 5 minutes.
• Season the halibut with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Arrange the fish in the pan and gently shake the pan so the fish is coated with the sauce. Cover and cook until the fish flakes easily with a fork, about 7 minutes.
• Steam or microwave the baby spinach for 2 minutes.
• Arrange a pile of steamed spinach in the bottom of 4 soup plates. Top with the fish fillets. Stir the cilantro, scallions, and lime juice into the sauce and season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Ladle the sauce over the fish and serve with rice.

Steps:

• In a deep 10-inch skillet heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Use tongs to toss the spinach. Once warm, add in the spinach and allow to begin to "wilt" (the spinach pile will begin to reduce). Once it starts to wilt season with a pinch of kosher salt and coarse black pepper. Remove the wilted spinach to a clean bowl and set aside. Note: I prefer to to make the spinach in a separate cast iron skillet, and the fish in another skillet. I don't mind cleaning two skillets, and I am better able to keep everything hot and ready to serve at the same time. Wipe the skillet out with a paper towel (if using one skillet) and add in the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Reduce the heat to medium and sauté the shallots until slightly golden around the edges. About 5 minutes. Stir in the Thai red curry paste and then pour in 1-1/2 cups of chicken broth, the can of lite coconut milk and a 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt. Stir, bring to a simmer and reduce by half. Note: If using the fresh lemon grass, cut off the root end and trim off the tips. Using the blunt end of a knife, "bruise" the lemon grass by pounding it a bit. Set into the broth to infuse with it's delicious lemony fragrance. Season the fish fillets with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Next place the seasoned, skinless fish fillets into the coconut curry broth and spoon some of the broth over top. Cover the pan and let the fish poach for about 7 to 8 minutes or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Remove the lemongrass, with tongs and toss. Meanwhile combine the chopped cilantro, parsley, sliced green onions and cut the lime in half. Reserve 1/4 cup for garnishing. Divide the spinach among four shallow bowls, top with the fillets. Quickly add the chopped cilantro/parsley/green onion mixture to the coconut curry broth, squeeze in the entire lime, stir and ladle over the fish and spinach. Serve with cooked Jasmine Rice.