Ever wondered why halibut is so good? We have. Halibut is delicious because of its mild flavor and naturally sweet notes. It’s a plump fish that tastes great with bolder flavors. We’ve put together a list of delicious vegetables that go well with halibut.
Halibut is a flatfish that is typically enjoyed in the culinary scene. When fish comes into mind at restaurants or creating a menu, we almost always think of salmon and tuna. These kinds of fish are widely caught all around the world. However, there are other species of fish that are packed with flavor and almost as popular as those two kinds of fish.
Halibut tastes sweet and mild. It almost tastes like tilapia and it is perfect with stronger and bolder flavors like pesto, acid (like lemon, tomato, and lime), and herbs (like basil, thyme, and dill).
This white fish can grow up to 8 feet long and it is often fish for sport or commercial use. Halibut is a very special kind of fish that is quite easy to work with. You can add so much flavor into it. We’ve come up with a list of vegetables that would go deliciously well with this white meat flatfish.
Table of Contents
1. Cauliflower
Halibut has a mild and sweet flavor that you can pair with bolder flavors. We like our halibut baked and our side dish that comes with it, au gratin. Cauliflower is one delicious and mild tasting vegetable that tastes great au gratin with fish. Potatoes are typically served au gratin so serving cauliflower as the base for something au gratin kind of makes things more interesting. Instead of something heavy and starchy, you get something lighter and more flavorful.
2. French Beans
French beans are typically served as a side dish to many kinds of meals with a reason. French beans look delicate, taste delicate and add a crunch to any kind of meal. French beans could be prepared in many different ways like steaming, blanching, baking, or even frying. With halibut, we like our French beans lightly sauteed in butter with a mild hint of garlic and lemon.
3. Potatoes
Potatoes always make a good starchy side to fish. With halibut, we like our potatoes a little bit more milder in texture and flavor. We suggest that you serve a simple potato salad with a yogurt base instead of mayonnaise. Instead of something richer and creamier, you get a base with a sour base that tastes a lot healthier. You’re free to add the usuals to the potato salad that a perfectly boiled egg, some fresh onions, and a lot of crispy bacon.
4. Tomatoes
We’re not just talking about any kind of tomatoes here. With halibut and other fish for that matter, we like getting a little more creative with the flavor and presentation. A special fish deserves a special side. Stuff extra large tomatoes with couscous and some fresh cheese then broil it. Stuffed tomatoes are absolutely delicious. The acidity from the tomato is good enough to add to the fish and the presence of the cheese is an added bonus to the meal.
5. Capsicum
Another stuffable and very delicious vegetable side that would go so well with halibut are stuffed capsicums. Capsicum is the bigger version of bell peppers and they come in very large sizes. These are the types of bell peppers that you can stuff and broil with breadcrumbs. Stuff the capsium with a quinoa and light meat stuffing and cover it with Parmesan breadcrumbs. The sweetness from the capsicums seeps in the quinoa stuffing and it compliments the flavor of the halibut dish all in all.
6. Cabbage
Coleslaw goes very well not just with meat but with fish too. However, the coleslaw for the fish needs to be a little bit more delicate just like the meat. We like using a lighter mayonnaise dressing with the cabbage for this slaw and adding a flavor like pineapple. The sweetness of the pineapple actually compliments the delicate flavor of the fish and it balances well with the flavor of the mayonnaise and cabbage.
7. Carrots
If you want to go classic, serve your halibut with buttered carrots. There’s nothing like a side of buttered carrots to empower the sweet flavor of fish. Carrots are easily likeable, easy to prepare and it adds so much character to the meal in flavor and texture. If you find buttered carrots a little too simple, you can opt to glaze your carrots with a balsamic reduction and bake it. The sweet and sour flavor will definitely shine through the halibut meal.
8. Artichokes
Artichokes are actually very pretty flowers that you often see jarred in grocery stores. However, we do love its more natural state. We like preparing artichokes the Roman way by just deep frying them and serving them with some prosciutto and fresh mozzarella. This way, it makes an enjoyable side dish with the halibut from the saltiness of the prosciutto and delicate flavor of the cheese. If you don’t have access to fresh artichokes, you can make an artichoke salad and it would still taste amazing with the halibut.
9. Butternut Squash
We love serving autumn salads with halibut. For some reason, autumn flavors just make sense with the fish. We suggest roasted slices of butternut squash and mixing it with some fresh greens and slivers of naked orange. Drizzle this salad with some orange vinaigrette for added orange flavor. The butternut squash will harmonize with these flavors and shine through with the halibut.
10. Bok Choy
Bok choy might not be a typical kind of vegetable to serve with fish. However, if you are to prepare your halibut Asian style, bok choy would make a great addition to the meal. Simply steam the bok choy or stir fry it in garlic, onion, and oysters sauce. Add a little spritz of lemon and you’re good to go.
