Pan-Seared Halibut with Lemon Relish

This lemon relish is easy to make and packs a lot of flavor. Try it with other white-fleshed fish, grilled shrimp, or salmon.

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients: For the relish

1 lemon, quartered (about ¾ cup)
2 small shallots, thinly sliced into rings (about ¼ cup)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup pitted, coarsely chopped green olives, such as Castelvetrano
2 tablespoons capers, rinsed and patted dry
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
¾ cup coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley

Ingredients: For the halibut

1½ pounds skinless halibut fillet, cut into 4 pieces
½ teaspoon fennel seed, freshly ground
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Instructions:

To make the relish, remove the pithy ends of the lemon quarters, and thinly slice the rest, discarding any seeds
Add the lemon slices to a bowl along with the shallots and salt. Cover, and set aside for 45 minutes or until the lemons release some of their juice. Add the olives, capers, pepper flakes, and the cup of oil. To allow the flavors to develop fully, set the relish aside to marinate for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
Pat the halibut dry with a paper towel. In a small bowl, combine the fennel seed, salt, and pepper, and sprinkle it all over the halibut. In a nonstick skillet or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat, heat the oil until it shimmers
Add the halibut, and cook, undisturbed, until browned on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Flip, add the butter to the pan, and reduce the temperature to medium. Continue to cook, basting the halibut with the butter, for 2 minutes, or until the fish is opaque in the center.
Stir the parsley into the relish, spoon the relish over each piece of fish, and serve immediately.

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Recipes reprinted from The Lemon Cookbook: 50 Sweet & Savory Recipes to Brighten Every Meal. Copyright © 2015 by Ellen Jackson. Photos by John Valls. Published by Sasquatch Books. For more lemon-inspired recipes, pick up your own copy of The Lemon Cookbook on Amazon.com.