Macadamia Crusted Halibut with Strawberry Salsa is an amazing halibut recipe to cook when looking for a dairy free dinner recipe for Valentine’s Day or any other weeknight dinner.
Made with only a few simple ingredients this halibut recipe is so versatile and can be served in so many ways!
Halibut recipe
Halibut is a delicious white fish with a mild flavor and flaky texture. It’s so good that there really is no wrong way to go when looking for halibut recipes. But this pan fried halibut recipe is quick and easy with amazing flavor from the macadamia crust!
To make this simple nut crusted white fish press on an easy crust of only chopped nuts and egg whites. Then pan fry and bake to finish.
Or to make it even easier you can also make baked halibut with macadamia nut crusted with the few simple changes noted below.
Ingredients
- Halibut – skinless halibut fillets. Or substitute mahi mahi, cod or other white fish. You can even substitute salmon if you’d prefer. Or you can use skin on fillets and simply coat one side with the nut mixture, frying only the crusted side and flipping over before baking.
- Macadamia nuts – or substitute equal amount of almond, walnuts, pecan, etc.
- Egg white – to brush on the fish and help the macadamia coating stick to the fish. You can substitute a little coconut milk or dijon mustard instead.
- Canola oil – for frying
- Cayenne powder – to give the halibut a little kick.
- Salt and pepper – to season the fish before and after frying.
- Panko breadcrumbs – for extra crunch and crispiness in the coating. You can even stir in a little flaked coconut for extra tropical flavor.
- Strawberry salsa – or serve with another tropical flavored fruit salsa like mango salsa. Try it with pico de gallo, Chimichurri Verde Sauce, coconut curry sauce or even your favorite homemade dressing recipe like Creamy Lemon Dressing.
Step by step instructions
- Make Strawberry Salsa up to three days in advance and refrigerate while the flavors meld.
- Season halibut with salt and pepper and cayenne pepper powder.
- Preheat oven to 400 degree fahrenheit.
- And prepare ingredients. Lightly whisk egg whites with a fork or a small whisk and chop nuts. Combine chopped nuts with panko and shredded coconut, if using.
- Brush a thin layer of egg whites onto each halibut fillet and coat on both sides with nut mixture, pressing to adhere.
- Heat a large cast iron skillet or other large skillet over medium heat. Add a drizzle of oil and place fillets in pan, cooking in batches, if needed to avoid crowding.
- Cook halibut to sear, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook the other side then place the skillet in preheated oven.
- Bake to continue cooking until opaque and cooked through.
- Serve topped with Strawberry Salsa.
- Enjoy!
To make in the oven
To bake halibut crusted with macadamia nuts in the oven simply place on a large baking sheet after coating and bake in preheated oven, skipping the pan fry.
How to serve
Serve macadamia nut crusted fish as shown with Strawberry Salsa or one of the other options for serving sauces above.
Serve over basmati or jasmine rice and sauteed greens. Or serve Macadamia Crusted Halibut in fish tacos.
Ingredients
Strawberry Salsa
- 1 pint strawberries hulled and diced
- ½ large english cucumber diced
- 3 medium scallions whites and greens, sliced
- 2 teaspoons lime juice
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves sliced
- salt
- pepper
Macadamia Crusted Halibut
- 2 pounds halibut fillets about 4 portions
- 1.5 cups macadamia nuts chopped
- 2 large egg whites
- pinch cayenne
- 4 tablespoons canola oil
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Make Strawberry Salsa by combining sliced scallion, minced jalapeno, diced cucumber and strawberries with lime juice and basil ribbons. Season with salt and pepper and refrigerate for up to three days.
- When ready to serve season halibut with salt and pepper and cayenne pepper powder.
- Preheat oven to 400 degree fahrenheit.
- Lightly whisk egg whites with a fork or a small whisk. Combine chopped macadamia nuts with panko and shredded coconut, if using.
- Brush a thin layer of egg whites onto each halibut fillet and coat on both sides with nut mixture, pressing to adhere.
- Heat a large cast iron skillet or other large skillet over medium heat. Add a drizzle of oil and place fillets in pan, cooking in batches, if needed to avoid crowding.
- Cook halibut to sear, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook the other side then place the skillet in preheated oven. Bake to continue cooking until opaque and cooked through. Transferring to oven safe dish, if your stovetop pan is not oven safe.
- Serve Macadamia Crusted Halibut topped with Strawberry Salsa over a bed of rice or sauteed greens.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
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