Halibut in a Sour Cream Sauce with Buttery Onions (or Salmon)

When fish is steamed in a pouch, it comes out perfectly cooked, tender and delicious! This recipe utilizes the fragrant moisture and natural sweetness of the onions to permeate the fish, giving it wonderful flavor. You can use any type of fish that you like, but I suggest a “meaty” fish, such as halibut, salmon, swordfish or tuna steaks, as they work particularly well with this cooking technique.

Halibut in a Sour Cream Sauce with Buttery Onions

Makes 2 servings

1 tablespoon cold butter, cut into 4 thin slices

2 (1/4”) onion slices from a large onion (or 4 slices from a small onion)

2 (5 oz.) halibut steaks, or fish of your choice

1/4 cup mayonnaise 

1/4 cup sour cream

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

2 tablespoons sliced almonds, coarsely chopped

2 tablespoons shredded or grated Parmesan cheese 

1. Place each onion slice on a 12” or 14” square of heavy duty foil (or a double thickness of regular foil). Place two slices of cold butter on top of each onion. Season the fish with salt and pepper on both sides and place one piece of fish on top of each onion.

2. In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, sour cream and seasonings. Set aside a couple of tablespoons for serving. Divide the remaining sauce between the two pieces of fish and spread to cover. Sprinkle each with one tablespoon of the almonds and one tablespoon of Parmesan cheese. Fold the foil around each piece of fish, sealing tightly, to create two puffed pouches, allowing for a little space over the fish so the steam can circulate and the sauce won’t be disturbed during cooking. (This step can be done ahead and the pouches refrigerated, if desired. Before cooking, remove the pouches from the refrigerator and allow to sit at room temperature for at least 20 minutes.)

3. Grill Method: Grill, covered, over indirect medium heat for 15-20 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork and the internal temperature of the fish reaches 135 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Oven Method: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place foil pouches on a baking sheet and bake for 22-24 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork and the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees.

5. If desired, at the end of cooking, you can open the top of each pouch and broil for a few minutes until the almonds turn golden brown and the Parmesan cheese bubbles. With a spatula, carefully remove the onion and the fish onto serving plates. Drizzle the accumulated liquid from the pouch over the top of the fish and serve immediately. (I like to serve this over sautéed spinach.) Serve the reserved sour cream sauce on the side.

Nutritional Information per serving (made with halibut): 565 calories, 7.2 g carbohydrate (1.8 g dietary fiber, 2 g sugars), 40 g total fat (11.9 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 98 mg cholesterol, 536 mg sodium, 213.6 mg calcium, 924 mg potassium, 2 mg iron, 192 ug Vit A, 3 mg Vit C, 42.5 g protein. Net carbs per serving: 5.4 grams

Photo and recipe by Kathy Sheehan, copyright 2020

All rights reserved. Please do not duplicate without the author’s permission.