Halibut Topped with Oven-Dried Tomatoes, Shiitakes and Broccoli Rabe
The New York Times Magazine, September 4, 1994
Molly O'Neill

Yield: 4 servings

8 cups broccoli rabe, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 tsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
3 cups stemmed and sliced shiitake mushrooms
1 cup oven-dried tomatoes (see recipe below), thinly sliced
3 tsp. salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
4 halibut steaks (6 oz. each)

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the broccoli rabe and blanch for 5 minutes. Drain, refresh under cold running water and set aside. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds. Add mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes. Add broccoli rabe and cook for 3 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in 2 tsp. of salt, pepper to taste and 4 tsp. of lemon juice. Remove from heat and keep warm. Preheat the oven to 400o. Place halibut steaks on a baking sheet and sprinkle with the remaining salt, pepper and lemon juice. Bake until fish is cooked through, about 15 minutes. Place 1 halibut steak on each of 4 plates and top with the vegetables. Serve immediately.

Basic Oven-Dried Tomatoes
Yield: 2 cups

28 medium-size plum tomatoes (about 4 lbs.), cut off end and core, halve lenghtwise
2½ tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp. salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 200o. Using a pastry brush, lightly coat the skin side of each tomato half with olive oil. Place skin side down on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Bake the tomatoes until they shrink to about one-quarter of their original size, about 4 to 6 hours; they should remain soft and juicy. Let the tomatoes cool on the baking sheet. Place in a container and refrigerate.
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