One Pan Baked Halibut with Spiced Chickpeas and Carrots
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A healthy creative and flavorful recipe for baked halibut. Halibut perfectly baked in one pan on a bed of harissa spiced chickpeas and carrots and topped with pickled onions and fresh herbs. A restaurant-worthy dish that you can easily whip up at home.
This post is sponsored by Vital Choice Wild Seafood and Organics, thank you for supporting the brands that support Abra’s Kitchen. As always all thoughts, opinions, recipes, and musings are my own.
Looking for an exciting new way to prepare the most flavorful Calamari ever? Try this Spicy Two-minute Calamari Recipe to learn how.
I am buzzing with excitement to kick off the first-ever “theme week” on Abra’s Kitchen. My friends, welcome to Seafood Week
#AKSeafoodWeek 2019
Every day for the next week I will be sharing a healthy AND delicious seafood recipe that I know you will love!
Growing up in an Italian family (well… Italian, Hungarian, Russian, etc.) we celebrated Christmas Eve with the feast of the seven fishes. I remember trying my first raw oyster at 7 years old (and promptly spitting it down the sink) and looking forward to crab legs, shrimp, some kind of baked fish, and always a seafood-centric pasta.
Seafood week is a celebration of all the seafood dishes I have come to expect and crave during the holidays and also new recipes that I have developed over the last few months.
Let’s dive in with this beautiful flaky baked halibut with spiced chickpeas and carrots topped with pickled onions and fresh parsley. YUM!
This would be a gorgeous main dish on a holiday table or a simple quick meal any night of the week.
Ingredients
This is not the complete list but a highlight of the main ingredients used to make this recipe
- Halibut – I used halibut cheeks in this recipe and also tested the recipe using halibut filets. Ideally, you will need skinless/boneless halibut in 4-6 pieces.
- Chickpeas – One can of chickpeas, rinse them well!
- Carrots
- Harissa Paste – Harissa is a North African hot chili pepper paste. It is a blend of various red peppers, spices, and garlic. You should be able to buy harissa at most grocery stores in the international aisle or online (I love the Entube Organic brand) if you can’t find harissa you can use a pinch of crushed red pepper and 1 tbsp of tomato paste, or if you don’t like spicy you can just use extra garlic and a squeeze of tomato paste.
- Onion, garlic, parsley
Tools
How to Make
Simply saute chickpeas, carrots, onions, and garlic with harissa paste, nestle your fish into that glorious mixture and then bake.
Do not skip the pickled onions and fresh parsley! I promise you a tangy bite of onion and fresh parsley is the perfect counterpart to the spicy chickpeas and rich halibut.
Oven Instructions
I know sometimes cooking seafood can feel intimidating, or at least that’s what I’ve heard from nutrition and cooking clients over the years, but the truth is that once you learn a few simple cooking techniques you can repeat them over and over again.
For this recipe, you will create that flavorful spicy chickpea and carrot saute and then nestle the halibut filets on top.
Place in a 300° oven for 8-15 minutes, cooking time varies depending on the thickness of the fish. Test it at 8 minutes, if the fish is no longer see-through and is firm to the touch it is ready.
You can use this same method (300° for 8-15 minutes) without the chickpea/carrot mixture. Try sauteing broccoli or cauliflower, or just placing the fish by itself in the oven.
Expert Tips
Season your fish:
No matter what you serve with your fish you always want to make sure to season the fish well before cooking. Just simple salt and pepper will do, but be generous.
FAQ
Yes, you can substitute just about any white fish for halibut in this recipe. Halibut is a thicker meatier fish with a mild flavor that pairs quite well with bold flavors like spicy chili paste. Any thicker dense fish would work in place of halibut like cod, or Chilean sea bass.
Ok friends, I cannot wait to see your seafood creations this week! I know you will absolutely love this luscious baked halibut with spicy chickpeas and carrots.
If you make this recipe or any of the #AKSeafoodWeek recipes be sure to tag me on Instagram @abrapappa with the hashtag #AKSeafoodWeek
Check out my healthy Christmas recipes and anti-inflammatory recipes roundups for more healthy dishes!
You can also check out my Best Meat Subscription & Delivery Boxes review to find ingredients to order for this recipe.
Halibut with Spiced Chickpeas and Carrots
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb. fresh halibut filets skinned, and cut into 4 portions
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small red onion chopped (reserve 1/4 cup for pickled onion)
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 3 large carrots sliced
- 13.5 ounce can of chickpeas
- 1 tbsp harissa paste
- 1/4 cup chicken stock
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Pickled Onion
- 1/4 red onion (chopped, reserved from above)
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°
- In a small bowl combine 1/4 cup red onion, red wine vinegar, salt, and sugar stir well to combine and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat saute remaining onion, garlic, and carrots in olive oil for 4 minutes. Add salt and pepper, stir well to combine.
- Add chickpeas, harissa paste, and chicken stock. Using a wooden spoon stir the harissa paste into the chicken stock. Bring to a low simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Season the halibut well with salt and pepper, and cut into 4-6 portions. Nestle the halibut into the chickpea mixture and bake for 8-15 minutes.
- The halibut is done when it is no longer opaque and is firm to the touch, a thinner piece will take closer to 8 minutes while a thicker piece will take closer to 15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and top with chopped fresh parsley and reserved pickled onion.
Nutrition
Meet Abra Pappa, MS, CNS, LDN
Abra is a licensed nutritionist, seasoned home cook, and forever flavor-chaser. She’s spent more than two decades exploring the connection between food and health—and just as long obsessing over what makes something truly delicious. Abra’s Kitchen is where those two loves meet, with recipes that celebrate vegetables, follow the seasons, and make you excited to cook.
The harissa and chickpeas make me imagine the flavors of Morocco. This dish takes halibut to the next level.