Ingredients
– 4 halibut fillets
– 100g butter
– 100g olive oil
– 600g of cockles
– 1 carrot, chopped
– 1 shallot, chopped
– 225ml of white wine
– 1 bay leaf
– 3g of thyme
– 200g of parsley
– 250g of risotto rice
– 1/4 onion, diced
– 1/2 garlic clove, chopped
– 500ml of chicken stock
– chives, chopped
– lemon juice
Method
Begin by preparing the cockles. Heat a pan on the hob and add the cockles and remaining ingredients. Place a lid on the pan and cook until they have opened. Allow to cool, remove the meat from the shells, and strain and reserve the cooking liquid.
For the parsley oil, blanch the parsley for 4 minutes, then immediately drain and refresh in iced water. Squeeze out as much water as possible from the parsley and blend in a Thermomix or blender with the oil. Pass through a sieve to achieve a clear green oil.
To cook the risotto, brown off 15g of the butter slightly in a large pan, then add the rice. Cook until the rice starts to color, then add the onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cookout for 2 minutes, then add the white wine and reduce.
Combine the chicken stock and reserved cockle liquor in a pan and warm. One ladle at a time, gradually adds the liquid, stirring every couple of minutes and allowing the rice to absorb each addition. Repeat until the stock is absorbed and the rice is al dente, then allow to rest for 5 minutes. Note you may not need all the liquid before the rice is cooked; taste the rice periodically until you’re happy with the texture.
Add the cockles to the risotto and stir in the remaining 50g of butter until rich and creamy. Check the seasoning and stir in some lemon juice and chives, then keep warm.
Fry the halibut in a pan for 4 minutes, or until golden brown on the serving side. Turn the fillets over, add a knob of butter to the pan and cook for another minute or so, or until they reach an internal temperature of 42°C. Season the fillets and finish with lemon juice.
To serve, divide the risotto onto plates and place the halibut fillets on top. Garnish with coriander leaves and drizzle with parsley oil before serving.