Pistachio-Crusted Arctic Char Recipe

Pistachio-Crusted Arctic Char Recipe

  • 1 cup shelled pistachios (not dyed red; 4 ounces)
  • 1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves
  • 2 tablespoons minced shallot
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 6 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 6 pieces arctic char fillet (1 to 1 1/4 inches thick) with skin (6 ounces each)
  • 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil
  1. Coarsely chop pistachios in a food processor, then add basil, shallot, salt, pepper, and 6 tablespoons butter and purée until mixture forms a paste.
  2. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  3. Remove any bones from fish with tweezers and pat fish dry.
  4. Heat oil and remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then brown skin sides of fillets in 2 batches, 3 to 4 minutes per batch. Transfer fillets as browned, skin sides down, to a lightly oiled shallow baking pan (1 inch deep).
  5. Divide pistachio paste among fillet pieces and spread evenly in a 1/8-inch-thick layer over top of each.
  6. Bake fillets in middle of oven until just cooked through, 9 to 11 minutes.
Recipe of the Day|