This crispy, golden-brown Walnut Crusted Halibut is bathing in a fragrant, slightly spicy red curry sauce, over a bed of fresh baby spinach. It’s an impressive seafood recipe that’s super easy to make!

A beautiful piece of golden crusted halibut fillet in a black bowl with a vibrant red curry sauce at the bottom of the bowl, and white steamed rice and spinach on the side.

Halibut is one of my all time favorite fish, and not because you can say that corny joke every time you cook with it! Halibut has a wonderful flaky texture that works with about any preparation.

A piece of halibut fillet on a wooden cutting board with a knife, fresh herbs, and garlic cloves on the side.

What kind of fish is halibut?

Halibut is a mild, white fish, native to the North Pacific ocean. Halibut is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, containing lots of micro-nutrients and is a high-quality source of protein.
This lean fish has a mild, sweet tasting white flesh, similar to cod fish. It’s thicker and firmer than cod, therefore it holds up well when cooking.

Is halibut sustainable?

Halibut carrying the MSC label is certified as “sustainable.” MSC labelled halibut comes from a fishery that has been independently assessed to the MSC Fisheries Standard.

Ingredients on a white board for making walnut crusted halibut, including bread crumbs, coconut milk, walnuts, and red curry paste.

Ingredients for making walnut crusted halibut

Besides the fresh halibut, here are some of the other ingredients needed to make this dish:

Panko bread crumbs
Lime
Shallots
Red curry paste
Green onions
Garlic
Coconut milk
Walnuts
Cilantro

Chopped walnuts in a food processor with pieces of walnuts on a white board.

Finely chopped walnuts are the crust for this beautiful fish. It’s so easy to get the perfect texture by pulsing the walnuts in a food processor.

A woman's hand dredging a piece of halibut into panko bread crumbs, with a bowl of whisked eggs on the side.

Steps to make the walnut crusted halibut

Dredge the halibut into a shallow dish of three beaten eggs, then dredge into the Panko-walnut mixture making sure to coat the fish well on all sides.

Two pieces of golden brown halibut fillets being seared in a stainless steel frying pan.

2. Add a tablespoon of canola oil to a heavy, oven-proof skillet. Sear the halibut fillets over medium-high heat until golden-brown on all sides (about 2 minutes each side).

3. Transfer the pan into a heated oven (at 375 degrees) for another 8-10 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

4. Meanwhile, make the broth while the fish is baking in the oven.

Ingredients for making the broth:

shallots
garlic cloves
red curry paste
sambal oelek (Thai chili pepper)
low-sodium chicken broth
coconut milk
fresh lime juice

To plate, spoon some broth at the bottom of a shallow bowl. Place the baby spinach over the broth, the halibut fillet on top of the spinach, and serve with a side of steamed white rice. YUM!

This Asian-inspired recipe has won the hearts (and tummies) of my family and friends. It’s a complete dish with steamed rice on the side. You will not be disappointed with this delicious and easy Walnut Crusted Halibut dish! Bon appetit!

Tips and Tricks

Ask your fishmonger to cut thick pieces of halibut fillets so they don’t fall apart when searing and baking.
Use gluten-free Panko bread crumbs as a substitute.
You can use baby bok choy, or baby kale as a substitute for the spinach. Whatever you have on hand!
Brown rice vs. white rice is also a nice accompaniment to this dish.
You can freeze any leftover broth for up to three months and use for another dish!

Want more recipes like this Walnut Crusted Halibut?

If you liked this fish recipe, your going to want these fish recipes too!

Update Notes: This post was originally published on January 6, 2016, but was republished with slight text changes and additions, like step-by-step instructions and tips in September 2021.