Spiced Almond Crusted Halibut with Pumpkin Sweet Potato Puree

This spiced almond crusted halibut with pumpkin sweet potato puree was pure decadence. The flakey halibut is crusted with toasted Marcona almonds and sits atop a silky pumpkin sweet potato puree. You’ll be licking your plates and asking for seconds!

Last week, I was in a communications training class and at one point during the class we were to take a personality style test. There was no wrong or right answers, it was purely to see what kind of work personality style you’re most like. Not shocking or surprising at all, my personality style was competitive.

I love challenges and getting my creative juices flowing!

I love almond-crusted anything on fish so I went to find halibut but most grocery stores don’t have fresh halibut this time of year because it’s not in season so I had to buy frozen (you can also use cod). I then pureed sweet potatoes, pumpkin puree, and cinnamon together to create this incredibly silky puree that the halibut sat on. Seriously, it was SO good and the flavors were perfect.

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Spiced Almond Crusted Halibut with Pumpkin Sweet Potato Puree

This spiced almond crusted halibut with pumpkin sweet potato puree was pure decadence. The flakey halibut is crusted with toasted Marcona almonds and sits atop a silky pumpkin sweet potato puree.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 40 mins

Course: Main Entree, Seafood

Servings (adjustable, but please note that results, timing, and cookware may vary when adjusting servings): 2

Author: Julie Wampler

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Ingredients

• 1 pound total halibut or cod filets (you'll need two filets so 1/2 pound each)
• 4 oz Marcona almonds, roughly crushed/chopped
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 tbsp McCormick Mediterranean Sea Salt

For the pumpkin sweet potato puree

• 2 medium sweet potatoes, cubed
• 4 tbsp pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 1/8 tsp McCormick Saigon Cinnamon

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Lightly grease the bottom. Set aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the sweet potatoes to the pot. Cook until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender, drain, and add into the jar of a blender. Add the pumpkin puree, butter, and cinnamon. Remove the center plastic cover of the blender lid and place a kitchen towel over it to let steam escape. While holding the lid and kitchen towel down, puree the mixture until completely smooth. If the mixture gets stuck, you can add a bit of water to it; starting with 1 tbsp. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a food processor, add the Marcona almonds (or Diamond sliced almonds) and lightly pulse until they're crushed into smaller pieces. Pour all the almonds into a shallow dish and add the Mediterranean sea salt and whisk to distribute and incorporate together.
• In another shallow dish, whisk together buttermilk and egg. Place the top of the halibut or cod filets in buttermilk mixture and let it sit for 15 seconds. Gently transfer the buttermilk-coated side of the filet to the almond-sea salt mixture. Gently press down on the filet to adhere the almonds and sea salt.
• Gently transfer the filet to the prepared baking sheet, almond-crusted side up. Repeat with the other filet.
• Bake fish for 20 minutes (this will heavily depend on how thick your filets are), or until the top of the crust is golden brown. You might need to put it under the broiler for 3 minutes to deepen the color, if desired.
• To plate, add a large spoonful of pumpkin sweet potato puree to the bottom of a plate then place the halibut on top.
• Serve immediately.
• The pumpkin sweet potato puree can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. You may find a variety of other uses for this puree, such as using it with steak or using this as a substitute for mayo on a sandwich.