Why This Recipe Works

Halibut puttanesca—a dish of mild fish simmered in a tomato sauce that's punched up with spicy pepper flakes, garlic, briny olives and capers, and plenty of savory anchovies—is perfect for bringing bold, exciting flavors to a weeknight dinner. For our easy-to-make version, we skipped pan-searing the fish, which often causes the fragile fillets to stick to the pan and flake apart. Instead we sautéed shallot, garlic, anchovies, oregano, and red pepper flakes in the skillet; added canned tomatoes; and then nestled the halibut fillets into the pan of sauce. Cooking on the stovetop worked, but we found it easier to maintain an even, gentle heat (so as not to overcook the fish) by moving the skillet to the oven. The tomato sauce slowly reduced as it cooked, concentrating its flavor. And this gentle approach made for halibut that not only held its shape but also stayed moist. A mixture of kalamata olives and capers added pops of savory saltiness to the sauce. As for the anchovies, our tasters clamored for more, so we slowly added them, test by test, until we'd used the whole 2-ounce can. It sounds like a lot—and it is—but the anchovies mellow in the sauce and give it an incredible depth of flavor. A shower of parsley before serving added freshness and color to this bold, simple supper.

Before You Begin

This may seem like a lot of anchovies, and it is, but their flavor mellows as they cook. Note that we do not drain the canned tomatoes before adding them to the sauce. One 2-ounce can of anchovies equals roughly 1½ tablespoons once chopped. You can substitute other types of white fish, such as cod, haddock, and hake, for the halibut, if desired. Serve with crusty bread.

Instructions

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Sprinkle halibut with salt and pepper; set aside. Add oil, shallot, garlic, anchovies, oregano, and pepper flakes to 12-inch ovensafe nonstick skillet and cook over medium-low heat until fragrant and shallot softens, about 4 minutes.

Stir in tomatoes and their juice, olives, and capers. Nestle halibut into sauce and bring to simmer over medium-high heat. Transfer skillet to oven and bake until fish registers 135 degrees, 13 to 16 minutes.

Using spatula, transfer halibut to platter. Stir sauce to recombine, then spoon over halibut. Sprinkle with parsley and drizzle with extra oil. Serve.