Osso Buco-Style Halibut and Whipped Potatoes w/ Herbs

Osso buco is a traditional Italian dish of veal shanks simmered in a pungent tomato sauce and topped with gremolata. Ming Tsai's clever version is made with fish.

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ medium onion, chopped
• ¾ cup chopped celery
• ¾ cup chopped peeled carrot
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 cup white wine
• 4 cups chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth
• 1 cup crushed tomatoes in puree (from 15-ounce can)
• ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/3 cup chopped lemongrass* (from about 3 stalks)
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 4 fresh thyme sprigs
• 1 bay leaf

• 6 5-ounce halibut fillets
• Cayenne pepper
• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons (¼ stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

Whipped Potatoes with Herbs

Gremolata

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, celery, carrot and garlic; sauté until brown, about 10 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook 2 minutes. Add white wine and simmer until liquid is reduced by half, scraping up browned bits, about 5 minutes. Add next 7 ingredients; simmer until mixture is reduced to 3 cups, about 50 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Season sauce with salt and pepper.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Sprinkle halibut with salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add fish to skillet and cook until brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer fish to plate. Pour off oil from skillet. Reduce heat to low. Add balsamic vinegar to skillet; simmer 1 minute. Add sauce. Whisk in butter. Season with salt and pepper. Pour sauce into 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Place fish atop sauce in dish. Bake until fish is opaque in center, about 10 minutes.

Divide potatoes among 6 plates. Top potatoes with fish and sauce. Sprinkle with Gremolata and serve immediately.

* Available at Asian markets and in the produce section of some supermarkets.

Makes 6 servings.