Halibut, also known as the “steak of seafood,” has a distinct flavor and flaky texture. Plus, it is rich in nutrients that are good for your heart health and protects you from cardiovascular diseases.
It’s a perfect meal for those who love seafood. The best thing is that you can also make a spicy and juicy halibut recipe in your air fryer.
With a handful of ingredients, you can make tender halibut for a protein pack lunch in the air fryer within 10 minutes.
I’ll give you a detailed recipe and discuss many FAQs in this article. Let’s get started!
How To Make Halibut in an Air fryer?
To make this simple yet delicious fish, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- 2 halibut fillets, both weighing around 6 ounces.
- 1 tbsp olive oil; you can also use canola oil as it doesn’t overpower the fish’s original taste.
- 1 tbsp hot sauce; feel free to swipe it with cayenne powder for a more spicy touch.
- 1 tsp paprika; optional if you dislike spicy food, add hot sauce and skip paprika.
- 1/2 teaspoon salt for taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper for taste
Cooking Instructions
- Give a mild rinse to each piece of fish. Dry it with a paper towel. Set aside and begin other preparations.
- Add paprika, chili powder, salt, and black pepper to a small bowl and mix well to make a spice mixture.
- Coat both sides of the fillet with a spray or brush of olive oil. Next, mix it in a bowl with the spice mixture.
- Place the seasoned halibut in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Do not overfill the basket. I prefer preparing 2 fillets at a time.
- Set the air fryer to 350 F and air fry the fish for 5-6 minutes or until it becomes golden brown.
- Use a fork to check if the food is done; the fish should flake when appropriately cooked.
There are some key points to keep in mind while making air-fried halibut.
The center of the air-fried halibut should be opaque, not pinkish.
Moreover, the internal temperature of the fish should be 130–135°F for a perfect medium. You can also cook at 200 for rare and 250 for medium rare. Cooking times might vary based on the thickness of the fish.
Nutrition Information
A 6-ounce serving of air-fried halibut contains 245 kcal. I have listed the nutrient breakdown in the table below:
| Nutrients | Amount (g/mg/DV) |
| Carbohydrates | 0.2g |
| Proteins | 41.3g |
| Fat | 8.2g |
| Fiber | 0.1g |
| Vitamin A | 2.2% DV |
| Vitamin C | 0.1% DV |
| Calcium | 1.5% DV |
| Iron | 3.1% DV |
The nutrition information differs with the serving sizes.
How to Make the Dry Rub For Air fried Halibut?
Here are the details regarding the recipe for dry rub air-fried halibut fish.
Mix celery, salt, garlic, ginger, paprika, and dry mustard in a medium bowl. You can add allspice, nutmeg, and black pepper for hints and notes of earthiness. You can also add cayenne pepper if you like spicy food.
Make sure to use fresh spice for the rub. Add the mixture to an airtight jar, mark the date on it and store it in the pantry for up to a year.
Whenever you crave spicy halibut, apply this dry rub and cook it quickly in the air fryer.
Tips
- Use fresh halibut: Picking the freshest halibut fillets is the key. There should be no odor and no color change.
- The combination of herbs: If you prefer, you can also use fresh herbs, particularly in the summer when they are in season. It’s the best way to add flavor.
- Use parchment paper: To prevent the halibut fillet from sticking to the air fryer basket, use parchment paper or a reusable silicone liner.
What Should We Serve with Halibut?
- Serving white fish with rice and lemon wedges is one of my favorite combinations. Sprinkle chopped green onion or fresh parsley on top. It adds more color to your fish. I like to have halibut for dinner; you can have it for lunch too.
- For a traditional serving, you can add potato balls or french fries to your plate. Garden salads work wonders too! You can serve it with a tangy sauce and green veggies as well.
All in all, it’s a delicious low-carb dinner choice for people who’re following the keto diet.
Can We Use Frozen Halibut for this Recipe?
Yes, you can put frozen fish in the air fryer basket. Air fryers are excellent for frozen items. I prefer to use fresh ingredients, but for a quick recipe, frozen fish also works!
The temperature would stay the same; you only need to increase the cooking time by 3 to 5 minutes. It may vary depending on the thickness of your halibut fish.
How To Cook Halibut Perfectly?
You can test your fish by gently twisting it at an angle with a fork at the thickest part of it. When the fish is done, it flakes easily and loses its translucent or raw aspect.
Moreover, you can fry it in a pan for a few minutes before putting it in the air fryer. Use 2 tbsp butter for better skin texture. Pan-fried fillets of fish are cooked effectively in the air fryer.
Halibut is known for drying out quickly if cooked for too long. So make sure not to overcook the fish and keep the internal temperature in check.
Cooking halibut to an internal temperature of 130 to 135 F ensures thorough cooking. If you cook the fish to its internal temperature of more than 135, it will become dry and sticky.
Can Halibut be Overcooked in the Air fryer?
Yes, halibut can be overcooked quickly. A little negligence can lead to overcooking because it is lean compared to other flatfish species.
An overcooked fillet becomes so tough and rubbery that you may even need to use a knife to cut it.
Don’t steam them on parchment paper so they will maintain moisture and be protected from your air fryer or stove abrasive heat. Moreover, always rinse your halibut before cooking.
Rinsing helps with odor, and it tastes much better after cooking.
Is It Safe To Cook Fish In Air Fryer?
Air fryers have made our lives easier. It can cook frozen or fresh fish; the dish will taste as if it came from your favorite seafood restaurant.
Halibut can stick to air fryer baskets due to its low-fat content. A generous coat of oil on the basket can prevent it from sticking. Use oil with a high smoking point to cook halibut in the air fryer.
Cooking time for fish varies in an air fryer.
- Whitefish takes 10–12 minutes to cook at 400°F.
- Scallops with shrimp take 8 minutes at 375°F.
- Salmon should be fried at 400°F for 5-7 minutes.
You might need to cook frozen seafood for 2 to 5 minutes longer if you’re air-frying it.
Here’s a video about how to cook perfect halibut in the air fryer.
How Long Should You Cook Halibut In An Air Fryer?
You can air fry it for around 10 minutes at 350°F!
My normal advice for fish is to avoid making too many, but this one comes back to life remarkably well. If you have any leftover cooked halibut, refrigerate it in a closed container for up to two days.
Why Are You Going To Love It?
This is a winner all around, from the crispy cracker-filled shell to the incredibly easy prep and cooking process.
Even the kids ate it, and there are normally a few that dislike fish depending on the cooking and the child. (Also, what time of day it is and how they are feeling.)
If you don’t have halibut, you can substitute any firm whitefish for it. I’m really looking forward to trying it with lingcod, rockfish, and walleye.
Final Thoughts
To conclude, I’d like to say:
- Halibut has a delicate texture and a mild flavor. It’s a source of omega-3 fatty acids and protein.
- Air-fried halibut is an excellent addition to a healthy diet. They’re suitable for a traditional family dinner.
- It has the benefit of having fewer calories and healthy fat.
- The drawback is that it often contains less beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, DHA, and EPA than salmon or Mahi Mahi fish.
- You can serve salad and lemon rice alongside halibut fish. Plus, Italian seasoning, cajun spice, or lemon pepper can provide flavor to fish with little to no extra calories.