Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 cup Herb Vinaigrette, recipe follows
• 1 small shallot, peeled and finely diced
• 3 cups Court Bouillon, recipe follows
• 4 (8-ounce) halibut steaks, skin on
• Fine sea salt and freshly ground white pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon leaves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
• 2 tablespoons fresh chervil

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Instructions

1. Place mustard in a medium mixing bowl, and slowly whisk in Herb Vinaigrette. Add shallots. Transfer to a small saucepan, and set aside.
2. In a 10-inch saucepan over high heat, bring court bouillon to a boil. Season both sides of the halibut with salt and pepper. Add halibut to the pot, and adjust the heat until the liquid simmers. Poach until a cake tester inserted into the center of the halibut meets little resistance and the cake tester, when left in the fish for 5 seconds, is just warm when touched to your lip, about 5 to 6 minutes. The halibut will be rare (thinner steaks will poach in less time). Transfer the steaks to a warm plate, and set aside.
3. Add the herbs to the vinaigrette, and warm over low heat. Remove the skin from the halibut, and place 1 steak in the center of each plate. Spoon the vinaigrette over and around the fish. Serve immediately.
4. Herb Vinaigrette:
5. 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
6. 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
7. 2 pinches freshly ground white pepper
8. 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
9. 3 tablespoons sherry vinegar
10. 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
11. 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon corn oil
12. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together mustard, salt, pepper, red wine vinegar, and sherry vinegar. Whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in olive oil, and then corn oil. Store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
13. Yield: 1 1/3 cups
14. Court Bouillon:
15. 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
16. 1 sprig fresh thyme
17. 1/2 small leek, cleaned
18. 1 (3-inch) piece carrot, peeled
19. 1 (3-inch) piece celery
20. 3 medium cloves garlic, peeled
21. 2 bay leaves
22. 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
23. 1 1/2 teaspoons whole white peppercorns
24. 7 cups water
25. In a large saucepan over high heat, combine all ingredients with the water and bring to a boil. Boil for 10 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
26. Yield: 6 cups