Halibut is a white, firm, lean fish with not so strong fishy taste. This type of firm fish is best for people who don’t really enjoy fish that much but would still like to add some fish protein and Vitamin D to their diets.
Don’t get discouraged when you hear that this type of fish is considered to be firm, the actual flesh of Halibut is really tender when cooked properly and melts in your mouth.
Halibut fish belongs to the flatfish family which includes the flounder and sole fish. It has a firm, white skin with little brown dots all over its body. Its eyes are wide and on the sides of its face, not at the front.
Wondering what’s the best Halibut substitution? We have some ideas
Halibut Substitutes Are
- Flounder
- Fluke
- Haddock
- Sole
- Dogfish
- Tuna
- Turbot
- Striped Bass
- Tilapia
- Orange Roughy
- Codfish
To find out more about how to prepare these exquisite, tasty fish, keep on reading the article that we’ve prepared for you.
What Type Of Fish Is Halibut?
Halibut fish is actually a group of species of big flatfish, and as I said previously said, they belong to the flounder family of fishes and all of them have a firm texture and a mild taste. This group contains three types of Halibut fish; the Pacific, Greenland, and the Atlantic Halibut fish.
The Pacific Halibut is the second largest species of the flatfish family. It is a protein-rich delicacy for the Alaska state with a mild flavor and a flaky texture.
These fishes are very large and are pretty dangerous predators; they can consume a variety of medium-sized and small fish. Because of their size, they are less likely to be eaten or attacked by other fish in the sea.
The Greenland Halibut, also going by the name of Turbot is a white type of fish with brown flakes all over its body and has a flaky flesh and texture when cooked. The Greenland Halibut is actually more tender than the rest of the Halibut fish and has a sweet, delicate flavor.
The Atlantic Halibut has the title of the largest fish of the flatfish family and can grow up to be very large almost 190 inches. The Atlantic Halibut is also a predatory fish and eats small to medium fish, clams, and even lobsters. The cooking method for this fish is simple, just like every other Halibut in the family.
All Halibut fish can be either baked, pan-fried, deep-fried, grilled, or steamed. They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, contain lots of nutrients, and are a rich source of protein and unsaturated fat.
Halibut Substitution
All types of fish contain lots of nutrients and high levels of protein, vitamins(Vitamin B), minerals, zinc, and high levels of iron, especially wild types of fish like tuna and salmon. Fish is considered to be a great and healthy alternative to meat since it has less saturated fat and low cholesterol levels.
When looking for a decent substitute for Halibut you need to know your types of fish. Not all types of fish have the same taste, smell, or even color. Some are considered to be white fish and some are considered to be red ones.
Flounder
Flounder is also a type of flatfish and it is very similar to the Halibut fish, making it an excellent substitute. These popular fish occupy most of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, usually living near the coral reefs and docks.
This substitute for Halibut has a sweet flavor just like the Halibut but instead of the firm flesh, it has a very tender, delicate texture.
I suggest cooking your Flounder in the oven since its tender flesh isn’t suitable for deep-frying or grilling. The most fool-proof way to cook Flounder fish is to let it boil for a couple of minutes before you put it in the oven to bake it. You can add some acid to your fish when baking it as it perfectly compliments the sweet flavor.
Fluke
Okay, how do I explain this one?! A Fluke is a type of flounder fish that is a type of flatfish. This is the most simple way that I can explain this, believe me. Both Fluke and Flounder fish have tender meat and a subtle, sweet taste.
The only difference between these two is the way that their eyes are positioned. The subtle flavor of this fish makes it a great choice for people who don’t really love a strong, fish flavor or smell.
Haddock
Haddock fish belongs to the cod family and is a fish with firm flesh and a mild texture. Haddock is constantly used as a substitute for codfish even though they differ in taste a little bit. This Halibut substitute has a slightly sweet taste which is excellent for smoking.
That’s why you will usually stumble on this fish in a smoked state but if you search long enough, you can also find it fresh and frozen.
Sole
Sole is a type of delicate fish that has a mild, sweet flavor that resembles the taste of codfish. Its texture is firm but, don’t let that discourage you, the white flesh of this fish is very moist and tender when cooked properly.
Is Sole Fish Safe To Eat?
Normally, sole fish is safe to eat and has high amounts of Selenium, Vitamin B12, as well as other important vitamins and minerals. So, why is this fish so frowned upon?
Well, Sole fish can be easily contaminated and polluted with toxins and dangerous chemicals that could be potentially bad for your health.
Also, this type of fish is very low in Omega-3 fatty acids. If you really have no choice but to choose this Halibut substitute then I strongly suggest doing a little background check on your fish and finding out where it came from and did it live in an area where the waters are polluted.
Dogfish
Dogfish are small, brown, coastal sharks that are no more than 5 feet long. Because they are so small themselves, they prey on other small or medium-sized fish, crabs, shrimp, and lobsters.
Its taste is very similar to halibut fish; it has a mild and sweet flavor and a firm texture. Dogfish is considered to be a white-meat fish that can be grilled, roasted, boiled, poached, baked, and fried.
Tuna
Who doesn’t love the oily, fatty fish? Along with salmon, tuna fish is one of the healthiest meats in the world. Yes, I’m saying meat, not fish since tuna easily surpasses every type of meat health-wise and it’s one of the best foods to get your lean protein from.
This fish has a high percentage of Omega-3 fatty-acid which brings a balance in your blood vessels, lowers cholesterol levels, reduces the risk of any heart diseases, balances your blood pressure(the potassium in the tuna helps people with high blood pressure to balance it out).
[Related Article:5 Delicious Ways To Make Your Favourite Subway Tuna Recipe]
Turbot
Turbot is another flatfish family member and it is a fish that usually swims near the shores, making it an easy catch and a great halibut substitution. Turbot is available in most grocery stores as fillets either fresh or frozen.
This substitute for Halibut has a brown/dark-green color and a firm texture. You can cook it however you want; poach it, boil it, grill it, bake it, and pan-fry it.
Striped Bass
Striped bass is an ocean and freshwater type of fish with a silver body and stripes. This is a delicate, rare fish that is protected by the law for industrial fishing, and therefore, of course, it is pretty pricy.
This delicacy has a firm flesh, similar to the Halibut fish. You can cook this fish in various ways; bake it, fry it, grill it, or boil it(although I wouldn’t recommend boiling such expensive fish).
Tilapia
Tilapia is a lean source of protein(28 grams of protein in only 100 grams of fish), vitamins(B12), selenium, potassium, and niacin.
Even more impressive is the amount of vitamins and minerals in this fish. Tilapia is a mild fish that’s rich in niacin, vitamin B12, phosphorus, selenium, and potassium. This is a great, versatile fish to pan-fry, bake, and even make a nice bowl of soup with it.
Orange Roughy
Orange roughy, also known as slimeheads are species of fish that have been around for almost 200 years. This fish works okay as a Halibut substitution but. since it has been around for such a long time and exposed to dangerous elements like mercury, it is not considered to be a healthy variant.
But, the taste of orange roughy is similar to the Halibut one and it is also a versatile fish, meaning you can fry it, boil it, bake it, and anything else.
Cod Fish
Codfish is one of the most popular fish in the United States(especially around the east coast). Codfish can be found on the market all year, it is never out of season. This fish is usually found after storms or other weather malfunctions.
Since it is on the market around all year, it is available fresh in many fish markets or grocery stores. It also comes with a moderate price so you don’t have to waste a ton of money in order to make a delicious fancy dinner.
Cod is also a versatile, mild fish and goes with almost anything you pair it with. It has flaky flesh that tears apart when fried, baked, poached, or grilled.
Related Questions And Other FAQ’S
Are Cod And Halibut Similar
Yes. Halibut and Cod are very similar in their appearance but they do differ in their texture as well as their taste. Codfish has a mild flavor and flaky texture and almost melts in your mouth, opposed to Halibut which has a strong taste and a firm, dense texture.
Can You Substitute Mahi Mahi For Halibut
Yes. Mahi Mahi can be a decent substitute for Halibut but, it does have a slightly stronger taste than the Halibut fish. On the bright side, they both taste excellent.
Tilapia Vs Halibut
Tilapia is a mild fish that’s rich in vitamins, lean protein, and many minerals. It’s very versatile; you can fry it, bake it, grill it, and poach it. Halibut, on the other hand, has a firmer texture than Tilapia but, the taste is very similar. Halibut also has a mild taste and you can cook it however you’d like.
Halibut Fillet
Halibut fillet, also known as Halibut steaks are the most found version of this fish on the market. You can usually find them on the frozen aisle in the grocery store but if you’re lucky, maybe you can even find them freshly caught from the ocean.