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Poor Mans Lobster with Melted Butter is a dish that you’ll never forget. It’s made with halibut, so it tastes just like lobster, but it doesn’t cost a fortune. It was our go-to recipe when we fished for halibut on the Alaskan coast. This is a great recipe if you’re looking to save some money while still getting an amazing meal!
My favorite way to cook halibut is with melted butter. It’s a super simple dish that comes together in minutes and tastes like you’ve been cooking over a hot stove for hours.
The name of this recipe comes from its origins during a time when halibut was much cheaper than lobster which is not the case anymore! It definitely needs to be renamed “Rich Man’s Lobster!”
Fresh Caught Fish
YUMMMM!!! Just looking at this picture makes me want to make it again tonight. When Kevin, my Dad, and I went fishing in Alaska, we brought back tons of halibut and Poor Man’s Lobster was a common dish in our home for months. I never got sick of it and I don’t think I ever could. What I wouldn’t give to have a freezer full of halibut now. I don’t know if I would eat it or sell it to pay for my child’s college tuition.
Halibut is a white, flakey fish with a smooth texture. It is much better fresh than frozen. Frozen halibut tends to overcook and dry out. This way of preparing halibut to taste like lobster is amazing and easy, but it is also good when it is grilled or sautéed.
A special thanks to Elise for getting this recipe when she lived in Alaska. We enjoyed many wonderful times with her when she lived there. What a beautiful place!
Ingredients in Poor Mans Lobster
- Sugar
- Salt
- Halibut
- Butter – sweet cream works great
- Lemon
Variations on this Recipe
For some fun flavor variations try some flavoring with the butter or brush some seasoning on to the fish after boiling. Some ideas to sprinkle on would be:
- Old Bay Seasoning
- Pepper
- Paprika
- Basil and Oregano
- Ginger
- Thyme
- Dried chili peppers
- Garlic
Cost vs. Benefit
Halibut has been so expensive for the past several years. I rarely see it on restaurant menus anymore. Halibut have become so scarce in the Atlantic Ocean that commercial fishermen are not allowed to catch them, and the Pacific Halibut supplies have been low for many years. It may also have something to do with the life cycle of halibut. They don’t reproduce until they are 8 years old. I’m hoping the day will come when halibut prices drop to a reasonable level again and then it will be more feasible to make this recipe. In the meantime, any affordable meaty whitefish with a firm texture works great for this recipe. Doing a fish boil will give the fish a similar consistency to lobster.
Read More: 35+ Quick and Easy To Follow Dinner Ideas Your Family Will Surely Love
Catch of the Day
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How to Make Poor Mans Lobster
Poor Mans Lobster
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup salt
- 1 pound halibut
- 1/2 cup butter (sweet cream works great)
- 1 lemon
Instructions
- In a medium to large pot bring 2 quarts of water, sugar, and salt to a boil on medium-high heat.
- Cut halibut into 2-3 large pieces (so it cooks faster) and add to boiling water.
- Boil for about 10 minutes or until halibut is nice and flaky.
- In the meantime, melt butter in a pot, but do not boil.
- Remove halibut from water, squeeze a little fresh lemon on it and serve with melted butter (I like to completely submerge my halibut in the melted butter, much like you would do with lobster).
Notes
Nutrition Information
This recipe was quick and easy, the only drawback was it was really salty.
I will use this recipe again just lesson the salt.
Sorry this turned out so salty for you. I know different salts can taste saltier than others, what kind of salt did you use?
I think this would be great on a toasted buttered hot dog roll like a Connecticut lobster roll only affordable with maybe cod till halibut comes down in price.
Thanks for a wonderful recipe!!
That is a great idea, it would be really good like that!
Yum. This was delicious. Used Halibut my husband caught in Alaska. We only cooked 5 minutes or so.
Fellow life long Alaskan here and boiling the halibut for 10 mins really changes the texture. Boil for less time and let sit in warm melted butter.
We love the Halibut this way! Who needs lobster??
Dear Emily,
I’m a die-hard Alaska Chick, a Fifty-five-year resident, growing up fishing, hunting, and exploring.
Halibut is a favorite delicacy in our family and I have enjoyed it prepared in many ways over my lifetime.
Your recipe is a welcome and delightful variation in the preparation of this delicious fish and my family and friends love it!
Thank you for sharing this yummy recipe,
Sincerely,
The Alaska Chick
I loved your recipe. We tried it for dinner and have made it several times ince then .
It was good, but it wasn’t really the right texture to remind me of lobster. I’m wondering if I cooked it too long. As soon as it came to the top, I took it out of the boiling water. So should I have cooked it longer or not so long?
We usually boil it for about 10 minutes!
Mine was tough and chewy. I boiled it for 7 minutes. Found out you are supposed to put it in the boiling water and only boil until it floats to the top then boil 90 seconds more. It keeps cooking after you pull it out. I just ruined a pound of Halibut.
Oh no! How thick or how big were your filets?
Absolutely yummy could pass for lobster and simple make’
Would this work with monkfish?
We haven’t tried it with monkfish!