This Crab Encrusted Halibut recipe with Chili Cream Sauce is inspired by The Waterfront Depot in Florence, Oregon.
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Crab Encrusted Halibut
This dish was my best attempt to date to win over the BF. I think it worked. He’s now my husband.
Since Rick and I first met, he’s always raved about The Waterfront Depot in Florence, Oregon (on the coast). And, one special dish in particular – the Crab Encrusted Halibut with Chili Cream Sauce.
Last Christmas, we made a visit to Florence, and unfortunately got stuck staying in some awful hotel, because we planned at the last minute. It was the only dog-friendly option available. And Sammie the labradoodle goes everywhere. I may have feared for my life that night. But – The saving grace in all of it was that I finally got to try this special dish!
Doesn’t it just sound decadent?
It is.
Take a delicate, mild, halibut filet, coat it in a mixture of bread crumbs and crab meat, saute until golden, finish in the oven, then top it with a creamy sweet chili sauce, made of Mae Ploy sweet chili sauce and heavy cream. To score some extra bonus points, I topped the whole thing off with an extra hunk of claw crab meat. I think it’s the first time I’ve seen Rick snap a picture of food with his iPhone…
Pretty photogenic, don’t you think?
Actually, I wasn’t going to photograph this dish. I wanted to take a night off from blogging, and just take time to enjoy this extravagant dinner and a nice glass of Pinot Gris. But alas, the food won. It was too pretty not to snap a few shots.
And, it was too good not to share the recipe.
Serving suggestions
Pair your halibut with one of these 35+ sides for halibut or use these suggestions instead:
- Sous Vide Asparagus
- Lemon Pasta
- Israeli Couscous with Tomatoes
- Grilled Broccolini
- Zucchini Pasta Salad
- Arugula Salad
- Vegetable Stir Fry
Wine Pairings for Halibut
- Pinot Gris, Champagne and Rosé are all great options for this delicately flavored dish.
- More → 8 BEST wine pairings with fish.
More Seafood Recipes
- Shrimp Risotto
- Baked Panko Cod
- Squid Ink Pasta with Shrimp & Cherry Tomatoes
- Sheet Pan Miso Salmon and Vegetables
- Seafood Paella with Saffron Aioli
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Crab Encrusted Halibut with Sweet Chili Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 pound crab meat
- 4 6-ounce halibut filets
- 1 cup flour
- 3 whole eggs
- 1 ounce vegetable oil
- 1 ounce unsalted butter
- 1 cup Mae Ploy sweet hot chili sauce
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- Season fish with salt and pepper.
- Combine bread crumbs and crab meat in a shallow bowl, using fork to combine and make a breading mixture. Place flour in a separate shallow dish. Break the eggs into a third shallow dish, and whisk with a fork.
- Coat each piece of the halibut in flour, then coat with egg, and the with crab breading.
- Heat oil and butter in a large sautee pan over medium-high heat. Fry the halibut until golden brown on both sides. Place on lightly oiled baking sheet and bake for approximately 7 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fish.
- Heat the chili sauce in a small saucepan on medium-high heat. Once hot, add the cream and turn the heat down to medium. Simmer until slightly thickened.
- To serve, plate the halibut and top with chili sauce.
Totally photogenic! Almost too pretty to eat. Almost….
Thanks Ali 🙂
Thank you so much for posting this recipe! We use to live a couple of hours or less from the Waterfront Depot. We would go their for the Crab Encrusted Halibut! We have moved several times and now live in Northern California. This recipe is absolutely delicious! I did have to tone the sweet chili sauce down a little with cream cheese to make it less spicy for our taste. The rest was spot on. Thank you for a wonderful recipe!
I’m so glad you liked it Bridget! It’s been quite some time since we’ve been to the Waterfront too! I need to make this recipe again soon!
We have eaten this dish at the Waterfront Depot at least 10 times even though we live in Houston. Went to Oregon to play golf. This dish is real good. Will now make this recipe at home.
Yay! I hope you enjoy it at home Don! Where did you play golf? My husband is an avid golfer!
Played at Sandpines in Florence
This looks so delicious and professionally plated like from a white tablecloth restaurant! I can see why it demands to be photographed for posterity, and thanks for sharing the recipe… I like the sound of the crusted halibut even by itself without the sauce!
Pech – It’d be absolutely delicious without the sauce as well. Or, now you have me thinking, some sort of picatta sauce?… That would be SO yummy too!
This is almost too pretty to eat! It looks amazingly delicious. My mouth is watering!
Gorgeous dish Erin! I can see why Rick grabbed his phone!
Ha! He HAD to photograph his favorite dish. Second part? He HAD to send the picture to his brother to make him jealous!
Wow, that does sound (and look) delicious!!!!! I can’t do panko or wheat flour but there are lots of grain-free breadings to try. Beautiful photos!
Wow. Decadent for sure! This would be a fantastic special occasion dish, especially for a special someone in your life!
Beautiful dish!
Thanks so much Chloe – It’s easy when we have such great fresh seafood here in the Pacific NW!
That looks phenomenal! Can’t wait to try it out. Pinning it for later. =)
Thanks Brettni! I hope you love it!
Served this at a dinner party last night and people were losing their minds! Two people said it was the best fish they had ever eaten. Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe!
I’m so glad to hear that you liked the recipe Maura! It’s a special one to us because it is one of my boyfriend’s most favorite dishes ever.
Wonderful Google find! We just stayed in Florence at the Port of Siuslaw and I ordered this for dinner at the Depot. We stopped at the fish market on the way out of town for the ingredients. Glad to find your recipe. Thanks!
How cool! Isn’t the Waterfront Depot just the best! I need to get back there soon.
How much crab stays in the breadcrumb bowl? Seems like a huge waste.
Hi John – Almost all of mine ended up on the fish.
Thank you for the recipe! My wife and I are fortunate to live in Florence and Waterfront Depot is one of our favorite restaurants. We just made this with some halibut and crabs that we caught right here. Delicious!
So happy to hear that you liked it Matt! You’re so fortunate to have caught the halibut and crabs – jealous!
This is the best fush I’ve ever had in a restaurant ! I love the servers there, too.
Thank you for the recipe. I can’t wait to try it!
This is the best fish I’ve ever had in a restaurant ! I love the servers there, too.
Thank you for the recipe. I can’t wait to try it!
I can’t wait to make this. I had this at the Waterfront Depot pn Sunday. I did think the cream sauce tasted buttery, but perhaps the cream adds that flavor.
I have made this for 4 dinner parties now, and it gets rave reviews all the time! I have easily made it gluten free with Gluten free flour and Panko when necessary. Thanks so much for this fantastic recipe!
I’m so glad that you liked it Maura!
The Waterfront Depot, my favorite restaurant ever… We have been to the Oregon coast 4 times and The Waterfront Depot is a must every time we went. One year we went twice and every time we have the Crab Encrusted Halibut. We live in Utah so we probably won’t be able to make it there again. I have been looking for a recipe for the last couple of years and finally came across yours. We will be trying yours recipe today for Mother’s Day. Thanks so much for sharing!!!
I hope you enjoy SueZanne!
Whenever we are going to be in the Florence area an evening at the Waterfront Depot is a must. A number of very good looking things on the menu but have never passed up the halibut. I have made this many times and will again for my wife’s birthday tomorrow night. On the few occasions I have not been able to get crab I have substituted Parmesan cheese and it has still been a hit.
I love this Gerry! Thanks for sharing the tip on the parmesan!!! Cheers and happy birthday to your wife!!
I have made this for countless dinner parties now and it always gets rave reviews! Thanks for this fabulous recipe, Erin.
Was the crab you used already cooked when you used it in the breading?
Hi Shelby – Yes! The crab is already cooked.
Love it! Made it “more” keto by using Pork Rind crumbs instead of panko and almond flour for the flour. We had no complaints!!!!
Love that idea Darci!
I love Waterfront Depot Grill! I can’t believe I found this recipe online. It’s one of many dishes that is spectacular.