Keto Halibut with Brown Butter Capers Recipe

Keto halibut with brown butter capers is a French-inspired seafood dinner that showcases premium halibut fillets in a classic beurre noisette (brown butter) sauce with briny capers and fresh lemon. The nutty, rich brown butter sauce perfectly complements the delicate, flaky halibut for a restaurant-quality dinner that takes less than 20 minutes to prepare. With just 1g net carb per serving and 36g of protein, this is one of the most elegant and nutritionally clean keto dinners you can make.

Ingredients

• 4 halibut fillets (about 170g each)
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 tbsp capers, drained
• 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp lemon zest
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp white pepper
• Lemon slices for serving

Instructions

1. Pat halibut fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and white pepper.
2. Heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
3. Add halibut and sear for 4-5 minutes without moving until a golden crust forms on the bottom.
4. Carefully flip and cook for 3-4 more minutes until fish flakes easily and internal temperature reaches 130-135°F for slightly translucent, or 145°F for fully opaque.
5. Remove halibut and set aside on a warm plate.
6. Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the same skillet.
7. Cook butter for 2-3 minutes, swirling constantly, until it turns golden brown and smells nutty. Watch carefully; it goes from brown to burnt quickly.
8. Remove from heat. Add capers, lemon juice, and lemon zest. The butter will bubble.
9. Swirl to combine. Pour brown butter caper sauce over the halibut fillets.
10. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon slices.

Tips & Variations

• Use a stainless steel or cast iron pan for better browning on halibut skin; non-stick works but won't develop as deep a crust.
• Watch the butter carefully when making beurre noisette; it takes about 3 minutes and transitions from golden to dark very quickly.
• Substitute halibut with cod, sea bass, or sole if halibut is unavailable; adjust cooking time based on thickness.
• Add 1 tablespoon of drained sun-dried tomatoes to the brown butter for a Mediterranean variation.
• Serve over sauteed spinach or alongside roasted asparagus for a complete keto meal.

Nutrition Breakdown

Calories: 326 kcal

Protein: 35.7g

Fat: 19g

Carbs: 1.6g

Net Carbs: 1g

Fiber: 0.5g

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