Is This the Fish of Love?

DEAR SOS: My girlfriend and I had a wonderful Valentine’s dinner at La Traviata in Long Beach. The ambience was romantic, the service and entertainment were great, but the sea bass was to die for. Can you get the recipe?

JOHN E. MIN

Los Angeles

DEAR JOHN: Here it is, almost Valentine’s Day again. We got the recipe, but we substituted halibut because Chilean sea bass is so overfished. We used the restaurant’s glaze and ponzu sauce. Make it for your girlfriend at home this year. But you’re on your own for service, entertainment and ambience.

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Miso-Glazed Halibut With Rice and Vegetables

Active Work Time: 15 minutes * Total Preparation Time: 40 minutes

Miso can be found in the refrigerated aisle with other Asian products at well-stocked supermarkets.

MISO GLAZE

1 cup orange juice

1 cup sugar

Juice of 1 lemon

2 tablespoons miso

Place the orange juice, sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until reduced to 1/4 cup. Stir in the miso; set aside.

PONZU SAUCE

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 clove garlic, pressed

Combine the soy sauce, lemon juice and garlic; set aside.

ASSEMBLY

Nonstick cooking spray

6 (6-ounce) halibut steaks

Salt, pepper

Miso Glaze

3/4 pound baby carrots

3/4 pound broccoli crowns

1 cup jasmine rice, cooked

3 green onions, sliced

Ponzu Sauce

Heat the oven to 500 degrees.

Coat a large baking pan or rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Season the fish with salt and pepper and place in the pan. Brush with the Miso Glaze. Bake until the fish begins to flake, about 6 to 8 minutes. It will continue to cook when removed from the oven, so do not overbake.

Meanwhile, steam the carrots and broccoli until tender, about 10 minutes for the carrots and 8 minutes for the broccoli.

Place some rice in the center of each of 6 warmed plates and top with a piece of fish. Top the fish with a few green onions and a splash of the Ponzu Sauce. Arrange the vegetables as you wish.

6 servings. Each serving: 431 calories; 1,085 mg sodium; 70 mg cholesterol; 6 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 43 grams carbohydrates; 51 grams protein; 4.51 grams fiber.