The mild taste and good texture of halibut makes it a good choice for several recipes. Yet, getting hold of fresh, good-quality halibut might not always be possible, especially for those living away from the Pacific shores. As such, a good halibut substitute might be necessary for you to enjoy your recipe and food.
Halibut is found in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The Atlantic halibut was often considered preferable for recipes, but the Pacific halibut is preferable at the moment.
Atlantic halibut has been a victim of overfishing and efforts are being made to stabilize the population. While news is encouraging on that front, it might still be time before the population stabilizes. So, substitution might even be warranted for conscientious reasons.
As such, most references in this article will be to the Pacific halibut.
That said, let’s get back to our topic. Your options for a halibut substitute are flounder, turbot, cod, sea bass, red grouper, mahi mahi, haddock, swordfish, and tilapia.
Table of Contents
Best Halibut Substitute Options For You
1. Flounder
Flounder is a flatfish much like halibut and has a similar texture, meat, and flavor. Technically, halibut belongs to the flounder family, and while scientific classification doesn’t always translate to culinary use, in this case it does.
Much like halibut, flounder meat is very lean and can dry out quickly if overcooked. So, with this substitute, your cooking style wouldn’t have to see significant change for the substitution.
However, there are some differences in texture with this substitution, mostly because flounder is flakier. Therefore, flounder shouldn’t be placed directly on a grill.
So, if grilled halibut is what you intended to cook, flounder isn’t the right substitute. For most other choices, flounder is a charming substitute for halibut.
2. Turbot
With its home in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, turbot is a popular fish in European cuisine, though not well-known in the Americas. However, its popularity has seen increased demand and use in the USA as well, with turbot showing up in many seafood menus.
While turbot has its own distinct flavor, it is a flatfish with a flavor profile and texture that can decently match halibut. It can work as a halibut substitute for most recipes and with similar cooking methods.
Although it’s worth noting that turbot is more expensive than halibut (which itself is fairly expensive). So, if you intend to use it in a recipe, you better make sure it’s worth the effort!
3. Cod
Cod often is a more sensible and pocket-friendly alternative to halibut. It is a white fish with a mild flavor and flaky texture, which makes it very similar to halibut in texture and flavor. It’s also relatively more readily available and usually at a price more affordable than halibut.
It can hold up well to most cooking methods and is quite enjoyable. Although cod is a bit more moist than halibut when cooked and there will be differences in texture and flavor, it is still a rather reliable alternative to halibut.
4. Mahi Mahi
While it isn’t cheap, mahi mahi can often cost lower than halibut. It also works remarkably well as a substitute for halibut in most recipes. This is a lean white fish that has texture and flavor similarities with halibut. Its meat is firm and can handle being cooked through various methods, so most substitutions can go smoothly.
Apart from conventional differences in flavor and some differences in texture, mahi mahi also tends to be more moist when cooked. As such, it can work as a decent halibut substitute.
5. Tilapia
Tilapia is perhaps not the best substitute for halibut. It is, however, a far more easily available and pocket-friendly option that can be a decent substitute for halibut in several recipes.
It has a somewhat stronger flavor with deeper fishy smells and flavor when compared to halibut. Also, its medium-firm texture stands up well to most cooking preferences, though extra care is necessary when grilling or deep frying tilapia. It might be better to use a grilling basket when working with tilapia, and a more careful approach when deep frying it.
6. Swordfish
The lean and meaty swordfish can be a good substitute for halibut, though it comes with stronger flavors. The cost can vary by region and availability, but on a general scale, it should be somewhere closer to what halibut costs.
The relatively firm texture of swordfish can be notable when used as a substitution for halibut, but it doesn’t go too far off expectations and remains a good choice. Although, thanks to the meat being firmer, it can withstand most cooking methods, making it incredibly versatile and a good choice.
7. Sea Bass
Several types of sea bass can be used as a decent halibut substitute in most recipes. If it’s a white fish and has lean meat, there’s a good chance the sea bass will work as a substitute for halibut.
Some options to consider here are striped bass (rockfish) and Chilean sea bass (Patagonian toothfish). However, do keep an eye on the texture and firmness of the meat, because many sea bass types can flake somewhat easily.
8. Grouper
Many types of grouper can work as decent substitutes for halibut, though red grouper might be preferable as the best choice for substitution in this case. Both fish have similar taste and texture, and grouper can be cooked in ways similar to halibut.
It should be kept in mind that the red grouper is classified as vulnerable, so special attention should be paid to how the fish was sourced.
9. Red Snapper
Using red snapper as a substitute for halibut is technically possible, though it requires some attention and careful consideration. This white and lean fish has a flavor profile quite similar to halibut, though it can have a somewhat nuttier flavor.
The point to consider for substitution is usually about size. Red snapper is often much smaller than halibut and might require some adjustments to the cooking method or recipe. To be clear, this snapper is not a tiny fish, it’s just notably smaller in comparison with the halibut, which it intends to substitute.
10. Haddock
The lean white meat of haddock makes it a good choice for a halibut substitute. The similarities in flavor and texture make it suitable for most recipes, but care is required for some halibut substitutions.
Haddock has a firm and tender texture, while halibut is denser and slightly more firm. As such, halibut can work with most cooking methods, but haddock requires some care especially where the recipe calls for grilling or steaming.
11. Vegan Halibut Substitute Choices
Getting hold of a decent vegan alternative for halibut can take some effort and might even be a long shot. Conventional vegan meat alternatives like shiitake mushrooms (or other varieties) and jackfruit might not work as alternatives to white fish, though some recipes might still benefit from them.
However, there are two choices that can work for some recipes. Care must be taken for preparation and suitable adjustments to the recipe might still be necessary. Let’s consider these choices.
- Extra Firm Silken Tofu: This idea involves using blocks of extra firm silken tofu, which are then pressed to remove most of the liquid. Once suitably dry, try cutting some textures on the top to make it flaky.
The next step is to give it a thin coat of cornstarch or potato starch and then fry it along with some other ingredients like garlic and roasted nori powder to give it a better flavor and texture. A preparation suggested in this recipe might be considered. - Hearts of Palm: Palm hearts or hearts of palm are suitable for use as plant-based substitutes for seafood or white fish, thanks to the similarities in texture and flavor. You might also want to add some nori (roasted seaweed) to get closer to that ocean-flavor, while also working with other ingredients for a more similar flavor approach.
Making Your Choice In Picking A Halibut Substitute
Several options can work as decent halibut substitutes for your recipe. In a broader and cruder sense, a white fish with lean meat can be a decent choice for a quick substitute. However, where the intention is to more closely consider a substitute, options for flavor, texture, cost, and suitability of the cooking method have to be considered.
Our selection here details some choices on these criteria, with some suggestions on cooking methods. If budget and availability are the primary driving factors for your substitution choices, consider picking tilapia or cod as your halibut substitute. However, if you have wider options available, the other choices on this list could work just as well.