Ingredients

Zest of 3 lemons

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon salt

1/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill

4 halibut fillets or other firm white fish (8 ounces each)

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 tablespoons butter, cut into thirds

1 Moroccan Preserved Lemon (optional)

Preparation

In a small bowl, combine the lemon zest, sugar, salt, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and dill. Place fillets in a shallow, nonreactive container. Cover with lemon-dill marinade, and refrigerate 3 hours.

Remove fish from container; set marinade aside. Heat a large saute pan coated with olive oil. Saute fillets until golden and cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from heat; transfer fillets to a platter. Cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.

Turn heat to high; add reserved marinade. When it bubbles and browns, add remaining lemon juice. Cook 1 minute. Reduce heat to low. Add butter, swirling pan to melt. Remove pan from heat; strain into small pan. If using preserved lemon, cut rind into 1/4-inch-thick strips and warm with sauce in pan. Pour sauce over fillets, and serve.