Crispy-Skin Arctic Char with Dill Yogurt

Arctic char fillets seared skin-side down until the skin shatters, set over a cold dill and lemon yogurt with cucumber. Scaled for 1 lb of arctic char from Svenfish.

Why arctic char

Char sits between trout and salmon. The skin is thin and crisps fast, which is the whole point of this recipe. Cook it almost entirely on the skin side and the flesh stays moist on top.

Ingredients

• 1 lb arctic char fillets, skin on, cut into 2 portions
• Kosher salt and black pepper
• 2 tbsp neutral oil
• ¾ cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill, plus a little extra to finish
• 1 small garlic clove, grated
• Zest and juice of ½ lemon
• ½ English cucumber, sliced thin
• 1 tsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Stir together the yogurt, dill, garlic, lemon zest, 1 tbsp of the lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Keep it in the fridge until the fish is done.
2. Toss the cucumber with the olive oil, the remaining lemon juice and a pinch of salt.
3. Pat the char dry on both sides, especially the skin. Score the skin lightly with 3 shallow cuts per portion so it doesn't curl. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
4. Heat the neutral oil in the skillet over medium-high until it shimmers. Lay the fillets in skin-side down and press each one flat with a spatula for 20 seconds. Cook without moving for 5 to 6 minutes, until the skin is crisp and the flesh has turned opaque about three-quarters of the way up the side.
5. Flip and cook for 30 to 60 seconds more, just to finish the top. Pull it as soon as the center is barely opaque; it keeps cooking off the heat.
6. Spoon the dill yogurt onto two plates, set the char on top skin-side up, scatter the cucumber alongside and finish with more dill.

Pro tips

• Dry skin is crisp skin. If you have ten extra minutes, leave the fillets uncovered in the fridge, skin-side up, before cooking.
• Don't move the fish while the skin sears. It releases from the pan on its own once it's ready.
• Rainbow trout works the same way and cooks a minute faster.

Order fresh arctic char for home delivery across Massachusetts, or pick it up at our Acton store.