Poaching is a technique we’ve been using frequently of late. It’s simple and quick, hence perfect for weeknights. And it’s a great way to prepare lean white fish like tilapia, cod, halibut or snapper.

Poaching is a moist-heat cooking technique. You partially submerge the fish in a cooking liquid, simmering till the fish cooks through. The cooking time depends, of course, on the thickness of the fish fillet. Poaching keeps the fish moist and adds a good deal of flavor, without adding too much fat. (Feel free to reduce the amount of butter or cream in this dish, if you want to make the dish healthier.)

This recipe relies on store-bought tomatillo salsa. We get ours from our favorite Mexican market, La Palma Mexicatessen in San Francisco’s Mission district. Of course, if you want to make your own tomatillo salsa, that’s great. The fish is great in tacos or served simply with a drizzle of Mexican crema, some vinegar-heavy slaw, diced avocados and tortillas or rice and beans on the side.

Fish Poached in Tomatillo Salsa

Serves 2

Ingredients:

2 halibut fillets, 4 to 6 ounces each

1 tablespoon butter or olive oil

¼ cup shallot, finely minced

½ cup tomatillo salsa, or more as needed

2 tablespoons heavy cream

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Season the fish with salt and pepper.

Heat the butter or olive oil in a 6 to 8-inch frying pan. Add the minced shallot and saute over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes, until the shallot is softened and golden.

Stir in the tomatillo salsa, then place the fish fillets in the pan. Check to see that the tomatillo mixture comes about halfway up the fish fillets, leaving the top half exposed. If needed, add a bit more tomatillo salsa to the pan.

Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover and cook the fish for 12 to 15 minutes — add the heavy cream for the last 2 minutes of cooking time — until the fish is fully cooked and flakes easily.

San Francisco food writers Stacie Dong and Simran Singh’s blog, A Little Yumminess (www.alittleyum.com), focuses on family food adventures and recipes with global flavors.