Every time I’m requested for cooking recommendation, be it for somebody who’s simply studying to cook dinner or somebody who’s cooked for years however has hit a recipe rut, certainly one of my largest suggestions is to start out with one thing easy and wholesome—like Baked Cod—grasp it, then use it to create completely different recipe spinoffs in order that your meals keep thrilling and your recipe repertoire grows.

It’s widespread sense (pretty much as good recommendation usually is), however when you’re used to cooking the identical factor over and over, it may be laborious to see a recipe some other manner—together with when your full time job is arising with recipes!

Case-in-point: I’ve lengthy cherished and steadily make baked fish for dinner. It’s simple, it’s wholesome, and Ben and I each adore it. After I consider baked fish, my go-to Baked Salmon in Foil comes instantly to thoughts. It’s a improbable recipe, and one which you could change up in quite a few methods to maintain it recent (Spicy Baked Salmon, Grilled Salmon in Foil, and Lemon Pepper Salmon are just some options, and I’ve many extra in every of these weblog posts).

On condition that that is the recommendation I give to others, and that I’ve utilized the concept to salmon, it’s about time I took it for myself with baked cod!

Till making this recipe, I pictured baked cod only one manner: as crispy baked cod, in all probability with butter, and undoubtedly with lemon (possibly even a little bit Parmesan). It’s how I make my favourite Baked Fish and Chips (a baked cod with panko topping). It’s a dynamite one pan meal that’s cooked with potatoes too for a traditional “barbeque” impact.

So…on condition that I’ve a very good grasp of the way to bake cod (what temperature, the way to season it, what to serve with it, and so on), that baked cod is wholesome (a high quality I recognize in my weeknight dinners), and that I wish to range up my baked fish, why am I solely simply now making cod a distinct manner? I don’t have a very good reply, however I’ll be fascinated by it laborious…whereas shoveling forkfuls of this deliciously easy baked cod into my mouth.

This recipe is prepared in lower than 40 minutes, is extremely wholesome, and it has a stupendous mix of Italian flavors and components. It would delight and shock you.

Easy methods to Make the Most Scrumptious Baked Cod with Greens

As a nod to my favourite recent components, I baked the cod with oodles of tomatoes and herbs. The good news is that cherry tomatoes style fairly respectable year-round, so you can also make baked cod with tomatoes in any season.

The Elements

• Cod. When you haven’t tried it earlier than, cod is a agency, pretty gentle fish. As a result of it doesn’t have a powerful style, it’s nice for individuals who don’t like “fishy” fish. It can also tackle the flavors of no matter you place with it (this Fish En Papillote is one other simple method to put together it).
• Lemon. Making baked cod with lemon is traditional, and for a very good motive! The lemon brightens up the cod and makes it style its greatest; I can’t think about cod with out it.
• Tomatoes. I like recent cherry tomatoes on this recipe, and they style nice year-round. In the event that they’re in season and you might have a windfall of backyard tomatoes you’re trying to make use of up (fortunate you!), you may swap in a distinct variety. In case your tomatoes are bigger, reduce them into 1-inch chunks first.
• Yellow Onion. It caramelizes with the tomatoes and turns into jammy, crispy in locations, and candy.
• Fennel. Uncooked fennel tastes like licorice (and I’m not a lot of a fan). Sautéed and roasted fennel, nevertheless, is a very completely different story. I just like the depth it provides the baked cod. When you desire to not use fennel, you may merely depart it out.
• White Wine. Splash in some for the cod; save the remaining for dinner! When you desire to make this baked cod with out wine, you may swap in rooster inventory.
• Capers. Briny, salty, and a DELISH, immediate method to elevate your cooking. Attempt including a number of tablespoons to a few of your favourite Italian recipes.
• Salt, Pepper, and Crimson Pepper Flakes. As a result of cod is gentle, seasoning is essential.

After getting your components, this easy baked cod recipe comes collectively in three fundamental steps.

The Instructions

PART ONE: Put together the Cod for Baking

1. Pat the cod dry. This removes extra water and promotes higher baking.
2. Season with salt and pepper. It’s essential to season the entire time you cook dinner a recipe.
3. Squeeze with lemon. Lemon and cod, at all times and ceaselessly.
4. Organize the cod in a baking dish. A 9×13 casserole dish is ideal. Be sure it has excessive sides, as we might be including the greens to it too.

PART TWO: Saute the Greens

1. Warmth the olive oil in a big, deep skillet. Use medium warmth, and be sure the oil is scorching earlier than you proceed.
2. Add the greens. You possibly can add all three (tomatoes, onion, and fennel) without delay. Don’t overlook to season with salt. It will draw moisture out of the greens and offer you extra taste.
3. Saute. The onions and fennel will soften and caramelize, and the tomatoes will burst, then cook dinner in their very own juices.
4. Splash within the white wine. Let it cut back. Your kitchen goes to scent wonderful at this level.
5. Stir within the capers. They are going to be a sport changer!

PART THREE: Put it All Collectively and Bake

1. Add the greens to the baking dish with the cod. You possibly can spoon them throughout and on prime of the cod.
2. Bake the cod at 375 levels F for 12 to 15 minutes. You understand the cod is completed when it flakes simply with a fork on the thickest half. You too can use an immediate learn thermometer like this one to examine the temperature of the fish. It’s executed when it reaches 145 levels F.
3. Serve it up! For every serving, I wish to plate the cod fillet first, then spoon the vegetable combination and any juices that gather within the pan over and round it. A ending bathe of recent herbs makes the cod look fairly and recent, and it provides extra taste.

Baked Cod Storage Suggestions

• To Retailer. Place leftovers in an hermetic storage container within the fridge for as much as 2 days. I wish to retailer the fish and veggies individually for simpler reheating.
• To Reheat. To keep away from drying out the fish, rewarm it in a baking dish within the oven at 350 levels F till heated via. Add a squeeze of recent lemon juice to wake the flavors again up. You too can reheat this dish very gently within the microwave or in a skillet on the range. The greens could be warmed within the oven, on the range, or within the microwave.
• To Freeze. I’ve discovered that fish doesn’t style pretty much as good as soon as it’s been frozen and reheated, but when you end up with leftovers, you may attempt to freeze it. Place leftovers in an hermetic freezer-safe storage container within the freezer for as much as 1 month. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.

What to Serve with Baked Cod

• Crusty Bread. Serve crusty bread along with your baked cod with tomatoes. It’s the right vessel to sop up all that yummy, jammy taste and the cooking juices!
• Rice. A mattress of both brown rice or cauliflower rice can be a beautiful base to your baked cod dish. It would take in all of the wealthy flavors from the greens and fish. This Lemon Rice is very good.
• Potatoes. A savory aspect of potatoes will complement the easy baked cod completely! Attempt these Roasted Potatoes and Carrots or On the spot Pot Mashed Potatoes.
• Salad. Wholesome baked cod recipes are preferrred with a inexperienced salad. This Caesar Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Crispy Chickpea Croutons would pair properly.

Extra Easy and Wholesome Baked Fish Recipes

Really helpful Instruments to Make Baked Cod

I hope to take my very own recommendation and make many variations of this baked cod sooner or later…as quickly as I get uninterested in this specific iteration, which hasn’t occurred but. Or, possibly I’ll give grilled and pan fried cod recipes a attempt. Any you’d like to see?

When you do this Italian baked cod, please depart a remark to let me know the way it got here out. Your feedback and 5-star critiques make my day and assist the positioning too!