Cod Provençal Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place the potatoes in a large saucepan, cover with 1 inch of cold water, add 2 teaspoons salt and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and cook the potatoes until they are fork-tender, 5 to 8 minutes (depending on how big they are). Drain the potatoes and set aside until cool enough to handle; thinly slice the potatoes into rounds and set aside.
• Heat a nonstick skillet over high heat. Add the grapeseed oil and cod and cook until browned, about 2 minutes. Transfer the fish to a large plate and set aside.
• Arrange the fennel, garlic, potatoes, oregano, thyme, olives, capers and tomatoes in a medium broiler-proof casserole dish. Place the cod seared-side up and in the center of the dish and cover the cod with some of the vegetables. Drizzle with some olive oil and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Bake until the cod feels semi-firm to light pressure and the vegetables are caramelized, about 15 minutes. Heat the broiler to high and finish the fish under the broiler for 1 minute, until the crust is extra browned. Serve garnished with the parsley.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Arrange fillets in 8x8x2 inch square baking dish.
• Saute onion and garlic in oil in medium-size skillet over medium heat 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly softened. Add tomatoes, capers, basil, olives, lemon juice, oregano, salt if using and pepper.
• Simmer, stirring occasionally for approximately 8 minutes. Spoon the sauce over the fish.
• Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes or until cooked through.

Steps:

• Drain chickpeas. If you used dried, reserve cooking liquid; if they are canned, discard the liquid and rinse the chickpeas. Put 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When it's hot, add bread crumbs, sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until they're crisp and toasted, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from pan.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the skillet; increase heat to medium-high. When oil is hot, add garlic, olives, capers and anchovies. Cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, a minute or two. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until it darkens slightly, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Start adding spinach a handful at a time; keep stirring until all the spinach fits in the pan and starts to release its water; sprinkle with a little more pepper, then add the stock, chickpeas and red chile flakes if you're using them. Adjust the heat so the mixture bubbles gently but steadily, then stir in the squid and the shrimp. Cook until the seafood is just cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Taste and adjust the seasoning. Divide among bowls, sprinkle with bread crumbs and serve.

Steps:

• In a non-skillet heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking and in it sauté the cod, seasoned with salt and pepper, for 30 seconds. Sprinkle the cod with the tomatoes, the olives, and the thyme, reduce the heat to moderately low, and cook the mixture, covered for 2 minutes. Scatter the basil over the fish, drizzle it with the remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil, and cook it, covered, for 1 minute, or until it just flakes.

Steps:

• Neatly trim the cod fillets. Score the skin of each fillet 3-4 times at regular intervals. Lay the fish in a shallow dish and sprinkle both sides of the fillets with the salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Set aside or chill overnight, see box, far right.
• Deseed and finely slice the peppers, then finely grate the garlic and lemon zest over the peppers. Carefully slice the fennel on a mandolin, or as finely as possible with a sharp knife, then tip half the fennel into a bowl of iced water and set aside.
• Brush the salt off the fish or, if it has dissolved, wipe the brine off with kitchen paper. Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a large non-stick pan, cook the fish, skin side down, for 4 mins until the skin is crisp and browned, then remove from the pan.
• Put 1 tbsp more oil into the pan. Fry the fennel and the marinated peppers together for 4-5 mins until soft and starting to brown. Throw in the tomatoes and the balsamic vinegar, then continue to cook for 2-3 mins until they soften and release their juices. Scatter over the olives, capers and herbs, then toss everything together.
• Nestle the fish fillets, skin side up, among the vegetables, then lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 5-6 mins until the fish is just cooked through. Lift the fish from the pan and give the sauce a final simmer and stir, then turn off the heat. This dish is better served warm rather than hot, so don't worry about the vegetables or fish resting before you serve.
• Drain the reserved fennel and pat dry with kitchen paper. Toss with the juice from half the grated lemon, 2 tbsp olive oil and the anchovies. To serve, spoon the vegetables into the middle of two large dinner plates. Sit the cod, skin side up, on top of the vegetables and top with a neat bundle of fennel salad. Drizzle everything with a touch more oil, then scatter with the small basil leaves.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place cod fillets in a nonreactive dish, and squeeze lemon on top. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt, and season with pepper.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions; cook until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Add garlic; cook for 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Top with half the zucchini, tomatoes, and thyme. Drizzle with 1 1/2 teaspoons oil, sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt, and season with pepper. Add cod and remaining zucchini, tomatoes, thyme, oil, and salt. Season with pepper.
• Bake, covered, for 10 minutes. Baste with the juices, and bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes more.