Mediterranean Cod Recipes

Steps:

• Rinse fish, pat dry with paper towels. Season fish with salt and pepper to taste.
• In a large skillet heat 4 tsp of the oil over medium high heat. Add fish and onion. Cook 1 minute, turning once.
• Top fish with tomatoes, olives and thyme. Reduce heat. Cover and cook 2 minutes.
• Drizzle with remaining 4tsp oil, sprinkle with basil. Cover and cook 2-3 minutes more or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Steps:

• Toss the potatoes, onion and garlic with 1 tablespoon olive oil, the red pepper flakes and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Put the cod on a plate; drizzle with the lemon juice and season with salt, pepper and the thyme.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Tear off four 16-inch sheets of parchment paper. Make the packets (see photo gallery): Arrange about one-quarter of the potato mixture on one sheet of parchment; top with a cod fillet and about one-quarter each of the olives and tomatoes (along with some liquid from the can). Drizzle with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Seal as directed. Repeat to make 3 more packets; divide between 2 baking sheets.
• Transfer to the oven and bake until the parchment puffs and the liquid is bubbling, about 25 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes before opening.
• Meanwhile, mix the butter, chives, lemon zest and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Carefully open the packets; top with the chive butter.

Steps:

• Wash the codfish fillet and pat dry with kitchen towels.
• Toss the fillet with the thyme leaves, salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle the flour over the fillet.
• Heat the olive oil in a pan and very quickly pan-fry the fillet.
• Dish out.
• Remove half of the cooking oil and add the chopped garlic, capers, basil and cherry tomatoes.
• Add the fish stock all at once (this will produce a stream of light smoke and this method is called deglazing) and allow to simmer to half the quantity.
• Add the tomato puree and mix well before adding the black olives.
• Sprinkle in the chopped parsley.
• Arrange the fish fillet on a platter and spoon the sauce over it.
• Serve with sauteed potatoes and seasonal vegetables.

Steps:

• Precise amounts of vegetables not given as you just need to use more of the ones you prefer! Be generous with the tomatoes though. Can also add olives, broccoli or, really, any other of your favourite vegetables (I even used Brussels sprouts today). Start by seasoning the cod with salt and pepper, brush over some olive oil and some lemon zest Leave to infuse.
• Par boil potatoes until soft to the touch (no need to peel). Heat oven to 190 / (170C fan). When cool enough to hande, cut into 0.5-1cm thick slices. Add to a bowl along with the rest of the ingredients (except the fish and wine). Mix thoroughly, then when all vegetables are coated, tip into a shallow glass baking dish. Gently drizzle in the wine without distrubing the vegetables (don't want to wash off the oil, herbs and spices!).
• Bake in the preheated oven until the juices are bubbling and the tomatoes are beginning to soften (about 15 minutes). Then gently rest the cod pieces on top of the almost-cooked vegetables and return to the oven. After five minutes, you can lay a little butter on top of the fish to give a bit of extra flavour (but this is optional). Return to the oven for a further 5-10 minutes - try not to over-cook the cod.
• Remove the dish from the oven. There should now be a delicious puddle of richly flavoured juice at the bottom. Transfer the vegetables from the dish into serving bowls, then carefully transfer the cod pieces (try not to break them - use a fish slice, as they should be quite fragile) and place on top of the vegetables. Ladle the lovely juice over the cod and allow it to dribble into the vegetables.
• Serve with warmed crusty bread to mop up the juice!