Hello, new month! We’re opening the first week of March with a vibrant dinner dish (as promised in my last email) that is so perfect for this coming spring season and Ash Wednesday, which is in a few days for those of you who observe the Lenten Season. The best part is that this baked cod doesn’t require much effort in the kitchen and comes ready in just 20 minutes! Wohooo!
What Does Cod Fish Taste Like?
There are very few people that I know of that dislike cod. Yes, and I probably have asked them “whhhyyyy” a million times! Cod fish is sometimes nicknamed as the “chicken of the sea” because of it’s white, lean, flaky meat and mild taste. It’s also probably the reason why most “fish ‘n chips” are always made with cod. With its mild taste, you could season it with whatever that suits your mood.
How to Choose the Best White Fish for a Recipe?
White fish is not another kind of fish species, but instead it refers to the fish that is mild in flavor (like the cod), quick-cooking fish that is also budget-friendly. If a recipe calls for a white fish, you can buy any of the following: cod, tilapia, catfish, bass, grouper and snapper – to mention some. To choose the best kind of fish for a recipe you have to follow some of these seriously easy steps:
Can I use other kind of fish?
Yes, you can replace Cod with Tilapia, Haddock, Pollack, Stripped Bass, Mahi-Mahi and Grouper fillets. Any lean white fish would turn out great with this sauce.
How Long to Bake Cod?
Since it is a lean type of fish, Cod cooks really quickly in a preheated 400 F oven. It should take around 10-15 minutes to cook depending, of course, upon the thickness of your fish fillet. For a 375 F oven, that would be around 15 -20 minutes and around 25-30 minutes in a 350 F oven.
Is it Safe to Eat Cod?
Actually, Cod is among the best choices of fish that the FDA recommends to eat 2-3 servings per week. You can refer to this chart here for their healthy and safe recommendations on eating fish.
More Delicious Fish Recipes
Curry Fish Fish Stew Southern Fried Catfish Fish Yassa Oven Baked Salmon If you can’t find fresh cod though, frozen cod will work just fine. Just make sure you thaw them and pat dry well before you lightly season it with salt and pepper. Serve this delicious baked cod with your choice of rice or a green leafy salad. Enjoy!
Tips and Notes:
Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 400ºF. Spray baking pan with cooking spray or lightly oil. Set aside. Dab both sides of cod fish dry with paper towels, season both sides with salt and pepper.
In a small pan set over medium low, heat butter, minced garlic, paprika, onion powder, cayenne pepper and parsley or basil. Stir for about 30 seconds or 1 minute. Let this mixture sit for a little bit about 5 minutes. Add lemon juice to mixture.
Brush cod fish with spice mixture, making sure every inch is covered with spice. Add to prepared baking dish or baking sheet.
Bake until cooked through, about 10-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fish and your preferred doneness. When the thickest part of cod is easily flaked with a fork, then is perfectly cooked. Garnish immediately with lemon