Description
Succulent cod nestles in a zesty Mediterranean tomato basil sauce, highlighting fresh herbs and bright Mediterranean flavors. Home cooks can easily create this elegant seafood dish that brings coastal Italian charm directly to dinner tables.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs fresh cod, cut into 4 fillets
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- 3 large cloves garlic, finely minced
- ½ cup fresh basil, finely chopped
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- ¼ cup vegetable broth
- 3 tbsps fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp salt (more to taste)
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp fresh ground black pepper (more to taste)
- ½ tsp fresh lemon zest
- Additional salt and pepper for seasoning
Instructions
- Sauce Creation: Warm olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, infusing the base with initial flavor profiles.
- Aromatic Foundation: Introduce red pepper flakes and minced garlic, releasing intense fragrance for 60 seconds while developing depth.
- Tomato Transformation: Add whole cherry tomatoes, allowing them to soften and blister, creating a rustic sauce texture through gentle cooking for 9-12 minutes.
- Flavor Layering: Integrate vegetable broth, lemon juice, chopped fresh basil, lemon zest, salt, sugar, and black pepper, simmering to blend complex taste dimensions.
- Cod Preparation: Season cod fillets with salt and pepper, ensuring even coverage for optimal seasoning.
- Searing Technique: Heat additional olive oil in a separate skillet, carefully placing cod to achieve a golden-brown exterior, cooking approximately 3 minutes per side for perfect doneness.
- Final Assembly: Ladle warm tomato basil sauce over seared cod, ensuring complete coverage and allowing flavors to meld for one final minute before serving.
Notes
- Tomato Selection: Choose ripe, firm cherry tomatoes for maximum flavor burst and ideal sauce texture.
- Seasoning Strategy: Pat cod fillets dry before seasoning to achieve a perfect golden-brown crust and prevent steaming.
- Heat Control: Maintain medium heat to prevent burning garlic and develop deep, balanced sauce flavors without scorching.
- Fresh Herb Tip: Add basil at the end of cooking to preserve its bright, aromatic qualities and prevent wilting.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 360 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg