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I am one of those people who could eat fish just about everyday of the week. I guess it falls in line with my love of meat. My name is Oma, and I am a meat eater! I love that fish, when cooked correctly, doesn’t taste fishy, rather it tastes like the ocean. There is a big distinction between the two things, freshness being the most important one. Fish on its own can be pretty plain, so it is the perfect blank canvas, for whatever sauces or spices you put on it. This recipe for Baked Cod with Sweet and Spicy Peppers is one of my favorite ways to serve a meaty, white fish.
Baked Cod with Sweet and Spicy Peppers is meaty white fish, covered in tender, lightly pickled and spicy peppers for a gorgeous and flavorful meal.
Cod is a wonderful fish for cooking. It is nice and meaty. When people say a piece of fish is meaty (obviously it is a piece of meat), they are referring to its heartiness or its ability to hold up to the cooking process without falling apart easily. Cod fillets are a beautiful white, almost alabaster in color. The flavor is mild so it is a versatile choice when wanting to pair it with a bold flavored side dish or spice.
I have made a side dish for years that I call, Sweet and Spicy Peppers. This is several colors of bell pepper, that I cut into julienne strips, then saute in olive oil and spices. When they are just a about tender, I add a sprinkling of sugar to start a caramelization process, then hit it with vinegar that creates an almost pickled flavoring in the peppers. This imparts bold flavors, yet allows the peppers to maintain their tenderness. The flavor is fabulous!
Baked Cod with Sweet and Spicy Peppers is a quick and easy meal for a busy weeknight, yet gorgeous and delicious enough to serve for a guests.
Baked Cod with Sweet and Spicy Peppers is a wonderful, easy meal your whole family will love. To make, you will start by cleaning your peppers and cutting them into julienne strips. I like red and green peppers because it creates a beautiful plate of food when topping the white fish, but choose whatever your prefer. Sauté these in olive oil and spices and then pickle with the sugar and liquids. You will cook the liquids down until they are almost evaporated and then they are ready to top your fish. I usually have my peppers almost done when I pop the fish in the oven. That way, I am only left to top the fish with the peppers. Always start with the freshest Cod you can find. Cut the fish into fillets, if it is not already done for you and place them on a lightly greased baking sheet. Sprinkle the spices on both sides and then top with the garlic butter. This, you will pop into the oven to bake for about 20 minutes. When these fillets come out of the oven, place them on a plate, gently ladle the peppers across the fish and serve.
Baked Cod with Sweet and Spicy Peppers
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter, room temp
- 4 tsp olive oil
- 4 cloves chopped, garlic
- 1-1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp dill
- 16 ounces cod (cut into 4 ounce pieces)
Sweet and Spicy Peppers
- 2 medium green bell peppers, julienned
- 2 medium red bell peppers, julienned
- 2 tbsp dried, basil
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp white wine
- 2 tbsp white vinegar
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tsp red pepper flakes
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Sprinkle fish with salt, paprika and dill, front and back. Place on a lined baking dish.
- In a small bowl, combine the butter, olive oil and garlic, heat until just melted. Stir to combine and then spoon this over the fish.
- Place the cod into the preheated oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes, or fish flakes easily with a fork. Serve immediately with sweet and spicy peppers.
Sweet and Spicy Peppers
- Clean peppers and cut into julienne strips.
- Heat olive oil in large skillet and add peppers. Saute in olive oil until crisp tender.
- Lightly season with salt, then sprinkle with dried basil and red pepper flakes. Saute a few minutes longer and then sprinkle with sugar to caramelize (about 5 minutes).
- Add vinegar to the pan, then add wine and continue to cook until the liquids become absorbed.
- Serve this spooned over your baked cod. Enjoy!
Baked Cod with Sweet and Spicy Peppers is as pretty as it is delicious. I love that if I am having company, I can serve this with a crispy salad and a side of rice and it looks absolutely gourmet. However, it is a meal that is easy enough to make, that I can whip it up in 40 minutes, for a quick weeknight meal. If you or your family is sensitive to spice, leave off the red pepper flakes. If you don’t have cod, halibut or another white fish is a perfect substitute. This is one of my favorites and I am eager to have you make it and let me know what you think. Enjoy friends!
Remember to leave a *Star Rating* and tag me on your Instagram posts if you make any of my recipes. I love to see your creations!
