Baked Cod in Cream Sauce

This is a delicious comfort food meal. It’s a satisfying dinner that feels a little special but is not too difficult to prepare. The cod comes out tender and flaky, and the Parmesan cream sauce is rich without being heavy. 

6 cod fillets

1 tsp Kosher salt

4 TBS butter, melted

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

Roasted tomatoes (my addition)

Cream Sauce:

3 TBS butter

3 TBS cornstarch

2 cups whipping cream (or half and half)

1 cup milk

3 TBS Parmesan cheese, grated

Kosher salt to taste

Black pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 F.

Prepare cream sauce by melting butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat.  Slowly add the cornstarch and stir for about 1 minute.

While whisking constantly, slowly add whipping cream and milk until well combined.  Stir in Parmesan cheese.

Reduce heat to low and whisk occasionally for about 10 minutes until sauce becomes rich and creamy, adding more milk, if needed.  You want the sauce to be the consistency of a thick gravy.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Set the cream sauce aside and keep warm while preparing fish.

Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.  Pat the fish dry with a paper towel and place cod fillets in the dish.  Sprinkle with salt.  

Combine the melted butter and garlic and brush over the cod fillets, reserving any leftover butter mixture.

Sprinkle the seasoned breadcrumbs over the cod fillets and pour remaining butter mixture over the top.

Pour the cream sauce in the spaces between the cod fillets so it fills up the baking dish and just the tops of the cod fillets are visible. Do not pour the sauce over the top of the cod as you want to keep the tops of the cod crisp.

Place in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the cream sauce starts bubbling. 

When the sauce starts bubbling up, set the oven to "broil" and broil for about 3-5 minutes or until the fillets start to turn golden brown.  Keep a close eye on the dish to make sure it doesn't start to burn.

The internal temperature of the fish should be 145 F and should flake easily when pulled apart with a fork.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with a little dill or parsley.  Serve with potatoes, rice or vegetables.

Serves:  6

Source:  favfamilyrecipes.com

Kimberly