Description
Ina Garten’s baked cod with garlic & herb Ritz crumbs elevates simple seafood with crispy, herbed breadcrumbs. Delicate fish meets crunchy topping, creating a quick weeknight dinner that delights with Mediterranean coastal charm.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cod fillets, center-cut, boneless, skinless (6 to 8 oz / 170 to 227 g each)
- 3 tbsps (45 g) unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup (60 g) Ritz cracker crumbs (15 crackers)
- ⅓ cup (35 g) panko (Japanese bread flakes)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) minced fresh parsley
- 2 tsps (10 ml) minced garlic (2 cloves)
- 1 tsp (5 ml) grated lemon zest
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Good olive oil
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C), positioning rack in the center for even heat distribution.
- Dish Setup: Coat a 9 × 9-inch ceramic baking dish with olive oil, creating a smooth foundation for the cod fillets.
- Fish Preparation: Arrange cod fillets in the dish, ensuring complete olive oil coverage, then season thoroughly with salt and ground black pepper.
- Initial Baking: Roast the seasoned fish for 10 minutes, allowing initial flavor development and partial cooking.
- Crispy Topping Creation: Blend Ritz cracker crumbs, panko breadcrumbs, parsley, garlic, lemon zest, and salt in a mixing bowl, creating a complex flavor profile.
- Crumb Moisture: Integrate melted butter into the crumb mixture, ensuring a cohesive and clinging texture that will adhere perfectly to the fish.
- Liquid Enhancement: Extract partially cooked cod from the oven, then splash white wine and fresh lemon juice over the fillets, developing a rich, aromatic base.
- Crumb Application: Delicately press the prepared crumb mixture onto the fish, guaranteeing complete and even coverage while allowing some crumbs to meld with the developing sauce.
- Final Baking: Return the dish to the oven, continuing to bake for 12 minutes until the cod is fully cooked and the topping achieves a golden, crisp exterior.
- Serving: Transfer the fish to serving plates, drizzle with pan juices, and garnish with fresh lemon wedges for a vibrant, zesty presentation.
Notes
- Crumb Coating Technique: Mix dry and wet ingredients thoroughly to create a cohesive, crunchy topping that sticks perfectly to the fish without falling off during baking.
- Wine Selection Matters: Choose a dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio to enhance the fish’s delicate flavor without overpowering the herbs and garlic.
- Moisture Management: Drizzling wine and lemon juice creates a flavorful sauce that keeps the cod tender and prevents it from drying out during the cooking process.
- Precision Timing is Key: Watch the fish closely during the final 12 minutes to achieve a golden-brown crumb topping without burning, ensuring a crispy exterior and perfectly cooked fish.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg