Description
Mediterranean Delights introduces pan-seared Mediterranean cod basil sauce as a culinary masterpiece blending fresh seafood with herbal elegance. Delicate cod fillets meet zesty basil sauce, creating harmonious flavors coastal regions celebrate.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs / 680 g fresh cod, cut into 4 fillets
- 1 pint / 475 ml cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- 3 large cloves garlic, finely minced
- ½ cup fresh basil, finely chopped
- 3 tbsps olive oil
- ½ tsp fresh lemon zest
- 3 tbsps fresh lemon juice (divided as 1 tbsp for sauce, 2 tbsps for seasoning)
- ¼ cup / 60 ml vegetable broth
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp salt (more to taste)
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp fresh ground black pepper (more to taste)
- Additional salt and pepper for seasoning
Instructions
- Sauce Preparation: Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium heat, infusing with red pepper flakes and minced garlic for 60 seconds until fragrant.
- Tomato Transformation: Add whole cherry tomatoes, cooking for 10-12 minutes until they soften and develop a delicate blistered exterior, creating a rich base for the sauce.
- Flavor Layering: Pour vegetable broth and initial lemon juice into the pan, simmering gracefully. Incorporate freshly chopped basil, remaining lemon juice, citrus zest, salt, sugar, and cracked black pepper, briefly cooking to blend flavors.
- Cod Searing: Heat olive oil in a separate skillet over medium flame. Season cod fillets with salt and black pepper, then carefully place in the hot pan, creating a golden-brown crust by cooking 3 minutes per side.
- Final Harmony: Cascade the vibrant tomato basil sauce over the perfectly seared cod, warming for a final minute to marry the flavors. Serve immediately, showcasing the Mediterranean-inspired dish.
Notes
- Maximize Tomato Flavor: Gently cook cherry tomatoes until they blister and soften, releasing natural sweetness and creating a rich sauce base.
- Perfect Cod Seasoning: Pat fish dry before adding salt and pepper to ensure a crispy, golden-brown exterior that locks in moisture and flavor.
- Herb Freshness Tip: Add chopped basil at the end of cooking to preserve its bright, aromatic qualities and prevent wilting or bitterness.
- Oil Temperature Control: Use medium heat to prevent burning garlic and red pepper flakes, allowing their flavors to bloom without becoming bitter or acrid.
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg