Grilled Cod Recipes

PERFECT GRILLED COD

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium-high heat (375 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Bring the cod to room temperature for about 15 minutes.
• Pat the cod dry with a clean towel. Rub it with the olive oil and sprinkle it with the kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. Then cover it with the homemade blackened seasoning or seafood seasoning on all sides.
• Grill the cod over indirect heat for 4 minutes, until it releases from the grates. Flip and cook another 2 to 4 minutes, until the internal temperature is 130 degrees (right when the cod starts to flake when pulled with a fork). Allow to rest for a few minutes, then serve.

GRILLED COD

Steps:

• Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. The target temp is about 400 degrees F.
• Pat the cod dry and place on a plate. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• In a small, microwave-safe bowl in the microwave or a small saucepan on the stove, melt the butter. Stir in the lemon juice.
• If cooking the fish in foil packets: Place each piece of cod in the center of a large, double-stacked piece of aluminum foil (the pieces should each be about 18 inches square). Brush both sides of the cod liberally with the butter/lemon juice mixture. Bring two opposite edges of the foil up and towards the center so that they meet, then fold them down over each other to make a seam in the center. Fold in the edges to seal so that you create a packet. Leave some space inside of each packet for air to circulate. If not using a foil packet, brush the fish on the plate.
• Prepare the sauce: in a small food processor, place the cilantro and garlic. Pulse several times, until the garlic is minced.
• Add the lemon juice, olive oil, chili, oregano, and salt and pulse again to combine.
• Add the yogurt, then blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Refrigerate until you are ready to serve the fish.
• When ready to grill: if you are not using the foil packet, immediately before grilling the fish, oil the grill VERY well so that the fish doesn't stick (if using a packet, no need to oil). Cook the fish on the first side without disturbing it for 6 minutes, then carefully flip (the fish should release easily; if it doesn't, cook it a little longer).
• Cook for an additional 6 to 7 minutes on the second side, or until the cod is opaque, flakes easily with a fork, and reaches an internal temperature of 145 F. DO NOT flip the fish back over. If you are using a foil packet, no need to flip the fish; cook it for 8 to 10 minutes total, until the fish is completely cooked through.
• Remove cod from the grill. Serve with the green sauce and an additional sprinkle of fresh herbs.

SPICY COD WITH GRILLED LIME

Steps:

• Set up your grill for medium heat.
• In a small saucepan, combine the mirin, sake and sugar and bring to a simmer on the grill. Whisk until smooth and the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the grill and whisk in the miso, sriracha and rice vinegar. Cool.
• Place the cod fillets into a zip-top bag. When the miso mixture has cooled, pour over the cod, seal the bag and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 to 3 days. The longer fish marinates, the better.
• Set up your grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only. Allow the temperature to reach 400 to 450°F.
• Liberally grease the grates of your grill with the oil.
• Remove the fish from the marinade and allow the excess to drain off.
• Meanwhile, place the limes, cut-side down, onto the direct heat side of the grill and grill until charred, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the grill and set aside.
• Place the fish, skin-side down, on the indirect heat side of the grill. Cover the grill and cook until the fish is flaky and cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Transfer the fish to a serving platter and squeeze 1 of the grilled limes all over the fish. Serve with the remaining grilled limes.

GRILLED COD

Steps:

• Stack about 15 charcoal briquettes into a grill in a pyramid shape. If desired, drizzle coals lightly with lighter fluid and allow to soak for 1 minute before lighting coals with a match. Allow fire to spread to all coals, about 10 minutes, before spreading briquettes out into the grill; let coals burn until a thin layer of white ash covers the coals. Lightly oil the grates.
• Season both sides of cod with Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, salt, and black pepper. Set fish aside on a plate. Heat butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, stir in lemon juice and green onion, and cook until onion is softened, about 3 minutes.
• Place cod onto oiled grates and grill until fish is browned and flakes easily, about 3 minutes per side; baste with butter mixture frequently while grilling. Allow cod to rest off the heat for about 5 minutes before serving.

SIMPLE GRILLED COD STEAKS

Steps:

• To keep the steaks from falling apart, fold the long, thin end pieces-the belly flaps-inward to form a compact round of flesh. Tie a length of kitchen twine in a loop around the outside band of skin of the fish, securing the flaps within; pull to tighten, and knot it securely.
• Sprinkle both sides of the steaks with salt, coat with garlic oil, and place in a dish with a few garlic slices and the herb stems strewn over them. Marinate for an hour or two at room temperature, or longer if refrigerated.
• Preheat the clean rack of a grill over high heat until very hot. Just before putting on the fish, rub the grill with an oiled towel or a piece of pork fat. Wipe excess garlic oil off the steaks, and set them on the grill.
• Sear the steaks without moving them for 4 to 5 minutes. Brush the tops with garlic oil. If the fish isn't sticking, check the cooked undersides and flip the steaks over as soon as the grill marks are golden brown. If the flesh sticks, grill another minute to sear, then turn the steaks over, using a sharp-edged broad metal spatula if necessary, to separate the flesh from the grill.
• Grill to mark the second side, 3 to 4 minutes; brush the top side with a small amount of garlic oil, and lower heat to medium. If the flesh is not sticking, you can make crosshatch grill marks if you wish: lift the steak after 3 minutes, rotate it 90 degrees or so in relation to the grill rack, then lower it on the same side.
• When the second side has grilled for 4 minutes or more, check for doneness by feel and sight: when the exterior flakes and the center of the steak is opaque but moist (push aside the flesh with a knife blade to see inside), remove steaks to a platter.
• Sprinkle with salt and drizzle with garlic oil. Serve right away with sauce on the side, or top with spoonfuls of salsa verde, or drizzle salmoriglio, or dress with just a plain slice of lemon and some extra-virgin olive oil.
• First Make Garlic Oil and Other Tips for Grilled Seafood
• Here are my basic preparations for all fish or shellfish before grilling. They're useful for either gas or charcoal grills, although every grill differs in heat output and cooking times:
• First, make plenty of garlic-infused oil, ahead of time, to flavor all fish and shellfish, including clams, mussels, and oysters in the shell.
• For one cup of oil, drop 1/4 cup of sliced garlic in 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Let the oil infuse for 1/2 hour to 1 hour before using; then remove the garlic slices. The oil can be refrigerated for a week or more.
• Marinate the seafood in garlic oil: pour just enough oil over to coat; toss and turn to oil all surfaces. Toss in some of the garlic slices if the garlic oil is freshly made, or a few newly cut slices, as well as fresh herb stems or branches-such as thyme, bay leaves, or rosemary. Marinate all fish for an hour or two if possible before grilling, or even overnight (refrigerated, of course).
• Clean and scrape the grill rack well, and get it intensely hot over high heat or hot piled coals before putting on the fish.
• Grease the hot grill rack lightly before putting on food, with an oiled paper towel, or a piece of cured pork skin from prosciutto end (page 129).
• Sear fish without turning until deeply marked by the grill, anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes. Thorough searing minimizes sticking.
• For large fish or steaks, initially cook over high heat, then, halfway through, lower heat to medium; for smaller pieces, lower the heat (or spread the coals) and cook only over medium heat.
• Keep garlic oil handy, and drizzle or brush on seafood sparingly while grilling-usually on turning the pieces. Avoid spilling any oil onto the lava rocks or coals and starting smoky, bad-tasting flare-ups.
• Grill simple garnishes and accompaniments for seafood at the same time. I grill rounds of lemon on the rack alongside my fish or shellfish, until nicely caramelized, 5 minutes or more, turning them occasionally. Another favorite: brush slices of country bread with garlic oil, and mark well on both sides (over a cool section of the grill), to serve with the fish.
• Serving Suggestions . . .
• Cooked Carrot Salad with Pine Nuts and Golden Raisins (page 45), Scallion and Asparagus Salad (page 35), or Eggplant all'Uccelletto (Poached Eggplant with Vinegar, Garlic, and Mint; page 252) would be an ideal accompaniment for grilled cod.
• First Make Garlic Oil-And Other Tips for Grilled Seafood
• Just a few steps from my kitchen is the door to a shady terrazzo where we relax and eat many of our summer meals. On one wall is a beautiful old-fashioned brick fireplace for cooking meats over wood coals. But often, I have to confess, I do my everyday grilling on a convenient gas grill with adjustable burners. And usually I grill fish or shellfish-it's always quick, and my family loves it.
• Here are my basic preparations for all fish or shellfish before grilling. They're useful for either gas or charcoal grills, although every grill differs in heat output and cooking times:
• First, make plenty of garlic-infused oil, ahead of time, to flavor all fish and shellfish, including clams, mussels, and oysters in the shell.
• For one cup of oil, drop 1/4 cup of sliced garlic in 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Let the oil infuse for 1/2 hour to 1 hour before using; then remove the garlic slices. The oil can be refrigerated for a week or more.
• Marinate the seafood in garlic oil: pour just enough oil over to coat; toss and turn to oil all surfaces. Toss in some of the garlic slices if the garlic oil is freshly made, or a few newly cut slices, as well as fresh herb stems or branches-such as thyme, bay leaves, or rosemary. Marinate all fish for an hour or two if possible before grilling, or even overnight (refrigerated, of course).
• Clean and scrape the grill rack well, and get it intensely hot over high heat or hot piled coals before putting on the fish.
• Grease the hot grill rack lightly before putting on food, with an oiled paper towel, or a piece of cured pork skin from prosciutto end (page 129).
• Sear fish without turning until deeply marked by the grill, anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes. Thorough searing minimizes sticking.
• For large fish or steaks, initially cook over high heat, then, halfway through, lower heat to medium; for smaller pieces, lower the heat (or spread the coals) and cook only over medium heat.
• Keep garlic oil handy, and drizzle or brush on seafood sparingly while grilling-usually on turning the pieces. Avoid spilling any oil onto the lava rocks or coals and starting smoky, bad-tasting flare-ups.
• Grill simple garnishes and accompaniments for seafood at the same time. I grill rounds of lemon on the rack alongside my fish or shellfish, until nicely caramelized, 5 minutes or more, turning them occasionally. Another favorite: brush slices of country bread with garlic oil, and mark well on both sides (over a cool section of the grill), to serve with the fish.

COD FISH GRILLED IN FOIL

Steps:

• Use heavy aluminum foil cut into large squares. Place equal portions of the fish fillets on each piece of foil.
• In a saucepan, melt butter. Add lemon juice, parsley, salt and pepper.
• Stir to blend well. Pour this mixture over the fish, sprinkle with paprika and top with onion slices.
• Fold the foil around the fish and seal.
• Grill for 5 to 7 minutes per side. Fish should flake easily when done.