Poached Cod Piperade Recipes

BUTTER POACHED FISH

Steps:

• Heat two tablespoons of the butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped shallots and cook until they are translucent. Make sure that the butter does not brown. Add lemon juice and remaining butter.
• When the butter has melted, add the fish. Gently place the fish into the pan. The cooking liquid should cover the fish 2/3 up the side of the fish. Turn the temperature high and allow the fish to cook for three minutes once the cooking liquid begins to boil. Turn the heat down and allow to cook on low for an additional minute.
• Finish the recipe with a touch of sea salt!

OLIVE OIL-POACHED COD

Steps:

• For the poached cod: Pat the cod dry with a paper towel, sprinkle it with salt and black pepper and let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes.
• Heat a deep medium nonstick or enamel skillet over medium-high heat. Add the coriander seeds and pink peppercorns and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Slowly add the olive oil and bring the oil to 180 degrees F. Carefully add the cod to the oil. The cod should be fully submerged; if it's not, gently flip the fillets halfway through cooking, or add more oil to the skillet. Cook until the cod is opaque, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, for the dressing: Combine the creme fraiche, buttermilk, vinegar, cilantro and peppercorns in a blender and puree. Add salt to taste.
• For the avocado salad: Combine the avocado, radishes, shallot and teardrop peppers in a medium bowl. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and a splash of champagne vinegar and toss gently; stir in the cilantro.
• Using a fish spatula, transfer the cod to a paper towel-lined plate. Place 1 piece of cod in the center of each of serving plates. Tuck the avocado salad next to the cod. Drizzle the salad with dressing and top with the crushed fried onions.

PIPERADE

Steps:

• Cut a small X into bottom of each tomato. Bring a pot of water to a boil, add tomatoes and cook until skin begins to wrinkle and peel at the edges of the cuts, about 30 seconds. Drain, rinse with cool water and peel off skin with your fingers. Roughly chop tomatoes and set aside.
• In a 12-inch skillet over medium high heat, heat oil until hot but not smoking. Add onions, peppers and salt and sauté, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent and peppers have started to lighten in spots, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and continue to sauté for 1 more minute.
• Stir in tomatoes, sugar and piment d'Espelette, reduce heat to medium, cover and cook until tomatoes are starting to fall apart and peppers are soft but still hold their shape, about 15 minutes. Remove cover and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens like a slightly runny relish, about 5 minutes more. Adjust salt.

POACHED COD WITH LEMON-BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut cod fillets into four serving size pieces and place in large pan in one layer.
• Add the milk and the water to the pan so that the fish is barely covered--if necessary add more water.
• Add the bay leaf, the parsley sprigs, peppercorns and cloves.
• Bring to a simmer and cover and cook gently for three to four minutes until fish just flakes--cooking time will depend upon the thickness of the fish--do not overcook.
• While the fish is poaching, start the sauce by melting one tablespoon of the butter in a saucepan and briefly cooking the garlic and the shallots in the butter.
• Remove 1/4 cup of the poaching liquid and add it to the sauce, stirring all the while.
• Bring the sauce to a boil, add the lemon juice and swirl in the remaining butter, one tablespoon at a time.
• Remove from the heat and add the minced parsley.
• Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning.
• Drain the fish and serve it hot with the lemon-butter sauce poured over it.

POACHED COD WITH LEMON-PARSLEY SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix the lemon-parsley sauce ingredients together thoroughly in a small bowl, then set aside.
• At serving time, bring the 6 cups of water to a boil in a large saucepan. Holding the fish fillets with a slotted spoon or skimmer, lower them individually into the pan, and bring the water back to a boil. Reduce the heat to very low, and poach the fish, cooking the pieces at a very light boil for 3 to 4 minutes, until they are barely cooked through.
• Using a slotted spoon or skimmer, lift the fish from the water, drain thoroughly, and arrange one fillet on each of six warm plates. Press the fish lightly with a spatula or fork to make it separate a little into flakes, which will permit the sauce to be absorbed and to penetrate the interior of the fish.
• Spoon the sauce over the fish. Serve immediately.