Poached Cod With Lemon-Butter Sauce

Submitted by Chef Kate

"From Pierre Franey, a very simple presentation of cod that really brings out the best in the fish. Delicious with a rich, spicy vegetable dish. If you want to concentrate the lemon flavor, grate a little lemon peel over the finished cod. You can also add chopped capers to the sauce."

 

• Ready In: 30mins
• Ingredients: 13
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 lbs cod fish fillets
• 1 cup milk
• 1 1⁄2 cups water
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 sprigs fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 4 whole peppercorns
• 2 whole cloves
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1⁄2 teaspoon garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons shallots, minced
• 1⁄2 lemon, juice of
• salt & freshly ground black pepper

directions

1. Cut cod fillets into four serving size pieces and place in large pan in one layer.
2. Add the milk and the water to the pan so that the fish is barely covered--if necessary add more water.
3. Add the bay leaf, the parsley sprigs, peppercorns and cloves.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Remove 1/4 cup of the poaching liquid and add it to the sauce, stirring all the while.
7. Bring the sauce to a boil, add the lemon juice and swirl in the remaining butter, one tablespoon at a time.
8. Remove from the heat and add the minced parsley.
9. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning.
10. Drain the fish and serve it hot with the lemon-butter sauce poured over it.

Reviews

[Denise L.]

This was a very easy and simple but tasty meal. I made it exactly as written, but used dried parsley instead of fresh. I served jasmine rice and tarragon green beans on the side. VERY good! Highly recommended!

 

[PaulaG]

Often times the simple recipes are the true winners. This is easy, simple and delicious. Dinner was ready in no time. This was served with some leftover Ruby Tuesday's Creamy Mashed Cauliflower Recipe #110170 which was sprinkled with freshly grated parmesan and Spinach/Strawberry Salad recipe #35547. This is an elegant meal that required minimal time in the kitchen

 

[Tracy T.]

I made this tonight - I did not have garlic or shallots so I simplified this recipe. Cooked the fish per the recipe in the milk and water with the bay leaf, clove and peppercorn. There was nothing to sauté so I just put butter into the bottom of a bowl and some of the cooking liquid together, made sure the butter was melted then added the lemon juice & fish. Delicious! Next time I will actually follow the recipe and make something on the side to serve this with!

 

[Miss Tanya]

It was delicious and I'll make this again.

 

[Annacia]

Please don't shoot me but I used low fat milk and used a bit (2 tsp)of heart healthy margarine for some flavor and I thickened it with a bit of cornstarch. I have not poached in milk before so I discovered something that I like a lot. I put it on brown rice with broccoli on the side. I loved it and the fact that the fat was lowered quite a lot.