Pan Fried Cod with Cilantro Chile Relish

I got a great deal on frozen cod fillets at Sams the other day. I love cod! It’s a beautiful mild flaky fish and it is fantastic for frying. Since I wasn’t in the mood for fish and chips I decided a nice light, spicy application was in order. I removed the seeds from the chile peppers and it made for a tangy relish with a nice kick.
Even though this was a pan-fried fish, the dish turned out surprisingly light!
Enjoy!

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time:
15 minutes

Pan Fried Cod with Cilantro Chile Relish
Modified from: This recipe.

2-4 fillets of Cod (or any other hearty white fish)
kosher salt and pepper
2 cups of flour (1 cup if only making two filets)
SAUCE:
1/3 cup water
1/2 Tbsp. tamarind paste (available at Indian/Asian stores) OR substitute 1 Tbsp. lime juice +1/2 tsp. dark soy sauce
3 cloves garlic
1 heaping tsp. brown sugar
1 thumb-size piece of ginger, peeled and sliced
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves and stems
2 Tbsp. fish sauce
1/2 red bell pepper, de-seeded and diced
1-2 fresh red chilies, minced (de-seeded if you prefer less heat)
1 1/2 cups canola or other vegetable oil for deep-frying

Preparation:

1. Pat fish dry. Sprinkle surface with kosher salt and pepper. Set aside while you prepare the sauce.
2. Place water, tamarind (or lime juice + soy sauce), garlic, sugar, ginger, cilantro, chile, and fish sauce in a food processor. Process well (OR chop and mix by hand). Check for seasoning- if you want more salt, add a small amount of fish sauce to taste. If you want it sweeter, add a little more brown sugar to taste.
3. Coat fish with flour. Shake gently to remove excess flour.
4. Heat oil in pan over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add fish one filet at a time. Allow to cook 3-4 minutes per side. Do not turn until fish is brown on one side or the fish may stick to the bottom of the pan. Fish should be golden brown and should flake easily.
5. Once fish is cooked top with cilantro chile relish and serve over jasmine rice.

This entry was posted in General Announcements, Quick and Easy Recipes, Seafood Dishes. Bookmark the permalink.

One Response to Pan Fried Cod with Cilantro Chile Relish

  1. Pingback: Delicious Fish Dishes Ready in 30 Minutes or Less | Yummly