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Cod with salsa and feta

baked cod with salsa

I usually have little or no luck cooking fish. I’m good with bivalves and crustaceans, even cephlapods…but anything with scales and gills totally eludes any culinary excellence in my hands. However, in my pursuit to improve my nutrition I continue to try. My most common mistake with fish is to overcook it into a mush. Trial and error has taught me that frozen cod filets have a texture, when cooked, that I find acceptable. Plus they’re cost effective, easy to find, and nutritionally excellent.

Really this isn’t a recipe at all…this is me just showing off a picture of my most perfect fish dish ever. It’s cod with salsa and feta cheese, baked for about 20 minutes and then served. I hesitate to offer any cooking advice on how to create this fine meal because it seems like it may have been a fluke…I mean really, good fish…from my own kitchen…no way!

The cod was purchased at Costco and is each portion is individually wrapped and sealed in plastic. I ran cool water over the frozen, wrapped portions while I assembled the other ingredients. That may have taken all of 10 minutes and I probably turned them over half way through. Once they were less frozen I arranged them in a shallow baking dish with some olive oil rubbed over them. I then spooned on a large amount of fresh salsa, also purchased at Costco. Then I crumbled on some locally produced goat’s milk feta, shoved it into a 350° oven and baked it until the internal temperature of the fish reached 140°.

I attribute the success of this dish to several things…the salsa from Costco is excellent, almost better than my own in late August, the cheese from my friend Diana is superb, I like cod, and I used my trusty thermometer to gauge when the fish was cooked and therefore I didn’t screw it up.

The best part about this dish is the flavor. The cod is firm and almost sweet, the salsa adds a fabulous mouthful of zestiness and the cheese is fabulous…the little crusty brown bits have a savory flavor that compliments the other components. Plus it’s low fat, low cal, quick and easy. I love it!

June 24, 2009 | Filed Under beef, fish, poultry, pork, favorite products, food, geek fast food, low carb, low cal, lowfat, quick and easy, recipe 

comments

7 Responses to “Cod with salsa and feta”

  1. Madison Foodie on June 24th, 2009

    We tend to struggle with perfectly cooked fish as well, but your preparation seems to be a hit on on cylinders: good for you, not too expensive, simple prep, easy cook, interesting flavors, and it looks amazing.

    Great food photography BTW.

  2. Nezrite on June 24th, 2009

    I just fell in love with some queso fresco that I got at Sam’s (who knew?!) – I might try this same application but with the fresco instead of the feta. Looks delicious!

  3. Kalyn on June 25th, 2009

    It sounds brilliant to me. (and I have some of that cod in my freezer, so I’m set!)

  4. Rebecca on June 26th, 2009

    If it’s almost sweet, it was probably frozen very fresh. Fish has more sugars in it when it is fresh (says my husband that used to work in fish processing). Think I will have to visit Costco with my mom who has a membership and get some of that cod.

    It’s also good baked with mexican seasoning and cottage cheese.

  5. Sophie on June 26th, 2009

    Such a lovely meal! So delicious!

  6. zoe on June 28th, 2009

    This looks delicious! I also have trouble cooking fish correctly. I just tried baked fish sticks with cod and they came out great! Maybe cod is an easier fish to cook?

  7. Sues on July 4th, 2009

    Looks delicious! Put feta on anything and I’m there!!

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