Cod in Creamy Red Roasted Pepper Sauce

Recipe Review: “I have struggled with fish and how to cook until I stumbled upon this recipe and it was the best fish dish I ever cooked. Delicious thank you so much for sharing. I will be making it again.” ~ Shannon B.

Seafood does not have to be complicated. If you’re a beginner, this cod in cream sauce is the perfect recipe to start with.

It involves cod that is roasted on a bed of zucchini, yellow squash, and red onions with the most flavorful roasted pepper sauce. The sauce is definitely the star of this recipe.

It quickly comes together on the stovetop then it gets transferred into a food processor and puréed until creamy rich. It pairs crazy well with mild cod and tender veggies.

Not only is it delicious over cod but use it over pasta, veggies, chicken, or any other white mild fish. With just enough sweetness from the cream and bite from the peppers, it’s the perfect combo of flavors.

For even more flavor, use heavy cream instead of light cream, and red pepper flakes for little heat.

How to Make Cod in Cream Sauce

So many of you made this cod with homemade roasted peppers and this how to from Ina Garten is simple and easy to follow. 

I love jarred roasted peppers from the store because of their convenience. They’re tasty and you can pick up a jar at just about any store. 

Step 1: Cook peppers, garlic, and basil in olive oil for about 5-8 minutes or until the flavors blend and are fragrant. Large non-stick or stainless steel skillet is great for this step.

Step 2: Transfer the mixture into a bowl of a food processor and process until smooth. You may have to stop and scrape down the sides few times.

Step 3: Return the mixture to the same skillet, stir in cream, and Parmesan cheese, and season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until lightly thickened.

Step 4: Cut the zucchini and yellow squash into matchsticks. Thinly slice the red onion. Layer the veggies on a bottom of a 9X13 baking dish. Lightly season with salt and pepper.

Step 5: Season the cod with salt and pepper and in a single layer, place the cod on top of the veggies. It’ll be snug and that’s okay. Sprinkle with parsley. Pour the pepper sauce over the cod and veggies.

Step 6: Bake for 25-35 minutes, uncovered, in a 350 F oven. When done, the cod should flaky easily and the veggies should be fork tender. Let rest for 5-10 minutes, uncovered, before serving.

How Long Do You Cook Fish for in the Oven?

For this cod recipe it’ll take anywhere from 25-35ish minutes to fully cook the cod in a 350F oven. Keep in mind that the cooking time will depend on the thickness of the cod. For best results, use similar size cuts of cod.

Also if you cut the veggies into thicker pieces they’ll require more time to cook until fully tender. And don’t use more veggies than you have to, otherwise, they’ll release too much water and the sauce will thin out.

The size of the baking dish is another factor. I recommend a 9X13 baking dish. It should be large enough to fit all of the veggies without overcrowding too much and cod in a single layer.

Don’t use too small of a baking dish as you want enough room for steam to escape.