I had no idea what I was missing...I had never cooked with leeks until last night. I was always too intimidated when I saw them at the market. They look like huge scallions (green onions) and they taste like really sweet mild onions. Simply delicious.
If you unfamiliar with leeks start by cutting off the root end about 1/4 inch up the white base. Cut the dark green leaves all the way down so you have about 2 inches of the light green left. Remove any rough outer leaves. You will be left with a stalk, about 4 inches, colored white and light green.
Leeks a dirt magnets, as you can see on the photo below. I just set it on the table and dirt was falling out. After you have removed the bulb and dark green leaves, clean and remove all the dirt. Do so by cutting the leek stalk in half lengthwise, right down the center. This will allow you remove the dirt in between all the layers of leaves by rinsing under cold running water.
Cod Baked in Foil with Leeks and Carrots
Adapted loosely from Cook’s Illustrated Magazine (March 2009)
Serves 4
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest from 1 lemon; lemon cut into wedges
2 medium garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves
Salt and ground black pepper
2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into matchstick sized pieces(about 1 1/2 cups)
2 medium leeks, white and light green parts halved lengthwise, washed, and cut into matchstick sized pieces (about 2 cups)
4 Tablespoons vermouth or dry white wine
4 cod fish fillets, 1 to 1 1/4 inches thick (about 6 ounces each), rinsed and patted dry
Combine butter, lemon zest, garlic, thyme in small bowl; season with salt and pepper.
Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Cut 4 very large pieces of foil and arrange flat on counter.
Divide carrot and leek mixture among foil sheets, mounding in center of each. Season with salt and pepper and pour 1 Tablespoon vermouth over each mound of vegetables.
Season cod with salt and pepper and place one fillet on top of each vegetable mound. Spread quarter of butter mixture on top of each fillet.
Wrap fish up into a foil package, crimp edges together and fold over making sure no juices can escape. Place packets on baking sheet.
Bake packets 15 minutes (longer, if you have thicker fillets). Carefully open foil, allowing steam to escape away from you. Gently plate fish and vegetables with juices from packet. Serve immediately with a lemon wedge on the side of plate.
PRINTABLE RECIPE
7 comments:
This dish looks beyond incredible ~ it's spectacular!
I am definitely going to use this recipe next time I prepare cod or similar fish. Many thanks...
" I believe in a varied, moderate and healthy diet. However, if I am going to have cake and eat it too" These are your words and is exacty how I think! Tonya, lovely blog and beauty recipes, long life to your blog, really! Thanks by coming to my blog and know you, xxx gloria
This really looks delicious. It's hard to go wrong with a CI recipe but your photos make the cod seem extraordinarily appealing. Have a lovely day...Mary
These are some lovely and gorgeous photos. I especially like the one with the butter oozing down the fish - yum!
Oh, yum! This looks wonderful. I never think to cook in foil, I don't know why. I LOVE leeks, though. Heh, I always thought if I wrote a cookbook I would call it, "First you take a Leek". My husband talked me out of it...
This is also a good candidate for en papillote, as the French say or in paper if you don't speak French. Replace the foil with parchment paper and you never have to worry about an acid reaction with the foil.
To serve, score a cross in the paper with a sharp knife to let the steam out and plate while still in the package. Its like a tatsy, aromatic gift on the plate that you get to open.
Marc, love that idea...a little present on a plate!
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