Go Back
Print Recipe

Crusted Cod with Creamed Spinach

A restaurant-worthy, unique fish recipe, paradoxical in creation with lightly spiced, golden crusted, flaky cod filets on a decadent bed of perfectly seasoned spinach coated in a dab of ghee, paprika, garlic powder, a special blend of cumin, coriander + cinnamon and a drizzle of cream. Spinach is sautéed with fresh ginger + garlic paste, chili garlic sauce for a tiny bit of heat and fried onions for some sweetness. Spice-rubbed filets are delicately covered with flour, shallow fried and served atop delicious creamed spinach. Elegant, simple, easy to prepare and yummy!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Fusion, Indian
Keyword: Cod Fish, Spinach
Servings: 3
Author: Afreen Sayeed

Ingredients

  • 15 oz spinach *I used frozen spinach
  • 3 tbsp fried onions
  • 3 tbsp heavy cream
  • 1 tbsp grape seed oil
  • ½ tbsp ghee *clarified butter
  • ½ tsp garlic paste
  • ½ tsp ginger paste
  • 1 tsp chili garlic sauce *store-bought
  • 1 tsp DDS spice mix *cumin + coriander + cinnamon (see notes)
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper

For Cod

  • 3 cod filets *frozen or fresh
  • 3 tbsp grape seed oil *for shallow-frying fish
  • 1 tsp paprika *plus extra for sprinkling on top
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp Kosher salt
  • 1½ tsp DDS spice mix
  • 3 tbsp all purpose flour *as needed, for coating fish

Instructions

For Sautéing Spinach

  • In a large skillet, heat ghee + oil on medium heat. Add ginger + garlic pastes and sauté for 2-3 minutes, mixing as needed. Add chili garlic paste, mix well and continue to cook for 1-2 minutes. Turn heat to medium low and add spices (DDS spice mix, Kosher salt, black pepper), add 1 tsp water (to prevent burning of spices) and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Now add thawed spinach (or fresh), mix to combine well, cover skillet and simmer on low heat for 15 minutes. Now add fried onions, mix to combine, cover skillet again and continue to cook for 6-7 more minutes on medium low heat.
  • Add cream, mix well, turn heat to medium and cook, uncovered, until a boil is reached and spinach mixture slightly thickens, about 3-4 minutes. Remove skillet from heat, spoon creamed spinach into a glass dish and set aside.

For Cooking Cod Fish

  • Rinse and gently pat dry cod filets. Combine spices in small bowl (DDS spice mix, paprika, garlic powder, Kosher salt and mix spices to combine). Season cod filets on both sides with spice mixture, gently rubbing spices evenly on filets. Coat both sides of each filet with all purpose flour and let rest for 2-3 minutes.
  • In same skillet, heat grape seed oil on high heat. Once oil is hot, carefully place seasoned cod filets and cook for 3-4 minutes on medium high heat. Then carefully turn filets, cover skillet, turn heat to medium low and cook other side for an additional 3 minutes. Carefully remove filets onto a plate.
  • Now place creamed spinach back into skillet, place cooked cod filets on top of spinach, sprinkle with some paprika, cover skillet and continue to cook for a final 3-4 minutes until all flavors combine.
  • Flaky, moist, spiced and delicious Crusted Cod with Creamed Spinach is now ready to serve. Enjoy! Nosh Farma'aiye.

Notes

DDS Special Spice Mix #1
2 tbsp coriander seeds
2 tbsp cumin seeds
1 small cinnamon stick (halved)
In a spice/coffee grinder, grind whole spices to a fine powder.  Store ground spice blend in an airtight container/mason jar.