Crispy Baked Cod with Red Pesto

Crispy baked cod with a homemade red pesto is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal. Cod fillets are topped with panko breadcrumbs for a fish dish full of texture and flavor.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 35

Total Time 45

Servings servings

Calories 405kcal

Author Slow The Cook Down

Ingredients

4 cod fillets skinless and boneless ( about 6-7oz / 175g-200g each)
10.5 ounces tomatoes - I used a mix of cherry and plum tomatoes, you can use whatever you have! (300g)
1 red pepper
1 teaspoon caster sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1.5 ounces parmesan (40g)
2 ounces pine nuts (60g)
1 clove of garlic
8 tablespoons panko breadcrumbs
4 tablespoons grated parmesan
black pepper to taste

Instructions

Pre heat the oven to 180ºc / 350ºf.
Slice the tomatoes in half and and put on a baking tray, cut side up. Put a bit of oil onto the red pepper and place on the baking tray. Sprinkle the salt and sugar over the cut tomatoes and pop in the oven for 20mins. Take them out and leave them to cool slightly.
Once cooler, remove the stalk and seeds from the pepper (you can keep the skin on) and put in a blender. Add in the tomatoes, parmesan, pine nuts and garlic. Blend until it is a smooth sauce.
Pre heat the oven to 180ºc / 350ºf.
Lay the fillets of cod on a parchment lined baking tray, and put a couple of tablespoons of the red pesto over the top of each one and spread evenly over the fillets. Sprinkle on the breadcrumbs, parmesan and a little pepper to cover the sauce.
Bake in the oven for 15 - 20 mins until cooked through and then place them under the broiler (grill) for 5 minutes to brown the tops.

Notes

You can use frozen cod fillets in this recipe. Defrost them thoroughly and be sure to pat them dry before adding the toppings and baking them.
This recipe would also work well with other white fish like tilapia, bass or snapper.
The red pesto is dead quick and easy to make, but if you are seriously short on time you can use a store bought pesto in place of this made from scratch version.
Cooking times will vary depending on the thickness of your cod, check it at around 10 minutes if you have a thinner fillet.
Nutritional values are based on one of four servings and are an estimate only.

Nutrition