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🐟 Seafood

Baked cod with garlic & herb Ritz crumbs

Buttery crumbs, tender fish, and very little fuss

⏱️ Time estimate: about 30 minutes

Cod fillets bake in olive oil, white wine, and lemon juice, then get topped with buttery Ritz crumbs, panko, parsley, garlic, and lemon zest for a cozy crisp-topped fish dinner.

Baked cod with garlic herb crumb topping

Ingredients

  • Good olive oil
  • 4 center-cut boneless, skinless cod fillets, 6 to 8 ounces each
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup Ritz cracker crumbs
  • 1/3 cup panko
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • Lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Start the fish. Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil into a small baking dish and coat the bottom. Add the cod and turn to coat both sides. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, then bake for 10 minutes.
  3. Make the crumb topping. Mix together the Ritz crumbs, panko, parsley, garlic, lemon zest, and 1 teaspoon salt. Stir in the melted butter until evenly moistened.
  4. Add wine and crumbs. Remove the fish from the oven and pour the wine and lemon juice around and over the fillets. Pat the crumb mixture on top, pressing gently so it sticks.
  5. Finish baking. Return the dish to the oven for about 12 minutes, until the cod is just cooked through in the center.
  6. Serve. Sprinkle with a little extra salt if needed and serve hot with the pan juices and lemon wedges.

The little fallen crumbs in the lemony wine sauce are not a flaw, they are arguably the best part.