Baked cod with garlic mayonnaise is everything you would want from a fish dish. Light flaky cod so moist and delicate steamed under a layer of capers, anchovies, and seasoned Italian breadcrumbs. The end result, a crispy surface and surprise succulent middle. Furthermore, elevated even more with a side serving of garlic mayo to have with it. Absolutely delicious!
Song of the day: "Tell it to my Heart" by Hozier and Medusa
Remember fish when you're meal planning
We like meal planning, it is a great way to get organized, not waste food, and also eat more balanced, with a great variety. Most people I talk to say we don't eat enough fish, or don't know how to prepare it properly. Well, I am here to tell you, it is easy and you are going to love this Baked cod with garlic mayonnaise!
Why would you want to eat this Baked Cod with Garlic Mayonnaise?
There are many reasons why you would want to have this dish. Things like:
- It is easy
- Takes little time
- Very healthy
- Tastes amazing
- Brings variety to your table
Sometimes a jewel is right under your nose
It is kind of funny, we have so many cookbooks in our office, many of which are older and almost vintage or mid century, to which I may add never ever looked at. I was just sitting in the office when this book kept jumping out at me "The Ultimate Italian Cookbook" by Carla Capalbo. The need to pull it out and take a gander took over and was so delighted to find many wonderful recipes. That is where I came across this cod recipe. Today I am sharing it with you, so come and let's cook some good fish together!
Here is what you will need for this Baked Cod with Garlic Mayonnaise:
You have to love recipes like this that require very few ingredients, but deliver on flavor and texture. Simple ingredients and here they are:
- fresh skinless cod
- anchovy fillets
- capers
- salt and pepper
- fresh parsley
- olive oil
- bread crumbs
- olive oil mayo
- garlic
- Dijon mustard
What you will need for equipment:
Again, this recipe is pretty simple, no high tech gadgets, just this:
- 9x15 baking dish
- small mixing bowl
- spoon
- small whisk
- spatula
Now we are ready to make this Baked Cod with Garlic Mayonnaise!
- First things first, always important to rinse the cod and pat it dry with some paper towel.
- Secondly, in a small bowl, mix up the olive oil, anchovies, capers, parsley, salt, and pepper.
- Thirdly, spoon the anchovy/caper mixture onto the fish and spread it all over the surface of the fish.
This is where the texture comes in
Time to get a nice layer of breadcrumbs on. I wanted a bit more flavor in this layer so I used the Italian-style breadcrumbs that has spices and Parmigiano inside. This will give me the crust, texture, and flavor I want to achieve. With that being said, let's do this together:
- Sprinkle the breadcrumbs all over the top of the seasoned and marinated fish. Pat it down a bit, then sprinkle some more.
- Don't worry about the breadcrumbs falling in between the fish, it will just add to the the flavors.
- Be generous with this layer. It will seal that fish so it steams on the inside, and that, my friends, means tender and flaky to me!
- Into a pre-heated 400°Fahrenheit (200° Celsius) oven it goes on the middle rack for 20-25 minutes depending on the thickness of your fish.
Now's a good time to make the garlic mayonnaise!
There is really two ways you can go with this:
- First you could make your own mayonnaise by smashing the garlic, mixing in egg yolks and mustard. Then here comes the work out, while slowly adding in the oil in a thin stream, you have to whisk briskly until it thickens. Into the fridge it goes covers with plastic wrap.
- Secondly you could just use a good quality store-bought mayo. I like the olive oil mayo, has tons of flavor and is so velvety smooth. Add some minced garlic or garlic powder, mustard, salt and pepper. A good whisk to combine, and it is done!
- Either way you do it, I am sure your mayo will be fantastic.
I just love the aroma of this baked cod!
Time for a taste!
I love the crispness of the breadcrumb top, and I can see that layer of silkiness coming from that anchovy, caper, parsley oil. This is really exciting when you see how flaky, moist, and tender the cod is. Time to have a bite! Yum, the fish is perfectly succulent, moist, and so flavored with the acidity and saltiness of the anchovies, and that lovely richness of the olive oil.
I love the breadcrumb top. It is so crispy and tasty offering some opposite texture to the softness of the fish. A kind of best of both worlds experience. Add in the garlic mayo, that in each bite pairs so well with everything going on with the fish. It just highlights all the notes in this dish and is not so strong that it masks the fish. This dish is fantastic, it checks off all the boxes for me!
I know that I will be making this Baked Cod with Garlic Mayonnaise again and again!
Happy cooking everyone!
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Baked cod with garlic mayonnaise
Baked Cod with garlic mayonnaise is everything you would want from a fish dish. Light flaky cod so moist and delicate steamed under a layer of capers, anchovies, and seasoned Italian breadcrumbs. The end result, a crispy surface and surprise succulent middle. Furthermore, elevated even more with a side serving of garlic mayo to have with it. Absolutely delicious!
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: serves 4 people 1x
Ingredients
Fish:
- 800g fresh cod, cut into serving size pieces
Seasoned oil:
- 6 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 4 anchovy fillets
- 1 Tbsp capers chopped
- 1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- Pinch of salt and black pepper
Topper:
- ⅓ cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
Garlic Mayo:
- 4 Tbsp olive oil mayo
- 1 garlic clove grated
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- salt and pepper
For homemade garlic mayo:
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 clove garlic grated
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ¾ cup olive oil
- pinch of salt and pepper
Instructions
Fish:
- Rinse the fish and pat dry with a paper towel. Place fish in an oiled 9x15 baking sheet.
Seasoned oil:
- In a small mixing bowl pour in oil, toss in anchovy fillets, parsley, and capers. Season with salt and pepper and whisk, breaking up the anchovy fillets into small pieces.
- Pour this mixture all over the fish and with a spoon spread it so top of fish is well coated.
Topping:
- Sprinkle top of fish with some of the breadcrumbs and pat down with you fingers. Add the rest of the bread crumbs. Don't worry if some gets in between the fish pieces.
Baking:
- Pre-heatthe oven to 400° F/200°C. Place fish on the middle rack, and bake for 20-25 minutes, depending on thickness of the fish, or until breadcrumbs turn a lovely golden brown.
Garlic Mayonnaise (store bought):
- While the fish is baking in the oven, mix mayo, garlic, mustard, salt and pepper in a mixing bowl.
- Give it a good whisk, cover with plastic wrap, and place in the fridge.
Garlic mayonnaise (homemade):
- Place grated garlic in a mixing bowl, add eggs and mustard and beat with a fork.
- Slowly pour the olive oil in a slow stream at the same time whisk vigorously until mixture becomes thick. Season with salt and pepper. Cover with plastic and place in fridge.
Serving:
- Take fish out of the oven, let sit for a few minutes.
- Grab garlic mayo out of the fridge.
- Plate fish and serve with a side of the garlic mayo!
Enjoy!
Notes
If you can't find the Italian breadcrumbs you can use the plain ones.
If you want to season the plain breadcrumbs you can add some dried oregano and parsley and also some grated Parmigiano.
This recipe would work with other kinds of fish like halibut, sole, snapper etc.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: cod, fish recipe, Italian cuisine, capers, garlic mayo, mustard, Italian breadcrumbs, Mediterranean food,
When I am not cooking, I enjoy playing musical instruments, singing, writing. I have learned over the years to live in gratitude and enjoy the moment.
Sharon says
With the anchovies added before baking and then the garlic mayonnaise for serving, this dish is a flavor explosion!
★★★★★
Hi Sharon, you are absolutely right. Slathering the cod with that oil infused with the anchovies and capers just takes the flavor profile over the top. Add in those seasoned breadcrumbs and well, shut the front door delicious! Thanks so much for checking it out!
Cheers!
★★★★★
Jessica says
Mmm!!! This turned out delicious! I couldn’t believe how easy it was either! Thank you!
★★★★★
Your so welcome Jessica, so happy you enjoyed it. We are trying to inspire people to prepare and eat more fish! This one is so full of flavor and so easy.
Thank you for trying it!
Cheers!
Erin says
I should definitely eat more fish. All I ever eat is salmon, so your recipe will be great for a change! I love the ingredients.
Go for it Erin, always nice to have variety in life, cod is a great meaty flaky fish, and in this recipe incredible flavor!
Happy fish cooking!
Chandice says
I’ve heard that Mayo makes fish better and oh my goodness this recipe SHOWS me that is true! Love it cooked this way now!
★★★★★
Hi Chandice, yes the garlic mayo was the perfect condiment to the flavors of the fish. Just loved this dish making it again and again. Hope you get to try!
Cheers!
Alex says
This was so tasty and I loved the breadcrumbs on top! So tasty and easy.
★★★★★
Hi Alex
Those breadcrumbs just seal all that flavor into the fish creating a packet for the fish to cook in. Loved the play of crispy, flaky, moist and flavor!
So happy you tried it!
Thank you!
Beth says
I've always thought that capers made the flavor of fish even better. This recipe with the breadcrumbs and then the mayo sounds so good!
★★★★★
Hi Beth your so right on capers. that brine flavor just brightens any dish and I absolutely love capers. I would put that _______ on everything, lol. Oh and that garlic mayo the perfect luxurious condiment for the fish!
Thanks for checking it out!
Heidy says
This baked cod with garlic mayonnaise was so simple yet delicious! I enjoyed every bite of it and so did my family! It came out perfect !
★★★★★
Heidi, that is music to my ears. So happy your family enjoyed this dish,. Nice to have fish like this in the meal weekly repertoire!
Thank you so much for trying it first and enjoying it too!
Cheers!
Ramona says
This looks super delicious and I am dying to try this out and make it for me and my family! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
★★★★★
Can't wait for you to try this baked cod dish. Super flavorful, moist, flaky, and crispy. You couldn't ask for more from a dish!
happy cooking!
Cheers!
David says
Good detailed instructions! I like the idea of adding some Parmigiano to the breadcrumbs. Haven't had cod in awhile, good with the garlic flavor!
★★★★★
Most definitely David. That little bit of herb, spice, and cheese in the breadcrumbs makes a world of difference and creates this lovely crust on top of the cod. The garlic mayo is the icing on the cake!
Thanks for checking this out and for enjoying how we write the process!
Cheers!
Hayley Dhanecha says
Did you say Garlic mayo? I'm so ready to try this dish for my friends. Thank you for providing this detailed and useful post.
★★★★★
Hi Hayley, so happy you are intrigued by this fish dish. It is just exquisite and I think your friends are in for a real treat. Thank you for the feed back oh our recipe writing, so happy it works for you. We try to be as detailed as possible to make cooking so much simpler!
Happy cooking for your friends!
Cheers!
Chenée says
This recipe is just what I needed for the cod I had in the freezer! Perfectly balanced flavors.
★★★★★
Hi Chene'e
That makes us too happy knowing that you could use this recipe for something in the freezer. We are all about using what you have on hand so it does not go to waste. Well done and have fun making this baked cod!
Linda says
This baked cod bursts in flavors! Love everything about this dish and how delicious it iss
★★★★★
Thank you Linda!
So happy you enjoyed this dish. Your right it has so much flavor and that breadcrumb crust just seals all that flavor creating a wonderful steam pocket for the fish to cook in!