Baked Cod with Garlic & Herb Crumbs

4 people

DINNER

Ina Garten Modern Comfort (p. 125)

Ingredients

Cod fillets - 4

Ritz crackers - 15

Panko bread crumbs - 13 cup

Garlic - 2 cloves

Lemons - 1

Unsalted butter - 3 tbl

White wine - 14 cup

Prep

Ritz crackers - put into food processor or blender and pulse a few times until finely ground

Garlic - mince to yield 2 tsp

Lemons - zest to yield 1 tsp, juice to yield 2 tbl

Butter - melt

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Pour 2 tbl olive oil in a 9 x 9-inch ceramic baking dish and tilt the dish to cover the bottom completely with oil. Place the fish fillets in the dish and turn to coat both sides with the oil. Sprinkle the fish with 1 12 tsp salt and 12 tsp pepper and bake for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine the cracker crumbs, panko, garlic, lemon zest and 1 tsp salt in a small bowl. Add the melted butter and stir until evenly moistened. Set aside.

Remove the fish from the oven and pour the wine and lemon juice directly on the fillets. Pat the crumb mixture evenly onto the fillets, pressing gently to help them adhere.

Return the pan to the oven for 12 minutes, until the fillets are just cooked through in the center, depending on the thickness of the fish. Sprinkle with salt and serve hot with the pan juices.