Home Cooks Online

Recipe by guest author, Heather Forsyth.

Okay, so I got another package of that plain frozen cod from my coop yesterday, and I didn't want to make chowder because I just made mushroom soup.  So this is what I scrounged up mostly from whatever was in my cupboard, plus a super sale on red peppers (3 for $2) at the grocery store.  It was pretty tasty -- between the two of us and two dogs, there was narry a crumb left.  I named it Mediterranean Fish just because it seemed to have those kinds of flavors.

Mediterranean Fish

• 2 red bell peppers, halved, cored and deseeded
  
• 3 T. olive oil (divided use)
  
• 1 med. onion, quarter, then thinly slice each quarter crosswise
  
• 2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed through garlic press
  
• 1 T. vinegar
  
• 1T. tomato paste
  
• 1 T. dried thyme (divided use)
  
• 1 c. vegetable stock
  
• 2 celery sticks, sliced thinly (hold onto your celery leaves if you have them)
  
• 1 lb. frozen cod steaks
  
• 1/2 c. coarse bread crumbs
  
• 10-12 black olives, quartered
  
• 1 T. capers

Preheat oven to 400.  Place the peppers on an oiled pan, cut side down and roast for about 10-12 minutes until skins start to look brown and wrinkly.  Meanwhile, heat 1 T. of the olive oil in a large frying pan or casserole (I used my 10" cast iron skillet), and saute the onion for about 5 minutes.  Add the garlic, vinegar, tomato paste and about half of the thyme, stir around for a minute, then add broth.  Put the heat on low and return to those peppers.  Take the peppers out, but leave the oven on.  Remove the icky skins, and roughly chop the peppers.  Add to the pan along with the celery and the cod.  Bring it just to a sturdy simmer, cover (you can just use foil if you don't have a ovenproof lid) and put the pan in the oven for about 30 minutes.  While the fish is baking, combine the remaining 2 T. olive oil, remaining thyme, salt and pepper, olives, capers and bread crumbs in a small bowl.  After 30 minutes, sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the fish, turn your oven to broil and let it brown, about 5 minutes.  Pull it from the oven and if you have any celery leaves, sprinkle them on top.  Should serve 4, depends on if there are dogs at your house.