> Skip to content

Recipe  •  16 February 2024

 

Cod Puttanesca

Inspired by the classic pasta dish, this easy one-pot dish sees cod fillets cooked in a rich tomato sauce with olives, capers and anchovies.

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 25 min

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 anchovy fillets, finely chopped
  • 3 tbsp capers, drained
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 small bunch of fresh parsley, leaves and firm stalks, finely chopped, plus a few extra leaves to serve
  • ¼–½ tsp chilli flakes, or to spice preferences
  • 2 x400g tins of chopped tomatoes
  • 120g kalamata olives (or olives of choice) pitted and quartered
  • 4 (approx 150g each) cod fillets, taken out of the fridge 30 minutes before needed (see notes)
  • unsalted butter, divided into 4 pieces
  • salt and black pepper, to taste

 

METHOD

  1. Put the olive oil, anchovies, capers, garlic, parsley stalks and chilli flakes into a large ovenproof frying pan off the heat. set over a medium-low heat and gently stir for a few minutes until the anchovies melt into the oil (be careful the garlic doesn’t burn).

  2. Pour in the chopped tomatoes and swill out the cans with a couple of tablespoons of water each (just eyeball it). Add the olives, most of the parsley leaves and a pinch of black pepper. Bring to a simmer and allow to bubble away for 15 minutes to thicken the sauce.

  3. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan/gas 6).

  4. Pat the cod dry with kitchen paper season both sides with a pinch of salt and pepper, then nestle the fillets into the sauce. top with a knob of butter each, then bake in the oven for 10–12 minutes, or until the cod easily flakes and is just about opaque through the centre. timings will vary slightly depending on the thickness of the cod, so I recommend erring on the side of caution and taking it out slightly early if needed. the fish will carry on cooking slightly once out of the oven.

  5. Remove the cod and stir the melted butter into the sauce. Check for seasoning and adjust with salt and pepper if needed, then serve with parsley sprinkled on top.

NOTES

  • Cod: because the cod cooks quickly, you’ll want it close to room temperature before cooking to help take the chill out of the centre. As mentioned in the recipe, err on the side of caution, because you can always place it back in the oven (it’s much more difficult to revive an overcooked piece of cod!).

  • Serving: there will be plenty of sauce, so consider some crusty bread for mopping leftovers!

Feature Title

Comfy
From nostalgic comfort food favourites to easy weeknight wonders and set and forget one-pot dinners, Comfy provides you with delicious meals you'll want to make all week, every week
Read more

More features

See all recipes
Recipe
Hearty Sausage Casserole

A wholesome comfort classic, this warming one-pot casserole is ideal for cold winter evenings.

Recipe
Tomato Boursin Pasta

This simple tomato pasta is stirred through with Boursin cheese to create a silky smooth creamy sauce.

Recipe
Slow cooker veggie Lancashire hot pot

A meat-free take on the classic dish, this hearty hot pot is packed with lentils, mushrooms and carrots. Swap the Worcestershire sauce for Henderson's Relish for a fully vegetarian version.

Recipe
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

Delicious, soft and very versatile.

Recipe
PB & J No-Cook Porridge

PB & J in breakfast form, and super easy too!

Recipe
Thai Green Fish Curry

An aromatic fakeaway with a spicy kick.

Recipe
Macadamia Feta and Herb Scones (Biscuits)

You have got to love the English language for its various dialects and cultural differences! Here is a case in point: a British biscuit is what North Americans call a cookie, but biscuits in North America are more like British scones.

Recipe
Asian Glazed Drumsticks

A family-friendly Friday night favourite.

Recipe
Beef Bone Broth

You can replace stock with bone broth in your soups and for sipping between meals.

Recipe
Pear & Walnut Upside-Down Cake

I love a good cake and this is just that. Juicy, moist and wonderfully light, but most importantly, not too sweet.

Recipe
Popcorn Tofu Bites

I’m a long-time tofu lover and when it comes to cooking it, I’ve tried it all. Baking, frying, grilling, shredding, slicing, crumbling . . . the list goes on. So, believe me when I say this is one of the best.

Recipe
‘Noodles’ with Pomodoro Sauce

These long, soft, delicate zucchini noodles will curb any pasta craving – especially when paired with your choice of sauce.

Looking for more recipes?

See all recipes