Weekend Recipe: Cod Baked in Foil with Leeks and Carrots
This America's Test Kitchen recipe is adaptable in so many ways. Haddock, red snapper, halibut, and sea bass are all good fish substitutes. Change up the vegetables with onions and seasonal squashes. It's also easy to prepare this anywhere -- on a portable stove, over a fire -- making it an easy camping meal with minimal cleanup.
Cod Baked in Foil with Leeks and Carrots
Makes 4 servings
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest from 1 lemon; lemon cut into wedges
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves
table salt and ground black pepper
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
2 carrots, peeled and cut into matchsticks (about 1 1/2 cups)
2 leeks, white and light green parts halved lengthwise, washed, and cut into matchsticks (about 2 cups)
4 tablespoons vermouth or dry white wine
4 skinless cod fillets 1 to 1 1/4 inches thick (about 6 ounces each)
Combine butter, 1/4 teaspoon zest, 1 teaspoon garlic, thyme, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in small bowl. Combine parsley, remaining teaspoon zest, and remaining teaspoon garlic in another small bowl; set aside. Place carrots and leeks in medium bowl, season with salt and pepper, and toss together.
Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Cut eight 12-inch sheets of foil; arrange four flat on counter. Divide carrot and leek mixture among foil sheets, mounding in center of each. Pour 1 tablespoon vermouth over each mound of vegetables. Pat fish dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper and place one fillet on top of each vegetable mound. Spread quarter of butter mixture on top of each fillet. Place second square of foil on top of fish; crimp edges together in 1/2 inch fold, the fold over three more times to create a packet about 7 inches square. Place packets on rimmed baking sheet (overlapping slightly if necessary).
Bake packets 15 minutes. Carefully open foil, allowing steam to escape away from you. Using thin metal spatula, gently slide fish and vegetables onto plate with any accumulated juices; sprinkle with parsley mixture. Serve immediately, passing lemon wedges separately.
