Spiced Cod One Pot (Printable)

Aromatic cod with vegetables and warming spices, cooked together in one pot for easy cleanup and bold flavor.

# What You'll Need:

→ Seafood

01 - 4 cod fillets (about 5.3 oz each), skinless and boneless

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
06 - 14 oz canned diced tomatoes
07 - 5.3 oz baby spinach
08 - 1 lemon, sliced

→ Spices & Seasonings

09 - 1 tsp ground cumin
10 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 tsp ground coriander
12 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
13 - 1 tsp salt
14 - 1/2 tsp black pepper

→ Pantry

15 - 2 tbsp olive oil
16 - 1 cup fish or vegetable stock

→ Garnish

17 - Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
18 - Lemon wedges

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat.
02 - Add chopped onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened.
03 - Stir in minced garlic, red and yellow bell peppers; cook for another 3 minutes.
04 - Add ground cumin, smoked paprika, ground coriander, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Stir well and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Pour in diced tomatoes and fish or vegetable stock. Bring to a simmer.
06 - Cover and cook for 8-10 minutes until vegetables are tender and sauce thickens slightly.
07 - Gently nestle cod fillets into the sauce and top with lemon slices. Cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes until cod is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
08 - Add baby spinach and cook for 2 minutes until wilted.
09 - Serve hot, garnished with fresh herbs and extra lemon wedges.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pot, so cleanup is genuinely just one pan and a cutting board.
  • The spices bloom in the oil and coat every vegetable, creating layers of flavor without any fuss.
  • Cod stays tender and flaky because it gently steams in the sauce instead of drying out.
  • It looks impressive enough for company but comes together faster than ordering takeout.
02 -
  • Don't skip blooming the spices in the oil, that step unlocks all their flavor and transforms the whole dish.
  • If your cod fillets are thin, reduce the simmering time to 6 or 7 minutes or they'll turn rubbery.
  • Let the sauce come to a gentle simmer before adding the fish, a rolling boil will break the fillets apart.
03 -
  • Use a wide, shallow pan instead of a deep pot so the fish has room to cook evenly without overlapping.
  • Taste the sauce before adding the fish and adjust the salt, it should be flavorful enough to season the cod as it cooks.
  • Let the dish rest for 5 minutes after cooking, the flavors settle and the sauce thickens just a bit more.
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