Crispy Cod Cooked 'Unilaterally' with Creamed Leeks Recipe

By
Kerry Saretsky
a photograph of Kerry Seretsky, a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Kerry Saretsky

Kerry Saretsky interned at Serious Eats in 2008, and wrote the French in a Flash recipe column. She also writes her own blog on modernized French cuisine called French Revolution Food.

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Updated May. 15, 2019
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Kerry Saretsky

I'm not sure if there's an easier way to cook fish than what the French call "unilateral." You just put it in a hot pan, and don't move it until it's cooked all the way through. What that means for this cod is one side develops a thick, golden, perfect crust, and the other side is steamed to flaky perfection. I've combined the vegetable and the sauce into one, serving the fish on a bed of simply creamed leeks. Soft and subtle and lovely.

Recipe Details

Crispy Cod Cooked 'Unilaterally' with Creamed Leeks Recipe

Active 30 mins
Total 30 mins
Serves 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 cod filets, about 6 ounces each

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 12 baby leeks, finely sliced (about 2 cups sliced leeks)

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

  • Lemons for serving

Directions

  1. Season the cod with salt and pepper. Heat oil over medium heat in a large non-stick skillet until shimmering. Add the cod, presentation side down. Cover and cook without moving until the fish is cooked through, about 15 minutes (meat should flake easily when pulled with a fork). Carefully transfer fish to a large plate, crisp-side up, and tent with foil to keep warm.

  2. Pour off most of the oil from the pan and return it to medium heat. Add the leeks, season with salt and pepper, and sweat until soft, about 6 minutes, adding up to 1/3 cup water to encourage softening if necessary. Add 1/3 cup of water to help soften the leeks further. Add cream, increase heat to high, and bring to a boil. Cook until lightly thickened, then season to taste with salt and pepper. To plate, scoop the creamed leeks onto the bottom of a serving dish and top with the cod, golden side up. Serve with lemon wedges.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
303 Calories
18g Fat
8g Carbs
27g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 303
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g 24%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 114mg 38%
Sodium 843mg 37%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 27g
Vitamin C 18mg 91%
Calcium 55mg 4%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 514mg 11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)