Baked Basil Pesto Cod with Zucchini and Roma Tomatoes
There is nothing like the taste of fresh baked basil pesto cod straight from Michele Romano recipes Italian seafood delights. It is just as fluffy and flaky as halibut and has zero fishy taste. Quick, healthy and gluten free. Combine it with my homemade pesto and “That’s Amore”!
There are so many ways to cook cod but this is a definite favorite of mine. I make my pesto in the summer and freeze it in small containers for the winter ahead.
Michele Romano Recipes
Baked Basil Pesto Cod Recipe
Ingredients:
- 4 cod fillets
- ½ cup homemade (see recipe below) or store bought basil pesto
- 2 small zucchinis, (approx 2 cups) sliced thicker julienne style
- 3 medium sized Roma tomatoes, cubbed
- 3/4 cup purple onion, chopped
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (to drizzle on top)
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar (to drizzle on top)
- Salt, lightly
- Fresh grated pepper
Preparation:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Lay cod fillets in bottom of glass baking dish.
- Using a spatula, spread a layer of pesto on top each fillet.
- Meanwhile, place olive oil in fry pan, add purple onion zucchini and roma tomatoes.
- Stir fry over medium heat for 5 min, distribute evenly over fish fillets.
- Drizzle a small amount of balsamic vinegar over each fillet.
- Lightly salt and sprinkle with fresh grated pepper.
- Bake for about 20 minutes, approx 8-10 minutes per inch of thickness.
- Optional: Garnish with Italian parsley
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Bake Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 4
Homemade Pesto
Ingredients:
- 4 cups fresh basil
- ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 4 large cloves garlic
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ cup fresh Parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup walnuts or pine nuts
Preparation:
- Place all above ingredients in a high-powered blender or food processor.
- Blend well, place in small jar. Keep extra pesto in refrigerator.
Live Long and Mangia!
Health Benefits:
Walnuts are to many considered the king of nuts! They have a combination of more healthful and higher quality antioxidants than any other nut. Walnuts contain plenty of high-quality protein so can be substituted for meat, minerals and vitamins, dietary fiber, and they are dairy and gluten-free.
Garlic lowers cholesterol levels and blood sugar which helps prevent heart attack and stroke. When crushed, raw cloves releases allicin, which has been shown to be a more potent antibiotic than penicillin and tetracycline.
Basil has been shown to help in the treatment of a range of symptoms, including: digestive disorders, inflammation,infection, diabetes, heart disease and headaches
For more on eating healthy, I find The Health Benefits Times very informative.