Two perfectly cooked pieces of cod sit atop a bed of soft leeks, all garnished with fresh tarragon leaves. Vibrant cherry tomatoes tossed with lemon juice and zest add a pop of color next to the fish.

Pan-seared Cod with Leeks and Tarragon on a Tomato and Lemon Salad

Name: Pan-seared Cod with Leeks and Tarragon on a Tomato and Lemon Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: cod fillet, skin-on, 2 fillets (6-8 oz each); large leek, 1 sliced into half-moons; butter, 2 tbsp; olive oil, 2 tbsp; fresh tarragon, 4 sprigs; cherry tomatoes, 1 pint halved; lemon juice, 1 tbsp; lemon zest, 1 tbsp; salt, to taste; pepper, to taste; flour, for coating; oil, for prepping; salt, for prepping

Category Main Course

Prep 20 minutes

Cook 15 minutes

Style French

Technique Pan-searing

Diet Friendly Paleo

Daily Recipe: January 31, 2023

With the hot weather in New York, a light and fresh main course is ideal. This recipe features cod, a fish that's in season and readily available at the markets, typical French ingredients like leeks and tarragon, all topped with a refreshing tomato and lemon salad.

Ingredients (for 2)

Cod fillet, skin-on - 2 fillets (6-8 oz each)
Large leek - 1 - sliced into half-moons
Butter - 2 tbsp
Olive oil - 2 tbsp
Fresh tarragon - 4 sprigs
Cherry tomatoes - 1 pint - halved
Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
Lemon zest - 1 tbsp
Salt - to taste
Pepper - to taste
Flour - for coating
Oil - for prepping
Salt - for prepping

Preparation

Step 1 - 🐟🧂💨

Pat dry the cod fillets, season with salt, and let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.
Step 2 - 🍃🪓🔪

Trim and slice the leeks. Cook with butter until tender, then set aside and keep warm.
Step 3 - 🐟🍳🔥

Coat the cod fillets in flour and fry in hot oil until golden and crispy. Turn and cook the other side until the flesh is cooked through.
Step 4 - 🍅🍋🥗

Lightly season halved cherry tomatoes with salt. Mix in lemon juice and zest.
Step 5 - 🍽️🐟🌿

Arrange the cooked cod over the bed of leeks, garnish with fresh tarragon, and serve with the tomato salad.

Additional

Cod is packed with protein and is a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids. Traditional French recipes call for cream in the leeks, but to make this recipe dairy-free, we swapped butter and cream for oil.