BASIL PESTO COD
Cod is a great choice for busy weeknights when you need to get dinner on the table quickly, as it takes very little time to cook. Slathered on some fresh pesto and you've got restaurant fish in under 10 minutes!

Cod filet smeared with Classic Basil Pesto recipe, then pan-seared. Served with a side of Red Cabbage and Beet Salad.
PREP TIME: 5-10 min
COOK TIME: 5-7 min
SERVES: 4
INGREDIENTS
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4 pieces of cod (roughly 5 oz/150 g each)
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4 tsp (20 ml) prepared Classic Basil Pesto
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2 Tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
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Salt and Pepper to taste

Cod, Classic Basil Pesto (see Salad Dressing page), Olive Oil.
COOKING INSTRUCTIONS
1) Season the cod with salt and pepper on both sides and place in a shallow baking dish
2) Divide the 4 tsp of pesto evenly across the top side of each piece of cod and rub into the fish with the back of a spoon.
3) Drizzle cod filets with a bit of olive oil.
4) Heat a pan on med-high heat and add 2 Tbsp oil.
5) Sear the cod top side (pesto side) down for 2 minutes and flip. Cook for another 1 minute on medium high, then turn heat down to medium and cook for 3-5 minutes, or until cod starts to flake when gentle pressure is applied.

Rub pesto into the fish with the back of a spoon.

Pour the wine into dish around the cod filets, taking care not to pour it over the cod and wash away the toppings.

Sprinkle linseeds across the tops of the cod filets and press into the garlic & thyme paste using the back of a spoon.
SERVE
Place filets on serving plates and spoon over a bit of the residule oil and pesto bits from the pan. Pairs well with Red Cabbage & Beet Salad

Recipe & Photo Credit: Cathy Menees
COOKS NOTES
INGREDIENTS
Go for sustainably sourced cod - we don’t like the seas to be over-fished!
You can use store-bought pesto, but it's unbelievably tastier if you make it fresh. Trust me. Pesto will keep for 7-10 days, and then you can have a nice pesto ravioli dinner a few nights later!
PROCESS
The cooking time will vary by the thickness of your cod filets. The best test of ‘doneness’ for cod is to gently press the filets with the back side f a spoon or fork. If they easily start to flake and separate at the seams, it’s ready. Before that, it’s under cooked. After that, it’s dry. So be watchful. You’ll get a feeling for it the more you do it

