(The Nosher via JTA) — I come from a family of hunters and gatherers, and the younger generations are no exception. My grandfather owned and operated a farm in Cuba, and to this day enjoys reaping what he sows.
This love of farm-to-table delicacies doesn’t end in the garden, either. Some of my fondest and earliest memories are of our family fishing trips. We’d each have our own special fishing chairs, and our rods would line the lake like saber arches, saluting the swimming fish. In the evening, dinner always included the catch of the day.
Fortunately I married someone whose family traditions also included spending quality time with a fishing rod in hand, though he grew up clear across the country. My husband often shares stories about his experiences fishing with his grandfather.
These days, I don’t spend much time fishing, but it remains a fun hobby and bonding experience for my dad and husband. They’ve traveled to Alaska together for salmon fishing, and often go to a local fishing club for a fun and lazy Sunday. Of course, when they return with their loot in tow, they turn to me to transform the scaly catch into something delicious.
Much like my farmer grandfather I, too, love to utilize as much fresh produce in my cooking as is seasonally possible. As a young mother, I am always looking for shortcuts and time savers at dinnertime.
With that in mind, a recent favorite meal in my home has become my Sheet Pan Chimichurri Cod with potatoes and squash. The fresh and pungent flavors of the herbed chimichurri sauce traditionally found on grilled Argentine steaks heightens the mild flavor of the cod filets, while the new potatoes and the zucchini slices mellow any heat that travels from the chilis in the dish.
Next time my husband comes home from his latest fishing expedition, this is surely what he’ll request.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Chimichurri sauce, divided (recipe below)
1 pound thick-cut cod loin, cut into 3 large pieces
1/2 pound new potatoes (any color), sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
1 small zucchini, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
1 small yellow squash, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Chimichurri Sauce:
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 cloves of garlic, finely minced
1 shallot, finely chopped
1 small serrano chili, finely chopped
1/2 cup minced fresh Italian parsley
1/4 cup minced fresh oregano
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Add cod pieces and 1/4 cup of chimichurri sauce to a zip-top plastic bag; seal to close. Massage the bag to coat the fish with the sauce. Let sit in refrigerator to marinate while you proceed with recipe.
Cover a sheet pan in heavy duty foil (for easy cleanup), spray with cooking spray, and add the potatoes, zucchini and yellow squash. Drizzle the olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Toss to coat, and bake in oven for 15 minutes.
Remove sheet pan from oven and stir the vegetables. Add the marinated fish pieces on top of the vegetables and return to the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until fish is cooked through and flaky.
Serve with additional chimichurri sauce.
For the chimichurri sauce: In a medium bowl, combine the vinegar, salt, black pepper, garlic, shallot and chili. Stir to combine and let sit for 10 minutes. Add the parsley and oregano, and whisk in the olive oil.
(Jennifer Stempel is a TV development executive who lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son. When she’s not developing new television shows, she enjoys teaching cooking classes and blogs about her experiments in the kitchen. To read more about her culinary adventures, check out: www.TheCubanReuben.com.)
The Nosher food blog offers a dazzling array of new and classic Jewish recipes and food news, from Europe to Yemen, from challah to shakshuka and beyond. Check it out at www.TheNosher.com.
