Grilled Salt Cod Recipes

PERFECT GRILLED COD

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium-high heat (375 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Bring the cod to room temperature for about 15 minutes.
• Pat the cod dry with a clean towel. Rub it with the olive oil and sprinkle it with the kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. Then cover it with the homemade blackened seasoning or seafood seasoning on all sides.
• Grill the cod over indirect heat for 4 minutes, until it releases from the grates. Flip and cook another 2 to 4 minutes, until the internal temperature is 130 degrees (right when the cod starts to flake when pulled with a fork). Allow to rest for a few minutes, then serve.

COD FISH GRILLED IN FOIL

Steps:

• Use heavy aluminum foil cut into large squares. Place equal portions of the fish fillets on each piece of foil.
• In a saucepan, melt butter. Add lemon juice, parsley, salt and pepper.
• Stir to blend well. Pour this mixture over the fish, sprinkle with paprika and top with onion slices.
• Fold the foil around the fish and seal.
• Grill for 5 to 7 minutes per side. Fish should flake easily when done.

GRILLED COD

Steps:

• Stack about 15 charcoal briquettes into a grill in a pyramid shape. If desired, drizzle coals lightly with lighter fluid and allow to soak for 1 minute before lighting coals with a match. Allow fire to spread to all coals, about 10 minutes, before spreading briquettes out into the grill; let coals burn until a thin layer of white ash covers the coals. Lightly oil the grates.
• Season both sides of cod with Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, salt, and black pepper. Set fish aside on a plate. Heat butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, stir in lemon juice and green onion, and cook until onion is softened, about 3 minutes.
• Place cod onto oiled grates and grill until fish is browned and flakes easily, about 3 minutes per side; baste with butter mixture frequently while grilling. Allow cod to rest off the heat for about 5 minutes before serving.

SPICY COD WITH GRILLED LIME

Steps:

• Set up your grill for medium heat.
• In a small saucepan, combine the mirin, sake and sugar and bring to a simmer on the grill. Whisk until smooth and the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the grill and whisk in the miso, sriracha and rice vinegar. Cool.
• Place the cod fillets into a zip-top bag. When the miso mixture has cooled, pour over the cod, seal the bag and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 to 3 days. The longer fish marinates, the better.
• Set up your grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only. Allow the temperature to reach 400 to 450°F.
• Liberally grease the grates of your grill with the oil.
• Remove the fish from the marinade and allow the excess to drain off.
• Meanwhile, place the limes, cut-side down, onto the direct heat side of the grill and grill until charred, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the grill and set aside.
• Place the fish, skin-side down, on the indirect heat side of the grill. Cover the grill and cook until the fish is flaky and cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Transfer the fish to a serving platter and squeeze 1 of the grilled limes all over the fish. Serve with the remaining grilled limes.

GRILLED ASIAN COD

Steps:

• Place cod in a gallon-sized freezer bag. Add orange juice, soy sauce, lemon juice, brown sugar, green onions, ginger paste, and garlic; mix to combine. Squeeze excess air out of the bag and seal. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate. Place cod in a grill basket and cook on the preheated grill until internal temperature of fish reaches 135 degrees F (57 degrees C), 7 to 9 minutes.

SIMPLE GRILLED COD STEAKS

Steps:

• To keep the steaks from falling apart, fold the long, thin end pieces-the belly flaps-inward to form a compact round of flesh. Tie a length of kitchen twine in a loop around the outside band of skin of the fish, securing the flaps within; pull to tighten, and knot it securely.
• Sprinkle both sides of the steaks with salt, coat with garlic oil, and place in a dish with a few garlic slices and the herb stems strewn over them. Marinate for an hour or two at room temperature, or longer if refrigerated.
• Preheat the clean rack of a grill over high heat until very hot. Just before putting on the fish, rub the grill with an oiled towel or a piece of pork fat. Wipe excess garlic oil off the steaks, and set them on the grill.
• Sear the steaks without moving them for 4 to 5 minutes. Brush the tops with garlic oil. If the fish isn't sticking, check the cooked undersides and flip the steaks over as soon as the grill marks are golden brown. If the flesh sticks, grill another minute to sear, then turn the steaks over, using a sharp-edged broad metal spatula if necessary, to separate the flesh from the grill.
• Grill to mark the second side, 3 to 4 minutes; brush the top side with a small amount of garlic oil, and lower heat to medium. If the flesh is not sticking, you can make crosshatch grill marks if you wish: lift the steak after 3 minutes, rotate it 90 degrees or so in relation to the grill rack, then lower it on the same side.
• When the second side has grilled for 4 minutes or more, check for doneness by feel and sight: when the exterior flakes and the center of the steak is opaque but moist (push aside the flesh with a knife blade to see inside), remove steaks to a platter.
• Sprinkle with salt and drizzle with garlic oil. Serve right away with sauce on the side, or top with spoonfuls of salsa verde, or drizzle salmoriglio, or dress with just a plain slice of lemon and some extra-virgin olive oil.
• First Make Garlic Oil and Other Tips for Grilled Seafood
• Here are my basic preparations for all fish or shellfish before grilling. They're useful for either gas or charcoal grills, although every grill differs in heat output and cooking times:
• First, make plenty of garlic-infused oil, ahead of time, to flavor all fish and shellfish, including clams, mussels, and oysters in the shell.
• For one cup of oil, drop 1/4 cup of sliced garlic in 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Let the oil infuse for 1/2 hour to 1 hour before using; then remove the garlic slices. The oil can be refrigerated for a week or more.
• Marinate the seafood in garlic oil: pour just enough oil over to coat; toss and turn to oil all surfaces. Toss in some of the garlic slices if the garlic oil is freshly made, or a few newly cut slices, as well as fresh herb stems or branches-such as thyme, bay leaves, or rosemary. Marinate all fish for an hour or two if possible before grilling, or even overnight (refrigerated, of course).
• Clean and scrape the grill rack well, and get it intensely hot over high heat or hot piled coals before putting on the fish.
• Grease the hot grill rack lightly before putting on food, with an oiled paper towel, or a piece of cured pork skin from prosciutto end (page 129).
• Sear fish without turning until deeply marked by the grill, anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes. Thorough searing minimizes sticking.
• For large fish or steaks, initially cook over high heat, then, halfway through, lower heat to medium; for smaller pieces, lower the heat (or spread the coals) and cook only over medium heat.
• Keep garlic oil handy, and drizzle or brush on seafood sparingly while grilling-usually on turning the pieces. Avoid spilling any oil onto the lava rocks or coals and starting smoky, bad-tasting flare-ups.
• Grill simple garnishes and accompaniments for seafood at the same time. I grill rounds of lemon on the rack alongside my fish or shellfish, until nicely caramelized, 5 minutes or more, turning them occasionally. Another favorite: brush slices of country bread with garlic oil, and mark well on both sides (over a cool section of the grill), to serve with the fish.
• Serving Suggestions . . .
• Cooked Carrot Salad with Pine Nuts and Golden Raisins (page 45), Scallion and Asparagus Salad (page 35), or Eggplant all'Uccelletto (Poached Eggplant with Vinegar, Garlic, and Mint; page 252) would be an ideal accompaniment for grilled cod.
• First Make Garlic Oil-And Other Tips for Grilled Seafood
• Just a few steps from my kitchen is the door to a shady terrazzo where we relax and eat many of our summer meals. On one wall is a beautiful old-fashioned brick fireplace for cooking meats over wood coals. But often, I have to confess, I do my everyday grilling on a convenient gas grill with adjustable burners. And usually I grill fish or shellfish-it's always quick, and my family loves it.
• Here are my basic preparations for all fish or shellfish before grilling. They're useful for either gas or charcoal grills, although every grill differs in heat output and cooking times:
• First, make plenty of garlic-infused oil, ahead of time, to flavor all fish and shellfish, including clams, mussels, and oysters in the shell.
• For one cup of oil, drop 1/4 cup of sliced garlic in 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Let the oil infuse for 1/2 hour to 1 hour before using; then remove the garlic slices. The oil can be refrigerated for a week or more.
• Marinate the seafood in garlic oil: pour just enough oil over to coat; toss and turn to oil all surfaces. Toss in some of the garlic slices if the garlic oil is freshly made, or a few newly cut slices, as well as fresh herb stems or branches-such as thyme, bay leaves, or rosemary. Marinate all fish for an hour or two if possible before grilling, or even overnight (refrigerated, of course).
• Clean and scrape the grill rack well, and get it intensely hot over high heat or hot piled coals before putting on the fish.
• Grease the hot grill rack lightly before putting on food, with an oiled paper towel, or a piece of cured pork skin from prosciutto end (page 129).
• Sear fish without turning until deeply marked by the grill, anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes. Thorough searing minimizes sticking.
• For large fish or steaks, initially cook over high heat, then, halfway through, lower heat to medium; for smaller pieces, lower the heat (or spread the coals) and cook only over medium heat.
• Keep garlic oil handy, and drizzle or brush on seafood sparingly while grilling-usually on turning the pieces. Avoid spilling any oil onto the lava rocks or coals and starting smoky, bad-tasting flare-ups.
• Grill simple garnishes and accompaniments for seafood at the same time. I grill rounds of lemon on the rack alongside my fish or shellfish, until nicely caramelized, 5 minutes or more, turning them occasionally. Another favorite: brush slices of country bread with garlic oil, and mark well on both sides (over a cool section of the grill), to serve with the fish.

GRILLED SALT COD

Steps:

• 1. Place the salt cod in a large bowl and pour in enough cold water to cover by 1 inch. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to soak for 24 hours. (If the cod has skin on it, soak it skin side up.) Change the water 3 or 4 times to make the cod less salty.2. Drain the salt cod, then rinse under cold running water. Drain again and pat dry with paper towels. Cut the cod into 4 equal parts and remove any skin.3. When ready to cook, preheat a fish or vegetable grate (if using) for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, lightly brush each piece of cod with some of the oil, using 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons. Oil the grate as well, then arrange the pieces of cod on the hot grate and grill until nicely browned on the bottom, 3 to 6 minutes. Using a long spatula, carefully turn the pieces over and grill until browned on the second side and flaky and piping hot in the center, 3 to 6 minutes more. While the fish finishes cooking, place the remaining oil in a small saucepan and heat almost to smoking on the side burner of the grill, if you have one, or over medium heat on the stovetop.4. Using the spatula, transfer the fish to a heatproof platter. Divide the garlic slices among the fish pieces, concentrating them in the center sprinkle with the coarse pepper. Pour the hot oil over the fish, especially where the garlic is (the garlic should sizzle and brown). Serve immediately, accompanied by lemon wedges.Serves 4

GRILLED SALT COD

Steps:

• 1. Place the salt cod in a large bowl and pour in enough cold water to cover by 1 inch. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to soak for 24 hours. (If the cod has skin on it, soak it skin side up.) Change the water 3 or 4 times to make the cod less salty.2. Drain the salt cod, then rinse under cold running water. Drain again and pat dry with paper towels. Cut the cod into 4 equal parts and remove any skin.3. When ready to cook, preheat a fish or vegetable grate (if using) for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, lightly brush each piece of cod with some of the oil, using 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons. Oil the grate as well, then arrange the pieces of cod on the hot grate and grill until nicely browned on the bottom, 3 to 6 minutes. Using a long spatula, carefully turn the pieces over and grill until browned on the second side and flaky and piping hot in the center, 3 to 6 minutes more. While the fish finishes cooking, place the remaining oil in a small saucepan and heat almost to smoking on the side burner of the grill, if you have one, or over medium heat on the stovetop.4. Using the spatula, transfer the fish to a heatproof platter. Divide the garlic slices among the fish pieces, concentrating them in the center sprinkle with the coarse pepper. Pour the hot oil over the fish, especially where the garlic is (the garlic should sizzle and brown). Serve immediately, accompanied by lemon wedges.Serves 4