Skip to main content

Cod with Coconut, Lime, and Lemongrass Curry Sauce

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

The Sauce:

1

tablespoon butter

2

shallots, thinly sliced

3

garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1

lemongrass stalk, thinly sliced

1

-inch knob ginger, thinly sliced

3

kaffir lime leaves

1

tablespoon Madras curry

3

cups chicken stock

3

/4 cup fresh coconut milk, or canned

4

cilantro sprigs

Fine sea salt to taste

Freshly ground white pepper to taste

1

tablespoon fresh lime juice

The Cod:

2

tablespoons canola oil

4

7-ounce cod fillets, 1 1/2-inches thick

Fine sea salt to taste

Freshly ground white pepper to taste

The Garnish:

1

/2 pound butter

Fine sea salt

9

heads baby bok choy, divided in half (quartered if large)

1

/4 cup kosher salt

Special equipment:

2

10-inch nonstick ovenproof skillets

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 400°F.

    Step 2

    To make the broth, melt the butter in a small sauté pan or wok over medium heat. Add the shallots, garlic, lemongrass, ginger, kaffir lime leaves and curry and sweat until tender and with no color, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Lower the heat simmer for 15 minutes. Add the coconut milk and cilantro, and simmer for 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Strain through a fine chinois and set aside.

    Step 3

    Divide the 2 tablespoons of canola oil between the skillets. Place over high heat until oil is just smoking. Season the cod on both sides with salt and pepper. Put 2 pieces of cod in each skillet and sauté until golden brown and crusted on the bottom, about 2 1/2 minutes. Turn and sear on the other side for 30 seconds. Put the pans in the oven and roast until a metal skewer can be easily inserted into the fish and, when left in the fish for 5 seconds, feels hot when touched to your lip, about 6 to 7 minutes.

    Step 4

    In a large pot, heat 4 quarts of water, the butter, and the kosher salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add the bok choy and cook until crisp tender, about 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside on a sheet pan in the refrigerator to cool quickly so they retain their bright green color.

    Step 5

    To serve, reheat the sauce and finish with the lime juice. In each of 4 bowls, place a piece of cod. Place 3 to 4 pieces of bok choy around the cod. Pour the sauce over the cod and serve immediately.