CREAMY COD AND POTATO GRATIN

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Creamy Cod and Potato Gratin image

I got a Food Wish for a classic creamed cod recently (which, by the way, was one of my childhood favorites), but instead of doing the traditional version, I decided I'd try to make it a little bit fancier and refined and present basically all the same ingredients, but in an individual-sized, beautifully browned and bubbling, gratin form. Not to spoil the ending, but I was very happy with how this came out!

Provided by Chef John

Time 1h20m

Yield 2

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 medium russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
2 (6 ounce) fillets cod
2 pinches cayenne pepper, divided, or to taste
salt to taste
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot
1 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
2 teaspoons freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, or to taste

Steps:

  • Place potatoes in a large pot of well-salted water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer gently until tender, about 20 minutes.
  • While potatoes simmer, trim, bone, and cut the cod fillets across into 2-inch pieces.
  • Drain potatoes well and return to the pot. Add a pinch of cayenne, salt, and 4 tablespoons butter. Mash until smooth.
  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Grease 2 individual-sized casserole or baking dishes with 1 tablespoon butter. Place both dishes on a baking sheet.
  • Transfer about 2/3 cup of the mashed potatoes into each of the prepared dishes. Smooth out evenly and make a shallow depression with a spoon down the middle. Set aside.
  • Heat remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a deep 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the shallots in the hot butter with a pinch of salt until they just start to turn golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Add cream, lemon zest, and a pinch of cayenne, and bring to a simmer. Add cod and wait for the sauce to come back to a simmer. Cook for 1 minute, while basting with the sauce; turn and cook for 1 minute more.
  • Pour in lemon juice and turn off the heat; stir for about 30 seconds.
  • Divide the pieces of cod over the potato. Add enough sauce to just cover the fish and return the pan to the stove.
  • Bring sauce to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until the sauce reduces and thickens, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in tarragon.
  • Spoon the thickened sauce over the cod. Add a light dusting of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
  • Bake in the center of the preheated oven until cod is cooked through and the sauce is browned and bubbling, 10 to 15 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1089.6 calories, Carbohydrate 43.6 g, Cholesterol 333.3 mg, Fat 86.3 g, Fiber 5.1 g, Protein 38.5 g, SaturatedFat 53.5 g, Sodium 216.5 mg, Sugar 2.4 g

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