While turkey may be the traditional Christmas dinner, I hope this cranberry crusted cod is something you may like to try for the holidays if you prefer to be meat-free or just fancy a change. It's super simple to make, and aside from the cranberries uses pantry staples.
Cod is such a versatile fish, and can be both an easy weeknight dinner with dishes such as my almond crusted cod or a little more fancy such as this recipe or my baked cod with a pesto crust.
This cranberry crusted cod has quite the festive feeling, with the delicious taste of sharp yet sweet berries and a touch of herbs. Perfect for your pescatarian guests for Christmas dinner or holiday celebrations!
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⭐ Why you'll love this recipe
- A bit different. Looking to change up your holiday recipes from turkey? Fish is a lovely idea and the cranberries make it feel very festive.
- Uses mostly pantry (and freezer!) staples. Hopefully you have most ingredients to hand.
- Easy to make. This is quite a simple recipe and doesn't have too much 'hands on' time,
🦀 Ingredients
Make sure to check the recipe card for the full ingredients and instructions!
Other than the cod and cranberries, this recipe uses mostly pantry staples. You will need:
- Cod - the main ingredient, this recipe uses frozen cod.
- Cranberries - the ultimate festive food! Naturally a bit sour so definitely need sweetening up, which is where the next ingredient comes in . . .
- Maple syrup - the best sweetener if you ask me! Help brighten up the tart taste of cranberries. I like Clarks maple syrup.
- Thyme - a versatile herb that is reputed to have antihistamine properties. I like the Simply Organic dried thyme.
- Cinnamon - this is optional as it is a controversial food in the histamine world. Some lists have it as low histamine, others as high. Leave out if you have any doubts.
- Olive oil - to help bind the cranberry and breadcrumb mixture together. I like Bertolli extra virgin olive oil.
🔪 Step by step instructions
I have quite a few fish dishes with crust toppings in my low histamine recipes collection now as they are so easy to make and you can add lots of flavour. There are three main steps to this recipe:
Step 1
Bake your cod in the oven loosely covered with aluminium foil for around 15 minutes.
Step 2
Make the crust topping. I use a Nutribullet to whizz up some bread into breadcrumbs, and make the cranberry mixture by combining those ingredients in a pan and heating through until the fruit bursts and becomes a sauce-like consistency. Combine with the breadcrumbs, add a touch of oil, and you have your crust topping.
Step 3
Spoon the crust topping onto the fish and bake for another 15-20 minutes until the fish is thoroughly cooked through. Serve with vegetables of your choice, and perhaps some roast potatoes too.
💭 Recipe tips and notes
- Be sure to bake the cod for 15 minutes before adding the crust.
- You don't need the cranberries to all burst and break down into liquid, just the majority of them.
- Fresh or frozen cranberries can be used to make the crust.
- If required, add a touch of water to the cranberry mixture.
🍽 More holiday recipes
Honey baked ricotta and butternut squash traybake
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📖 Recipe
Cranberry Crusted Cod
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cod fillets frozen
- ½ cup cranberries fresh or frozen
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ¼ slice bread or equivalent breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
- ⅓ teaspoon cinnamon optional
- pinch salt
- pinch black pepper optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200C / 390F. Once at temperature place your cod fillets in an ovenproof dish and cover loosely with aluminium foil. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Make the topping by blending your bread to form breadcrumbs (I use a nutribullet). In a pan gently heat the cranberries, thyme, cinnamon, maple syrup, salt and pepper for around ten minutes until the cranberries mostly burst and form a thick sauce. Add a touch of water to begin with if required, and stir often. Sprinkle in the breadcrumbs and stir to combine.
- Remove the fish from the oven and discard the foil. Pat the cranberry mixture on the top of the fish. Return to the oven and bake for a further 15-20 minutes or until the cod is thoroughly cooked.
- Plate up with your other side dishes, and serve immediately. Enjoy and happy holidays!
Notes
- Be sure to bake the fish before adding the cranberry crust.
- Add a touch of water to the cranberry mixture if required.
- You don't need all the cranberries to burst and cook down into a liquid, just the majority of them.
- Fresh or frozen cranberries can be used.
- Please note that nutritional information is offered as a courtesy. It is auto-generated and should be understood to be an estimate.
- wheat (in the bread), which scores 1.
- black pepper, which scores 2 and is optional.
- only consume fish if you know you tolerate well.
- cinnamon scores 0 but is rated differently on histamine lists.
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