Cod with Braised Endives in Blood Orange Glaze

Ingredients

1. 1 tablespoon finely grated blood-orange zest
2. 10 cilantro stems
3. 1 bay leaf
4. 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter
5. 6 medium Belgian endives, halved lengthwise
6. Salt and freshly ground pepper
7. 1 cup fresh blood-orange juice
8. 15 coriander seeds, coarsely crushed
9. 1 teaspoon sugar
10. 3 tablespoons olive oil
11. Six 6-ounce skinless cod fillets
12. Cayenne pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 400°. In a small saucepan of boiling water, blanch the zest for 1 minute; drain. Tie the cilantro stems and bay leaf into a bundle.
2. Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large ovenproof skillet. Add the endives, cut side down, and season with salt and pepper. Add the juice, zest, cilantro bundle, coriander seeds and sugar and bring to a boil. Press a round of parchment on top, cover with a lid and braise in the oven for 30 minutes, or until very tender.
3. Transfer the endives to a platter. Strain the braising liquid into a glass measuring cup. In the same skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Add the endives, cut side down, and cook over moderately high heat until browned, 4 minutes. Turn the endives, add 1/2 cup of the braising liquid and cook, shaking the pan until the liquid is reduced to a glaze, 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.
4. In each of 2 large skillets, melt 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter in 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil. Season the cod with salt and cayenne. Add 3 of the cod fillets to each skillet and cook over moderately high heat until browned and cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Set a piece of cod on each plate and arrange 2 endive halves alongside. Drizzle the remaining glaze over the fish and serve.