Glazed Black Cod with Bok Choy and Scallions

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A flavor-packed marinade of salty soy sauce and sweet honey coats black cod for a quick but flavorful dinner.

Glazed Black Cod with Bok Choy and Scallions
Photo:

Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Marinate Time:
4 hrs
Active Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
4 hrs 35 mins
Servings:
4 to 6 servings

When it comes to home cooking, Alaskan black cod (also known as sablefish) is an exceptional choice. Black cod has a meaty and flaky texture, making it incredibly versatile and pretty forgiving in the oven. In fact, it's rather difficult to overcook this fish, making it a popular option for home chefs of all backgrounds. The backbone of this simple, flavor-packed marinade is the salty soy sauce and sweet honey that permeate the fish, bok choy, and scallions while they cook together under the broiler—and all on the same baking sheet. Everything is ready in less than 15 minutes and the result is lightly charred vegetables and perfectly cooked fish that flakes easily with a fork. The secret yet simple flavor-enhancing trick of this dish is the Sichuan peppercorns that are lightly toasted beforehand, and add tingling heat to the dish, making this meal even more of a stand-out.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Szechuan peppercorns

  • 6 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce

  • 1/4 cup honey

  • 6 garlic cloves, minced (about 2 tablespoons)

  • 2 pieces fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons)

  • 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

  • 1 tablespoon hot chile oil (such as Foreway)

  • 2 (1-pound) skinless wild Alaskan black cod fillets (about 1 inch thick), pin bones removed

  • 6 heads baby bok choy, halved lengthwise or quartered if large (about 1 1/4 pounds)

  • 12 medium scallions, halved crosswise

  • 2 tablespoons canola oil

Directions

  1. Toast peppercorns in a small skillet over medium, shaking pan often, until fragrant, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a mortar, and let cool slightly, about 1 minute. Crush with pestle into a coarse powder; set aside.

  2. Stir together soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, sesame seeds, chile oil, and crushed peppercorns in a medium bowl. Transfer to a large ziplock plastic bag. Add cod fillets, and seal bag, pressing out as much air as possible. Refrigerate 4 to 8 hours.

  3. Preheat broiler with oven rack 6 to 8 inches from heat. Toss together bok choy, scallions, and oil on a large rimmed baking sheet; spread in an even layer. Remove fish from marinade, reserving marinade. Place fish in center of baking sheet. Pour reserved marinade over fish, bok choy, and scallions, coating well.

  4. Broil in preheated oven until vegetables and fish are nicely charred and fish is just cooked through and flakes easily with a fork, 10 to 12 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through broiling time. Serve immediately.

Suggested pairing

Savory, full-bodied white: 2020 Domaine Barraud Pouilly-Fuissé Alliance Vieilles Vignes

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