One-Skillet Cod and Kale With Ginger and Garlic Recipe

By
Nick Kindelsperger
Nick Kindelsperger is a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Nick Kindelsperger
Nick Kindelsperger is a food critic at the Chicago Tribune.  His food writing appears in The Washington Post, Newsweek, Epicurious, Baltimore Sun, Serious Eats, Grub Street, New York Magazine, and Tasting Table, among others.
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Updated June 07, 2019
Steamed cod with kale. . Nick Kindelsperger

Cod and kale may seem like an unlikely combination, but, when cooked until tender, the robust green actually makes a fantastic backdrop to the delicate, white-fleshed fish. In this quick and easy one-skillet dinner, we braise dinosaur kale (also known as Tuscan kale) in an aromatic mixture of rice wine, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger, then steam fillets of codfish on top.

Why this recipe works:

  • Braising the kale in rice wine balances the vegetable's earthy flavor with a bright, tangy note.
  • The recipe's dead-simple method means it's easy to vary the basic flavors or try other varieties of kale and fish.

Recipe Details

One-Skillet Cod and Kale With Ginger and Garlic Recipe

Active 20 mins
Total 25 mins
Serves 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil, divided

  • 2 medium garlic cloves, minced (about 2 teaspoons)

  • One (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled, minced (about 1 tablespoon)

  • 1 large bunch dinosaur kale (about 1 pound), thick stems discarded and leaves roughly chopped (about 2 1/2 quarts)

  • 1/2 cup rice wine

  • Four (6- to 8-ounce) cod fillets (or other firm white fish)

  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce

  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Directions

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Add kale, and, using tongs, toss to coat. Add rice wine. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook until kale leaves are tender, 8 to 10 minutes.

  2. Remove the cover and set the fish fillets on top of the kale. Drizzle soy sauce and the remaining 1 tablespoon sesame oil over the fish and kale. Cover and cook until fish is just cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes.

  3. Divide the fish and kale between four plates and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top. Serve.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
329Calories
10gFat
10gCarbs
42gProtein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories329
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g13%
Saturated Fat 1g7%
Cholesterol 94mg31%
Sodium 598mg26%
Total Carbohydrate 10g4%
Dietary Fiber 3g10%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 42g
Vitamin C 49mg244%
Calcium 132mg10%
Iron 2mg13%
Potassium 743mg16%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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