Cod in Olive-Tomato Crust

You can take liberties with the crust for this dish: I sometimes add horseradish, bread crumbs, minced scallions, herbs, and garlic, for example. The assertive ingredients in this crust are just right for flaky and mild-flavored cod. Scrod and haddock also work well. In fact, any fresh fish fillets—the fresher the better—can be cooked this way.

I like to buy cod loin fillets, which are the thick ones from the back of the fish. About 1 inch thick, they will need 5 to 6 minutes under the broiler; adjust the timing if your fillets are thinner or thicker. The dish can be assembled a few hours ahead so it is ready to slide under the broiler at serving time.

Serve with Skillet Broccoli Bits.

4 Servings

INGREDIENTS:
About 1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomato halves, drained
About 1/2 cup pitted black olives
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
4 cod loin fillets (about 6 ounces each)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to drizzle on at the table
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, for garnish


DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the broiler and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Cut the tomatoes into 1-inch pieces and put them in a food processor with the olives and cheese. Process until you have a rough puree that holds together.

Rub the fillets with the 1 tablespoon oil and sprinkle them with the salt and pepper. Arrange the fillets so there is space between them on the baking sheet. Cover the fillets with the tomato-olive mixture and slide them under the broiler, so the fish is about 4 inches from the heat source. Broil for about 5 minutes, until the fillets are just tender but are still slightly undercooked inside. Garnish with the parsley and serve. Pass the bottle of extra-virgin olive oil at the table.