Baked Cod with a Parmesan Crust on Tomatoes

This baked cod with a parmesan crust, baked on a bed of fresh tomatoes is a real show-stopper of a dish. This recipe is perfect for those of us who love one-pot cooking. Baked cod with cheese and tomatoes is a classic and makes for a tasty family supper. You can serve this baked parmesan cod dish with potatoes, green salad or rice.

Why we love this crusted cod recipe

Cod fillet is a beautiful fish that is easy to cook and is quite mild-tasting. It is so versatile that it can be used in a variety of ways. This parmesan-crusted cod recipe is very easy to put together – but has a grand effect. 

The Mediterranean baked cod is topped with a breadcrumb and parmesan, which creates an interesting contrast of textures between the moist fish and the crispy crust 

The crust is made from garlic, butter, thyme, parmesan and breadcrumbs. Adding the garlic butter to the baked cod will give it a deliciously moist and buttery flavour. The fish will flake off the fork. The butter also helps the breadcrumb topping to get nice and crisp, as otherwise, the moisture of the fish might make the breadcrumbs soggy. 

The smells that will come from this garlic parmesan cod baking in your oven will make your mouth water. 

Can I use frozen cod for this recipe? 

Yes, you can, I often think that is the better option. Unless you live right by the coast, the likelihood is that the fish has to be stored and transported makes the fish not as fresh as you would like. The freshness in fish can be frozen, and no nutritional values are lost in the freezing process. There are many advantages to buying frozen fish. For example, you can defrost in portions and do not need to use it all at once. 

How to defrost cod 

Defrosting cod in the correct way will help maintain the right flavours and textures. 

Defrost cod in the fridge 

If you have time, you can place the frozen cod in the fridge the night before you are planning to cook it. It takes several hours to defrost the fish in the fridge. Ensure that you keep it in its plastic packaging or place it in an airtight container. 

Defrost cod in cold water 

Place the frozen cod in a plastic bag and seal it. Place the plastic bag in a bowl of cold water and leave to defrost for about an hour. Double-check that the fish has been thoroughly defrosted before cooking, by pressing your finger on the flesh. If it still feels frozen in the middle, leave it to defrost for a bit longer.

Do not defrost the fish in warm or hot water. This will cause the fish to defrost unevenly. 

Use the microwave to defrost the fish

You can also defrost the cod in the microwave. I would only recommend this option if you will prepare the fish immediately afterwards. Place the cod in a container and adjust the microwave to the defrost setting. Check the fish at regular intervals and remove it from the microwave when the fish is still cold but thoroughly defrosted. 

Which breadcrumbs to use for the cod topping?

I have made this recipe both with panko breadcrumbs and regular ones. They both work well. If you do not have breadcrumbs available you can use crushed crackers as a substitute.  

How to make baked cod with breadcrumbs and parmesan

Ingredients:

Cod 

• 4 cod fillets – about 600 g / 21 oz
• 2 tablespoon flour 
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

For the breadcrumb parmesan crust:

• 10 g / 0.3 oz of grated parmesan (about 2 tbsp)
• 35 g / 1.2 oz of breadcrumbs (you can use panko breadcrumbs or regular ) 
• 60 g/ 2.1 oz butter (softened at room temperature) 
• 1 teaspoon thyme (fresh or dried) 
• 2 cloves of garlic

Tomato Bed

• 5 medium sized tomatoes (about 250 g/ 8.8 oz) 
• 4 tablespoon olive oil

Parmesan Crusted Cod Recipe Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C or 392°F
2. Wash the fish with clean water and dry off with a paper towel. Season with salt and pepper on each side.  In a shallow bowl add the flour and toss the fish fillets until covered. 
3. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a frying pan and pan-fry the fish for about 1 minutes until the outsides is/are browned. 

4. Wash the tomatoes and remove the stems. Slice the tomatoes into thin slices. Distribute the tomato slices on the bottom of a shallow casserole dish. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with 4 tablespoon olive oil 
5. Place the fish fillets on top of the tomatoes. 
6. In a separate bowl, crush the garlic. Add the parmesan, thyme, butter and breadcrumbs. With a spoon mix all the ingredients to a smooth paste. Season with salt and pepper. 
7. Using a spoon, spread the parmesan crust evenly on the fish fillets. You can use your fingers to press the breadcrumbs mixture onto the fish if necessary. 
8. Place the casserole dish in the preheated oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes. The parmesan breadcrumb crust should be golden brown when you remove the dish from the oven. 
9. Serve immediately. 

Side dishes for Baked Cod

This dish is full of flavour and goes with a variety of dishes. I served it with a side of lettuce salad. Although it also goes well with potatoes or even fries. Here is a list I have come up with:

• Boiled potatoes 
• Fried Potatoes 
• Green Lettuce Salad 
• Potato Salad 
• Rice

Storage Instructions 

When I make this dish, I rarely have leftovers. However, if you would like to save some of the baked cod for the next day, I would suggest you keep it in an airtight container in the fridge. Consume within two days.

More Seafood Recipes

• German Fish Cakes (Fishfrikadellen)
• Bremer (German fish sandwich)
• Pomegranate Glazed Salmon
• Schwedish Vegetable Soup

This recipe was first published in April 2015 and updated in July 2021.