Cod fish in Tomato Sauce. The fish is flaky and juicy and the sauce is legit! | natashaskitchen.com

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My husband has been asking me to make fish in tomato sauce for some time. He wanted it to taste like the canned sardines in tomato sauce that he had growing up in Ukraine. Of course this Cod Fish in Tomato Sauce recipe is far better since it doesn’t come from a can! He agreed. The fish is flaky and juicy and the sauce is legit. It can be served warm or cold. 

Cod fish in Tomato Sauce. The fish is flaky and juicy and the sauce is legit! | natashaskitchen.com

The sauce is lightly tangy and sweet – we modified the sauce portion of this recipe from The New Ukrainian Cookbook. Oh p.s. have you tried capers? If you haven’t, don’t be afraid of them. For a loooong time I thought capers were scary – I’m not sure why, but it kept me from discovering them. They taste like salty mustard flavored pickles and they are a great addition to this dish. You can buy a small jar for $1-something.

pps. I purchased the cod at Costco. If you don’t have access to cod, I think this recipe would work well with other white fish.

Ingredients for the Tomato Sauce:

4 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 large sweet onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
6 oz can tomato paste
2 cups vegetable stock
Seasonings: 1 bay leaf, 6 black peppercorns, 6 allspice berries, 4 cloves
Juice of 1 small lemon (2 Tbsp)
1 Tbsp capers
1 Tbsp honey

Ingredients For the Fish:

2 lbs cod fillets, cut into 3-inch pieces (drain well, and pat dry with paper towels)
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt (I used sea salt)
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 cup light olive oil or avocado oil, to sautee fish
Fresh parsley for garnish, optional

What you will need:

a cheesecloth, or tea infuser, or spice ball for holding spices.

Cod fish in Tomato Sauce. The fish is flaky and juicy and the sauce is legit! | natashaskitchen.com

How to Make Ukrainian Fish in Tomato Sauce:

1. In a large heavy-bottomed pan, melt 4 Tbsp butter and add finely diced onion. Cook over medium heat about 5 min or until onions are soft. Add 1 minced garlic clove, 6 oz tomato paste and continue cooking 5 min, stirring frequently, until tomato sauce starts to brown. Add 2 cups veggie stock and seasonings contained in a spice ball. Bring to a gentle boil then cover, reduce heat to low and simmer 20 min

Cod fish in Tomato Sauce. The fish is flaky and juicy and the sauce is legit! | natashaskitchen.com

2. Meanwhile pat fish dry with several paper towels. In a shallow bowl, stir together 2/3 cup flour, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper. Heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat and add 1/4 cup oil. Once oil is hot, quickly dredge both sides of fish in seasoned flour and place into the hot oil, working in batches if needed (don’t crowd the pan). Saute 3 min per side or until golden, and cooked through, adding more oil as needed.

Cod fish in Tomato Sauce. The fish is flaky and juicy and the sauce is legit! | natashaskitchen.com

3. Once sauce is done, remove and discard seasoning pouch. Add 2 Tbsp lemon juice, 1 Tbsp capers and 1 Tbsp honey and stir/cook another 2 minutes. Add fish and heat until warmed through, turning fish a couple times to coat. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve warm or cold. It keeps well for 2-3 days in the fridge.

Cod fish in Tomato Sauce. The fish is flaky and juicy and the sauce is legit! | natashaskitchen.com

Cod fish in Tomato Sauce. The fish is flaky and juicy and the sauce is legit! | natashaskitchen.com

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Cod Fish in Tomato Sauce

4.95 from 40 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Cod fish in Tomato Sauce. The fish is flaky and juicy and the sauce is legit! | natashaskitchen.com
This recipe is the result of my husbands cravings for sardines in tomato sauce he ate growing up in Ukraine. The fish is flaky and juicy and the sauce is legit. Can be served warm or cold.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 6

For the Tomato Sauce:

  • 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 large sweet onion, finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 6 oz can tomato paste
  • 2 cups vegetable stock
  • Seasonings: 1 bay leaf, 6 black peppercorns, 6 allspice berries, 4 cloves
  • Juice of 1 small lemon, 2 Tbsp
  • 1 Tbsp capers
  • 1 Tbsp honey

For the Fish:

  • 2 lbs cod fillets, cut into 3-inch pieces (drain well, and pat dry with paper towels)
  • 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp salt, I used sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup light olive oil or avocado oil, to sautee fish
  • Fresh parsley for garnish, optional

What you will need:

  • a cheesecloth, or tea infuser, or spice ball for holding spices.

Instructions

  • In a large heavy-bottomed pan, melt 4 Tbsp butter and add finely diced onion. Cook over medium heat about 5 min or until onions are soft. Add 1 minced garlic clove, 6 oz tomato paste and continue cooking 5 min, stirring frequently, until tomato sauce starts to brown. Add 2 cups veggie stock and seasonings contained in a spice ball. Bring to a gentle boil then cover, reduce heat to low and simmer 20 min.
  • Meanwhile pat fish dry with several paper towels. In a shallow bowl, stir together 2/3 cup flour, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper. Heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat and add 1/4 cup oil. Once oil is hot, quickly dredge both sides of fish in seasoned flour and place into the hot oil, working in batches if needed (don't crowd the pan). Saute 3 min per side or until golden, and cooked through, adding more oil as needed.
  • Once sauce is done, remove and discard seasoning pouch. Add 2 Tbsp lemon juice, 1 Tbsp capers and 1 Tbsp honey and stir/cook another 2 minutes. Add fish and heat until warmed through, turning fish a couple times to coat. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve warm or cold. It keeps well for 2-3 days in the fridge.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Russian, Ukrainian
Keyword: Cod Fish in Tomato Sauce
Skill Level: Medium
Cost to Make: $$

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Cod fish in Tomato Sauce. The fish is flaky and juicy and the sauce is legit! | natashaskitchen.comWhat were some of your favorite foods growing up? Let me know in a comment below. 🙂

Cod fish in Tomato Sauce. The fish is flaky and juicy and the sauce is legit! | natashaskitchen.com

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

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Comments

  • Aija Fogels-Wood
    March 26, 2024

    As Latvians we had it cold on a buffet table during celebrations.
    It would marinate in the fridge over night and sort of thicken up. I think some people used V8, tomato juice or tomato soup.

    Reply

  • Terry Dunham
    November 6, 2023

    Excellent recipe!
    I tossed in some shrimp to go along with the fish and served it over rice. It was so delicious!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 6, 2023

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Terry!

      Reply

  • Karen
    March 2, 2023

    What vegetables would you do for a side dish? I am going to use white rice but I use to a vegetable too.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 2, 2023

      Hi Karen, I like to serve it with asparagus, but most vegetables go well with this recipe. I hope you love it!

      Reply

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