Walnut & Herb Cod au Gratin (Keto/Gluten-free)

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A breadcrumb-free, gluten-free, keto cod au gratin

Cod is a common fish favorite for its exceptionally mild flavor, meaty texture, and beautiful white color. And if you are a non-fishy fish lover, like myself, who enjoys rich and crispy fried fish but prefers a more light and healthy baked fish without all that breading, this recipe is for you!

Oh, and one more thing. This keto cod recipe is breadcrumb-free, making it gluten-free, low-carb, and high-protein. BOOM!

The richness in this recipe comes from the gratin—a fancy French word for “a light browned crust of breadcrumbs or melted cheese.” This time, we skipped the breadcrumbs and opted for fatty nuts, Parmesano Reggiano, and extra-virgin olive oil. The nuts provide a crunchy texture and the cheese and oil bind everything together. Fragrant herbs and aromatic garlic add freshness while baking the fish keeps it light and healthy.

What you will need to make keto cod au gratin: Just 10 ingredients

Perhaps, what I like most about this recipe is that it doesn’t take much time or resources to create a quick, easy, and super healthy main dish. That’s why I make it, like…ALOT! Especially, since being on my postpartum weight loss journey. Easy peasy, and super tasty!

Here’s the lineup:

Ingredients

• 4 six-ounce pieces of cod, fresh or thawed
• A large garlic clove
• Shelled walnuts
• Gourmet Garden Lightly Dried Chives* or fresh chives, chopped (see Notes on the recipe card)
• Gourmet Garden Lightly Dried Basil* or fresh basil, chopped (see Notes on the recipe card) (Read more about why I live these lightly dried herbs)
• Grated parmesan cheese
• Fresh thyme sprigs (about 5-6 of them)
• Extra virgin olive oil (or garlic-infused olive oil)
• Sea salt (or as needed)
• Ground black pepper

Tools

• A small food processor (or a mezzaluna–read more about how I used this in my Green Olive Salsa Verde recipe)
• Measuring cups and spoons (these are my favorite gold ones!)
• Glass baking dish (2 Qt. square for 2 pieces of fish -OR- 3 Qt. oblong for 3 pieces of fish)

How to make quick and easy keto cod au gratin: Step-by-step

1. Make the breadcrumb-free gratin

It’s time to put your small food processor to work! Start by blitzing the garlic until well-minced.

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Next, add the nuts and herbs and pulse until it becomes a coarse, crumb-like texture. Be careful not to over-process the mixture at this point. We don’t want walnut-herb butter, here…but an elegant gratin (with a beautiful French accent applied).

Now, it is time for the best part. CHEESE. Make sure to pulse until just combined, making the gratin mix a slightly finer crumb.

Dump it into a small bowl, drizzle in the oil, and give it a sprinkle of salt, and a dash of pepper. Mix well and get ready to gratin your fish.

2. Prep the cod and top it with the gratin

Begin by patting the fish dry with a paper towel (to avoid over-streaming while baking). Place the fish pieces into a baking dish, then lightly season with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Here comes the fun part! Top each piece of cod with a couple of spoonfuls of that glorious gratin mixture. Don’t be shy to pile it on generously (saving enough for each piece, of course…unless your feeling stingy).

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What to do with any leftover gratin mix

When making this for two people, I just add extra gratin on top of each piece of cod, then save any extra for another dish. It’s a great topper for other types of baked fish or chicken, salads, and even eggs! Baking the gratin is not required for it to still be delicious.

You can store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

3. Bake until golden and serve with a smile

It’s almost time to impress your tastebuds! Place the gratin-ed fish in the oven and bake it at 375 degrees F for 9-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the pieces. You’ll know it’s ready when the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F and the gratin is golden brown.

Yay! It’s ready. Enjoy, friend.

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Try these other light, healthy, gluten-free fish recipes

• Celery Leaf & Fennel Poached Salmon
• Orange Ginger Salmon

Watch how to make this Keto Cod au Gratin