Recipe: Garlic Roasted Cod with Mashed-Potato Crust

Garlic Roasted Cod with Mashed-Potato Crust
Serves 4
Adapted from Food and Wine

2 pounds baking potatoes (about 4), peeled and cut into chunks
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
4 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup heavy cream, light cream, or milk
2 pounds cod fillets, cut to make 4 pieces
2 teaspoons cooking oil
4 cloves garlic, minced

Heat the oven to 450 degrees F. Put the potatoes in a medium saucepan of salted water. Bring to a boil and continue boiling until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes and put them back into the saucepan along with 3/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Mash the potatoes over very low heat, gradually incorporating the butter and cream. Rub the cod with the oil and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Put the cod in a large roasting pan, sprinkle the fillets with the garlic, and then spread with the mashed potatoes. Roast until the fish is nearly done, 8 to 10 minutes for 3/4-inch-thick fillets. Heat the broiler. Broil the fish until the mashed potatoes have a golden brown crust, about 2 minutes.

FISH ALTERNATIVES
Use other relatively thick, white-fleshed fillets in place of the cod. Good choices include grouper, haddock, orange roughy, red snapper, and turbot.