This spiced fish recipe features pan-roasted cod coated with garam masala, along with an easy sweet potato mash and a puréed raisin and wine sauce.

Two cod fillets stacked on top of sweet potato mash, with puréed raisin sauce on the side.

A few weeks ago, I went a little crazy in the potato section.

Sweet potatoes were on sale for 49 cents a bag, and I decided to hoard these sweet, orange spuds.

Pretty quickly, I realized that we would quickly need to "sweet potato all the things," and quickly!

As I stared at the bags and bags of sweet potatoes in my pantry, I remembered a trout and sweet potato concoction that I happily devoured during a trip to Durango, Colorado at the Steamworks Brewing Company.

The food was so amazing that when we passed through Durango for a second time last year, I hunted down the same meal again.

And now, with hundreds and hundreds of miles between me and Durango's fabulous restaurants, I decided that it was time to make my own version of the fish and spud creation!

Except, I didn't have trout. I had cod, and I decided to improvise.

This spiced fish recipe uses pan-roasted cod rubbed with Indian spices, topping a bed of sweet potato mash, and served with a sweet raisin and red wine sauce.

If you've got cod in your fridge or freezer, check out these other ideas too: broiled cod with lemon sauce, pumpkin cod curry, cod Reuben, and pan-seared cod with bourbon sauce.

Sweet Potatoes, Raisins, and Garam Masala on a countertop

Where Can I Buy Garam Masala?

You can buy garam masala online or at (some) grocery stores.

I can usually find garam masala at Kroger but not Walmart. I can always find it at Whole Foods or Indian markets.

Making Spiced Fish with Sweet Potato Mash

This dinner has three components, and ideally all three should still be hot when it's served.

The sauce and sweet potatoes will be more forgiving time-wise than the fish, so start those first.

How to Make Sweet Potato Mash

I start by getting my potatoes in a pot of water, and let it come to a slow boil.

Finish the potatoes by draining them, and then mashing butter, milk, and a little maple syrup into them with a fork.

Cover the potatoes to keep them warm.

How to Blend Raisins

If you have a Vitamix or high-speed blender, simply blend up the raisins, wine, and a little maple syrup.

If you're using a standard blender, soak the raisins in very hot water before blending.

Pour the sauce into a small pot, bring it to a boil, and then simmer it for just a few minutes. Cover the sauce, and set it aside.

How to Pan-Sear Spiced Fish

We're pan-roasting the cod-- that simply means that we'll start cooking it on the stove-top, and then move it into the oven.

This is a nice technique to know-- it will give you a crisp edge like with seared fish, and finishes with a more gentle heat in a low oven.

Need more help? Check out this tutorial on How to Pan-Sear (and Pan-Roast) Fish.

Once the cod is done cooking, serve it over a bed of the sweet potato mash, along with the raisin sauce. This meal would pair nicely with this slow-cooker kale or honey balsamic brussels sprouts and a glass of Pinot Noir.

Two spiced fish fillets stacked on top of sweet potato mash, with puréed raisin sauce on the side.

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5 from 12 votes

Spiced Fish: Cod with Sweet Potato Mash

This spiced fish recipe features pan-roasted cod coated with garam masala, along with an easy sweet potato mash and a puréed raisin and wine sauce.

Author: Sarah Trenalone

Prep Time5

Cook Time25

Total Time30

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free

Servings: 2 people

Calories: 558kcal

Freezer Friendly?

Will It Keep?

Ingredients

Sweet Potato Mash:

2 sweet potatoes
1 tablespoon butter
1 ounce whole milk
1 tablespoon maple syrup
½ teaspoon salt

Raisin Sauce:

¼ cup raisins
½ cup dry red wine
1 tablespoon maple syrup

Cod:

8 ounces cod (~2 fillets)
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon garam masala
pinch sea salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Make the Sweet Potato Mash and Raisin Sauce:

Peel and roughly dice sweet potatoes. Add to a medium pot, and cover with water. Bring water to a boil, and reduce to simmer. Cook until potatoes are tender (about 10 minutes).
Drain potatoes, and mash with a fork. Add butter, milk, and maple syrup, and mash to incorporate. Salt to taste.

Raisin Sauce:

If using a Standard Blender or Food Processor: Place raisins in a heat-proof bowl, and pour boiling water over them until they're covered. Soak for 5-10 minutes, and drain the water.
If using a High-Performance Blender (such as a Vitamix): You can skip this step.
Purée the raisins, wine and maple syrup in a blender.
Add to a small saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat, and cover to keep warm.

Pan-Roasting Cod:

Pat cod dry, and sprinkle with salt. Rub garam masala onto the fish.
Heat butter in an oven-safe pan (such as a cast iron pan) over medium-high heat.
Add cod to pan, and cook 4 minutes. Move the entire pan into the oven, and roast 5 minutes per 1 inch thickness, until the cod is no longer translucent.
Serve cod over a bed of the sweet potato mash, with raisin sauce on the side. Garnish with diced green onion if desired.

Notes

Recipe variation: For an extra creamy sweet potato mash: Add cut sweet potatoes to a pan of cold water, and bring to a simmer. Do not allow the water to boil, and continue to simmer the potatoes until they're tender. Potatoes will be sweeter and creamier, but it will take about 20 minutes longer than the original recipe version.

No blender? You can serve the sauce without blending it together, it's just prettier this way.

Nutrition

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