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Spiced Fish: Cod with Sweet Potato Mash

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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.

Spiced Fish: Cod with Sweet Potato Mash


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 fish 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!

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.

Sweet Potatoes, Raisins, and Garam Masala on a countertop

Sweet Potatoes, Raisins, and Garam Masala

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.

An Easy Grape + Wine Sauce

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 Make 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.  Make sure to dig in while everything is still warm!

Quick Tip: Not sure where to buy the garam masala for this recipe?  You might find it at your local grocery store!  If they don’t have it, you can buy garam masala online, at Middle Eastern markets, spice stores, international markets, or Whole Foods,

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

Spiced Fish: Cod with Sweet Potato Mash

Want more COD recipe ideas?  Try these:

Want some FALL SIDE DISHES to serve with your fish?  Try these:

Two cod fillets stacked on top of sweet potato mash, with puréed raisin sauce on the side.
Print Recipe
5 from 10 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: Champagne Tastes
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time25 mins
Total Time30 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 460kcal
Freezer Friendly?

No

Will It Keep?

No

Ingredients

Sweet Potato Mash:

  • 2 sweet potatoes
  • 1 TB butter
  • 1 oz whole milk
  • 1 TB maple syrup
  • 1 tsp salt

Raisin Sauce:

  • 1/4 cup raisins
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine
  • 1 TB maple syrup

Cod:

  • 2 cod fillets (~4oz each) Orca Bay cod recommended
  • 1 TB butter
  • 1 TB garam masala
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 diced green onion (optional garnish)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400°F.

Make the Sweet Potato Mash and Raisin Sauce:

  • Pat cod dry, and sprinkle with salt.  Rub garam masala onto the fish.
  • 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.
  • 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).
  • While potatoes cook, 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.
  • Drain potatoes, and mash with a fork.  Add butter, milk, and maple syrup, and mash to incorporate.  Salt to taste.

Pan-Roasting Cod:

  • 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

Calories: 460kcal (23%) | Carbohydrates: 56g (19%) | Protein: 20g (40%) | Fat: 13g (20%) | Saturated Fat: 7g (44%) | Cholesterol: 81mg (27%) | Potassium: 651mg (19%) | Fiber: 6g (25%) | Sugar: 18g (20%) | Vitamin A: 18800IU (376%) | Vitamin C: 4.1mg (5%) | Calcium: 82mg (8%) | Iron: 1.3mg (7%)
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Reader Interactions

Comments

All commentsI made this

  4. Marisa Franca @ All Our Way

    We love our wild caught fish — we don’t buy farm raised –ever! Cod is one of our favorites and we do love it fried — yum yum — baked is also good. I’m always looking for fish recipes. If I used it with the mashed sweet potatoes, Hubby would want it spiced with chipotle. You’re inspiring me.

    Reply

  6. Helene

    Oh cool with garam masala. I just got 3 different garam masala at home so I could try your cod recipe with the more spicy garam masala. I would be in heaven now if this was my dinner for today. 🙂

    Reply

  11. Siobhan

    Absolutely delicious!!!! Easy to make there were no leftovers..perfect combinations of texture and flavors. I made my own garam masala!

    Reply

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