Crispy Cod with Cherry Tomatoes and Lemony Fennel | Provecho

Zachary Neman

Home

Recipes

Live Classes

Contact

My Account

Crispy Cod with Cherry Tomatoes and Lemony Fennel

cheffinwithzach

Cook

50 min

Tomatoes are in season and at their sweetest—as a tomato lover, right now I’m trying to use them as much as possible. Here I turned them into a jammy, punchy topping that gives life to the crispy cod. It adds sweetness, and a burst of juiciness. The cod stays super crispy and light thanks to the cornstarch and egg white mixture that binds panko-sesame crust. But where the crust meets the warm tomatoes, it soaks in just enough to soften slightly. You get the best of both textures: crispy but also saucy and the good kind of soggy. On top, a lemony shaved fennel salad cuts through the richness. This dish is easy to pull off for a group. While deep-frying gives you the best result, a shallow fry works well for larger batches. Bread the fish, make the tomato sauce and fennel ahead, and all you have to do is fry and plate. Best Practices Use center-cut cod for even thickness and easy portioning. Avoid tail pieces that taper and cook unevenly. Salt the cod ahead of time to draw out surface moisture. This helps the crust cling better and reduces steam, which could soften the breading. Cornstarch + egg white = crispy magic. This slurry doesn’t just help the breadcrumbs stick—it keeps things crispy but light. Crush the tomatoes by hand. This creates the ideal sauce texture: part juicy, part jammy. You want contrast. Let the fennel sit. A quick rest after dressing gives it a slight wilt and mellows the raw flavor without losing crunch. Fry in batches. Don’t overcrowd the pot or the oil temperature will drop and your crust will go soggy. Maintain 350°F. Finish with flakey salt to add a perfect pop at the end. Serve immediately. The contrast between crispy fish, warm tomato sauce, and cold fennel salad is what makes this dish shine.

Read more

4 servings

US

original

metric

Picture for Crispy Cod with Cherry Tomatoes and Lemony Fennel

4 servings

US

original

metric

Ingredients

This recipe

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is loc

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unl

This recipe is loc

This recipe is locked. Pl

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to u

This recipe is locked. Pl

This recipe is locked.

This recipe is locked.

This recipe is locke

This recipe is locked.

This recipe is locked. Please subsc

This recipe is

This recipe is

This recipe is locked.

This recipe is locked. P

This recipe is

This

This recipe

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to

This recipe is locked. Please

This recipe is loc

This recipe is

This recipe is locked.

This recipe is

Directions

Step 1

This recipe

Step 1

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is loc

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to u

Step 2

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subsc

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unl

This recipe is loc

Step 3

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe

This recipe is locked. Pl

This recipe is

Step 4

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.T

This recipe is locked. Pl

Step 5

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.

Step 6

This recipe is locke

Step 1

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please s

This recipe is locked.

This recipe is locked. Please subsc

Step 2

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Pl

This recipe is

This recipe is

This recipe is locked.

Step 3

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locke

This recipe is locked. P

Step 4

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.

This recipe is

This recipe

This

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to

Step 5

This recipe is locked

Step 1

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is lo

This recipe is loc

Step 2

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to

This recipe is

This recipe is locked.

This recipe is

Step 3

This recipe is locked.

Step 1

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unl

This recipe is locked.

Step 2

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlo

This recipe

This recipe is locked.

Step 3

This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This recipe is locked. Please subscribe to unlock.This re

Powered by

Already have an account?

cheffinwithzach

© 2026 cheffinwithzach. All rights reserved.