Fabulous dinner - I saw this recipe on Rachel Ray while on the treadmill at the gym. I adapted it slightly, and it was fantastic. Very impressed, since I'm not usually turned on by her stuff, but this was the perfect antidote to heavy holiday eating. I think she suggested Red Snapper, I used Cod Fillets, and made some other minor tweaks.
Fish Poached in Crazy Water
3-4 Fish Fillets
28-32 oz can of San Marzano or other good quality tomatoes
3 cups water
Olive oil
1 small fennel bulb, grated
1 small onion, grated
3 garlic cloves, sliced thin
bunch parsley, chopped coarsely
salt/pepper/crushed red pepper to taste
I sauteed the fennel, onion and garlic in 1 Tbsp. of olive oil, then added the tomatoes, water, salt, peppers, and parsley.
Simmer in a low, wide pan with a tight cover for 45 minutes, then remove cover and simmer for about 15 more, so sauce is reduced.
Add fish fillets skin side down and simmer gently for 2-3 minutes, turn over carefully and simmer for about 5 minutes more.
This should really be served with toasted ciabatta or sourdough to soak up all the gravy, but I didn't have access to that so I toasted some whole wheat pita and made garlic bread out of that.
Great flavor and texture, and since it required little attention I was free to deal with laundry and P/T stuff while sauce was cooking. No reason the sauce couldn't be made ahead either, and the fish dumped in after it's reaheated. Dinner on the table in 10 minutes - that's the way I like it.