Name: Prosciutto-Wrapped Cod with Lemon-Caper Butter
Total time: PLACEHOLDER
Ingredients: 4 (6- to 8-ounce) skinless cod fillets , 1 inch thick; ½ teaspoon pepper; 8 thin slices prosciutto (4 ounces); 1 tablespoon vegetable oil; 4 tablespoons unsalted butter , softened; 2 tablespoons capers , rinsed and minced; 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley; 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 1 tablespoon juice; 1 garlic clove , minced

Why This Recipe Works

Wrapping cod fillets in thin sheets of prosciutto before arranging the fillets in a skillet contributed meaty, salty flavor to the flaky white fish. To get good coloring and crispness on the prosciutto, we first cooked the wrapped cod on the stovetop before transferring the skillet to the oven to cook the fish through. The prosciutto infused the fish with its salty pork flavor and provided a layer of insulation for the fish during cooking, keeping it supermoist. A warm butter sauce, enlivened by capers, parsley, lemon zest and juice, and garlic, brought the dish together.

Before You Begin

Do not season the cod with salt before wrapping with the prosciutto; the briny capers and salty prosciutto add plenty of salt to the dish. Black sea bass, haddock, hake, or pollock may be substituted for the cod in this recipe.

Instructions

Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Pat cod dry with paper towels and sprinkle with pepper. Wrap each fillet widthwise with 2 overlapping pieces of prosciutto.

Heat oil in 12-inch ovensafe nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Brown prosciutto-wrapped cod lightly on both sides, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer skillet to oven and bake until cod flakes apart when gently prodded with paring knife and registers 135 degrees, about 8 minutes.

Using potholders, remove skillet from oven. Transfer cod to serving platter. Being careful of hot skillet handle, add butter, capers, parsley, lemon zest and juice, and garlic to now-empty skillet. Cook over medium heat, swirling skillet, until butter has melted. Spoon butter sauce over cod and serve.