Cod au Gratin is a classic and comforting dish and I’ve been making it for years. This dish never disappoints and is perfect served with crisp vegetables and some home made bread. Take a look!

What is Cod au Gratin

Cod au Gratin is a traditional Newfoundland baked casserole. It’s made with fresh or salted cod, layered between a creamy bechamel sauce and topped with crispy bread crumbs and cheddar cheese. it’s delicious! And can i just say that this really is The Best Cod au Gratin recipe.

Here’s What We Need To Make The Cod au Gratin

• Cod fillets skin removed
• Onion finely diced
• Whole milk
• Butter
• Flour
• Garlic
• Dijon mustard
• Salt
• Pepper
• Parmesan finely grated
• Cheddar finely grated
• Bread crumbs
• Small bunch chives finely chopped

REMEMBER, The full recipe and instructions is always found at the end of the post in the recipe card

How To Make Newfoundland Style Baked Cod Casserole

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Place the fish in a deep sided baking dish, 9 x 6 inch (or equivalent size). Evenly spread over the onion and set aside.
3. In a large sauce pan set over medium to high heat, add the butter and garlic until it sizzles. Add the flour and stir quickly and continue to stir for a few minutes. Start gradually adding the milk and whisking as it thickens. Continue this until all the milk has been added and you have a thick sauce.
4. Add the mustard, salt, pepper and parmesan cheese. Stir well and remove from heat.
5. Pour the sauce over the fish.
6. In a large bowl, combine the bread crumbs with the cheddar cheese and chives. Mix well. Sprinkle over the fish.
7. Bake for about 45 minutes or until fish is completely cooked and the top is golden. Let sit for about 10 minutes before serving.

Notes about the Cod au Gratin

• Cod is the main ingredient in this dish so you do want to use the best fish you can get your hands on.  Fresh or good quality frozen fillets.
• As for making the sauce, it starts with a basic Roux.  I’ve talked about this before, it is probably my favourite way to make most creamy sauces.  It gives such a thickness and richness to any cream sauce. 
• If you are unsure of what it is, it’s the way of making a sauce starting with butter and flour and cooking it for a few minutes into a paste.  Then adding milk to make a creamy texture.  Easy.  Once you have that basis, you can add whatever herbs or cheese to flavour it how you like.  
• I written an entire post about Roux Sauce!
• I like to add the cheese to the bread crumbs for the top.  If you prefer, you could sprinkle with the cheese and then top with the breadcrumbs.  Either way, I promise it’s delicious.

Can I use Frozen Cod Fillets For This Gratin Recipe

Yes, of course you can, no problem at all.

And can I just say, there is absolute nothing wrong with that.  When fish is caught and processed straight away into the freezer, it basically unfreezes to a pretty fresh state.  Talk to any Newfoundlander and they will tell you this.  

This fish I used for the Cod au Gratin honestly tasted as good as fresh and if I didn’t know it was pre frozen and shipped from far and away, I never would have known.

And my Lemon Crusted Baked Cod and Pan Fried Hake are both make using frozen fish and it’s fantastic too!

What to Serve with Cod Au Gratin

• Potatoes – Fluffy Mashed Potatoes, Perfect Roast Potatoes or the Potato & Leek Cakes would all go really well.
• Vegetables – Butter Sauteed Broccoli & Carrots, Parmesan Topped Green Beans or the Garlic Butter Drizzled Carrots would all go wonderful with this Newfoundland style Cod au Gratin.
• Bread – A Loaf of Whole Wheat Bread or some Fluffy Dinner Rolls would be perfect.

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US CustomaryMetric

Cod au Gratin

Cod au Gratin is a classic and comforting dish Tender pieces of cod in a cheese sauce topped with a bread crumb topping.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time55 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Canadian, Newfoundland Inspired

Keyword: cod, comfort food, Seafood

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 380kcal

Author: Julia Pinney

Ingredients

• 2 lb Cod fillets skin removed
• 1 Small onion finely diced.
• 2 cups milk
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1 Garlic clove crushed
• 1 Teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 Teaspoon tarragon
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1/2 Cup parmesan finely grated
• 3/4 Cup cheddar finely grated
• 1 Cup bread crumbs
• Small bunch chives finely chopped

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the fish in a deep sided baking dish, 9 x 6 inch. Evenly spread over the onion and set aside.
• In a large sauce pan set over medium to high heat, add the butter and garlic until it sizzles. Add the flour and stir quickly and continue to stir for a few minutes. Start gradually adding the milk and whisking as it thickens. Continue this until all the milk has been added and you have a thick sauce.
• Add the mustard, tarragon, salt, pepper and parmesan cheese. Stir well and remove from heat.
• Pour the sauce over the fish.
• In a large bowl, combine the bread crumbs with the cheddar cheese and chives. Mix well. Sprinkle over the fish.
• Bake for about 45 minutes or until fish is completely cooked and the top is golden. Let sit for about 10 minutes before serving.

*A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.

Nutrition Facts

Cod au Gratin

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 380 Calories from Fat 135

% Daily Value*

Fat 15g23%

Saturated Fat 9g56%

Cholesterol 104mg35%

Sodium 513mg22%

Potassium 799mg23%

Carbohydrates 20g7%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 39g78%

Vitamin A 531IU11%

Vitamin C 2mg2%

Calcium 353mg35%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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