While many of our onboard dishes require multiple steps and extended time to garnish and plate, our freshly caught fish is often the exception. Focusing on simple food with fresh flavors, our chefs have elevated budget-friendly cod fillets with a rich, mouthwatering saffron sauce that is king. “Wow” your dinner guests this summer with an exquisite dish that is done cooking in just minutes.

Ingredients

• 4 cod fillets
• 1 onion
• 1 sprig of fresh thyme
• 1.5 grams of saffron threads*
• 100 ml (6 TBS + 2 tsp) cooking sherry
• 200 ml (3/4 cups + 1 ½ TBS) fish or seafood stock*
• 100 grams (approximately 14 TBS/1 stick + 6 TBS) cold dairy butter
• Butter and olive oil for cooking
• Fresh ground pepper and salt to taste

Preparation (Makes 4 servings)

Peel and finely chop the onion. Heat a knob of butter in a small saucepan and sauté the onion and saffron threads for a few minutes. When the onion begins to get glossy, add the sprig of thyme. Pour in the sherry and cook it shortly on medium-high heat. Also pour in the fish stock and let it reduce to about half. Heat butter and a splash of olive oil in a large skillet. Pat the cod fillets dry using paper towels and season them with pepper and salt. Cook the fillets a few minutes on each side, until both sides are golden brown, but the inside is still soft (temperature measured by food thermometer should be at least 145° F/63° C).

Finish the sauce by pressing it through a sieve and then start adding cold butter cubes to thicken the sauce. Add the next butter cube when the previous one has been dissolved. Tip: Use an immersion blender to stir for a fluffier sauce. Season with pepper and salt and serve over the fish immediately with tagliatelle, flat beans or vegetables of your choice. Enjoy!

*If you cannot find these items at your regular market, try specialty markets such as Whole Foods or World Market or purchase online.

Enjoy more refreshing, healthy cuisine like this on board each AmaWaterways river cruise. You can also enhance your wellness journey further when you experience our specially curated Celebration of Wellness River Cruises!