This easy Cod en Papillote (wrapped in parchment) with crisp, raw zucchini noodles and Mezzetta© Marinara Sauce recipe will fit right in with your busy weeknight routine. Get more flavorful seafood and vegetables in your diet without skipping a beat.
This Cod en Papillote post includes a simple, healthy dinner recipe as well as a chance to win a fantastic FREE travel opportunity courtesy of Mezzetta Foods. This could be your extra lucky day!
Two years ago, we sold our big Victorian home in Brooklyn and moved into a three-bedroom apartment on the sixth floor of a prewar apartment building 10 blocks away.
On paper, this sounds like a stupid choice.
There are many reasons that it wasn’t. However, I really miss three things about that house.
- My driveway
- My grill
- My tiny backyard
Well, I knew I’d miss 1 and 2 but was quite surprised to find myself missing number 3. All I ever did out there in that “yard” was curse the weeds that mocked my every attempt to carve out an even remotely hospitable outdoor space. The weeds owned that yard. They owned me.
When bamboo finally showed up out of the blue one day I threw up my hands. Bamboo in Brooklyn? That’s it. You win, weeds. I was a broken woman.
But now, time has softened the edges of those memories, and I’m totally craving “a bit of earth” to use a phrase from my favorite musical, The Secret Garden.
Cod en Papillote with zoodles and Mezzetta Marinara recipe.
In fact, I’m craving it so hard I’ve started fantasizing about…and I never thought I’d say this…leaving the city.
Gasp.
It’s almost painful to admit. I thought I was Brooklyn Forever. But maybe not. Maybe life holds a new adventure for me. One I never could’ve seen coming. One where I suddenly get all Under The Tuscan Sun. But, in America.
One where I can magically grow all the ingredients I need to make a rich, silky tomato sauce.
Of course, I’d have to have a recipe for a sauce first. Which presents a bit of a problem.
How this Italian-American girl got to the ripe old age of 47 without a true Sunday sauce recipe is a little mystifying. But it’s true. I don’t have one.
I have a “quick sauce” recipe that includes canned whole peeled tomatoes (always from the San Marzano region of Italy,) fresh garlic and fresh basil.
In other words, it’s almost identical to Mezzetta’s Whole Garlic and Sweet Basil Marinara Sauce.
So, until I get a tried-and-true-authentic-simmer-on-the-stove-ALL-day sauce recipe, I will be relying on Mezzetta for all my marinara needs. There’s literally nothing in their jarred sauce that I wouldn’t (or don’t) put in my “homemade” version.
So why not make things as easy as possible?
Cod en Papillote with zoodles and Mezzetta Marinara recipe.
All I need to do is spiralize some raw zucchini (I don’t even need to peel it!)
Season the cod, wrap them in parchment paper (great how-to videos on YouTube if you haven’t done it before) and bake them at 450° for ten minutes. While, at the same time, I’m heating up a jar of Mezzetta Marinara on the stovetop with some capers and green olives thrown in to add a little briny flavor to complement the fish.
And in twenty minutes everyone is eating happily and chatting about their day.
And possibly planning a major renovation. On a farmhouse. In the country.
I brought this cod to What’s Cookin’ Wednesday at Buns in My Oven.
Looking for more seafood recipes? Try my
Pan-Asian Shrimp Tacos
Chipotle Shrimp Slaw with Zesty Yogurt Dressing
Chorizo and Sun-Dried Tomato Mussels
Broiled Salmon with Lentils
- 2 medium zucchini spiralized
- 1 jar Mezzeta Whole Garlic and Sweet Basil Marinara Sauce
- 1/3 cup Castelvetrano olives halved
- 1/4 cup capers
- 4 cod filets
- 4 tablespoons thinly sliced leek
- 2 teaspoons white wine
- 4 lemon slices
- 4 pieces parchment paper approximately 16" wide, cut into a heart shape
- Fresh basil to garnish optional
- Preheat oven to 450°.
- Divide raw zoodles between 4 shallow bowls.
Add sauce to a medium saucepan with olives and capers.
- Warm over medium-low heat.
- Pat cod filets dry with paper towel.
- Place on parchment paper.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Top with 1 Tablespoon leeks, 1/2 teaspoon white wine and one lemon slice each.
- Envelope in parchment paper.
- Bake 10 minutes.
- Spoon marinara sauce over zoodles.
- Top with cod filet.
My garden is the number one reason I stay in the country. But there are days I dream about living in a city filled with an eclectic array of restaurants, shops, city parks…hustle and bustle. I guess each lifestyle has its perks.
I have just never seen the perks of county living this clearly. I always thought I was pure city. Funny how things change.
Please, just don’t get me started on quotes from the Secret Garden – such a magical book. Ok, Italy, having just come back from our family holiday there, one of the things that was blatantly obvious was that their tomatoes were far, far, far superior to any I can lay my hands on in the stores around me. So flavourful, sweet and juicy. And so many varieties. If the sauce in this recipe is packed with those, then I am 100% sold.
I always use San Marzano when I don’t use fresh. They are the best! You gotta try this sauce, Jane. It’s really good. Weirdly, I feel like we didn’t eat many tomatoes in Italy. Most of the dishes I remember weren’t very saucy at all. We haven’t gone south though. I suspect that would make a difference.
Great post Christine! I am heading back to work next week and am on the hunt for easy dinner recipes. This one is perfect! Now I just have to buy a spiralizer! 😀
I don’t mean to get too hard core but you really do. It’s made a huge impact on my efforts to eat healthier.
I’m a country girl but would love to live in the big city for a year. To be able to walk to everything would be awesome! But maybe once the kids are grown and out of the house. Brooks and I love to eat out and walk/window shop, and travel. Maybe after the kids are in college we can try city living. But I would miss some things like a garden and the smell of fresh cut grass. I have some cod this week so guess what I am making with i?!?!?
I think the city is a great place to retire to because it is so convenient. But you have to have a nice little savings to live off! LMK what you think of this dish! Cod is my new favorite.
Oh My I love seafood dinners and this looks fabulous!! Love the flavors and stunning photos! Plus a trip to Italy, yaay! Thanks for sharing, can’t wait to make this soon!!
I’m loving seafood more and more as I get more comfortable with where and what to buy it. It can be a little mysterious. But I’ve got two trusted sources now so I’m loving adding more into our meals. I hope you win the trip! Then I’ll get to travel vicariously!!
This is so so good C! Love the whole dish and those zoodles.. Yum!
Thank you Swayam. xo
O love zoodles and fish prepared like this, so yummy and healthy:)
Thanks so much Natalia
Ahh, yes, the constant struggle between convenient city living and having a yard. I am familiar. The struggle is real. BUT if I can live in the city and eat this for dinner every night? Sold. Sign me up.
Yards can be a pain. But not when you don’t have one. Huh?
Such a pretty looking dish and bursting with flavors. Love Mezzetta Marinara Sauce, would definitely try soon.
Awesome, let me know what you think!
What a delicious and healthy dinner, it looks fabulous
Thank you Dahn!
This looks so delicious and healthy! I need to see if my local grocery store carries that marinara…I love that it has whole garlic in it! As for the farmhouse….a girl’s gotta dream! ?
That’s what I love about it, too. I’m crazy about garlic. Hope you can find it!
This looks amazing. I’ve been to Italy twice and their ingredients are simple and delicious.
I agree Julie. The fresher it is the less you should do to it.
Absolutely love zoodles, so much better for you then pasta! This looks absolutely delicious!
Better for you plus no cooking! It’s almost too good to be true.
Mezzetta is one of my favorite brands for all things tomato! This recipe is gorgeous, fresh and looks so tasty! I love it!
Thank you, Valentina. I’m a long-time fan of their pepperoncini and now I’m loving their sauces, too.
What a beautiful recipe, it sounds delicious and they way you photographed it is just stunning!
Thank you so much! I was very happy with how both the recipe and the photos turned out.