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Cod au Gratin. A Newfoundland Favourite.

Cod au Gratin. New video recipe!! One of our most popular recipes in 15 years online. This version is easy to prepare and gets rave reviews every time.

The Best Cod au Gratin close up

The Best Cod au Gratin

Originally posted April 2008.

2022 update. This recipe has seen millions of hits over the years, driven by it being mentioned in the Broadway musical Come from Away. Plenty of folks have found Rock Recipes from it and we are happy to welcome you all here.

Some will flinch at the suggestion of fish and cheese together, I get that.  But this Cod au Gratin is one of the most requested recipes I’ve had on Rock Recipes.

It’s a dish that has been made here in Newfoundland for a long time. I think the mild neutral flavour of cod actually lends itself well to being paired with cheese.

Jarlsberg Cheese with white wine and crusty bread

Jarlsberg Cheese is another cheese that you can add to the mix.

As long as the cheese flavour is not too strong, that is. You can substitute many mild cheeses like mozzarella or even gruyere to make your own favourite version of this recipe.

Two Slices of Raw Fresh Cod Fish Fillet closeup on Wooden Cutting Board

Fresh cod is a staple of Newfoundland cooking but I’ve often used frozen in this recipe.

A real crowd favourite.

This is a favourite thing for Spouse and I to serve when we have friends or family over for dinner. When it’s really casual we will cook and serve this in a covered casserole dish.

When we want to serve it as individual portions though, I like to cook and serve it in individual gratin dishes.

By request for a reader who is feeling a little homesick this week. This is a pretty basic recipe but still has plenty of flavour. Hope you enjoy!

Cod au Gratin

Cod au Gratin

2017 Update: This recipe has proven to be one of the most popular of the past 10 years on Rock Recipes.

I cannot count the number of times that someone has mentioned it to me online and in person at book signings and other events. If you’re a cod fan, this is definitely a must-try recipe.

Cod au Gratin

Cod au Gratin

Looking for more Newfoundland recipes?

You’ll find many more great recipes like this by browsing the photos in our Fish and Seafood Recipes Gallery… And even more locally inspired dishes in our Newfoundland Inspired Recipes Category.

Be sure to check out our Best Seafood Dinner Recipe Collection below for more delicious inspiration!

20 Best Seafood Dinner Recipes photo collage with title text for Pinterest

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Cod au Gratin with title text

Cod au Gratin

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The Best Cod au Gratin close up
Yield: 6 Servings

Cod au Gratin

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Cod au Gratin. New video recipe!! One of our most popular recipes in 15 years online. This version is easy to prepare and gets rave reviews every time.

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds fresh cod fillets
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
  • Salt and pepper to season
  • ½ cup shredded parmesan
  • 1 tsp summer savoury, dill or tarragon make good substitutions
  • 1 ½ cups shredded mild cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup cracker crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

  1. Scald the milk in the microwave for about 4-5 minutes until just under the boiling point.
  2. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan add the butter and flour and cook together for 2 minutes. Slowly pour in the scalded milk whisking constantly.
  3. Cook until the sauce begins to thicken. Add the lemon zest, Dijon mustard, savoury and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the Parmesan cheese just before pouring onto the fish.
  4. Arrange the fish in the bottom of a greased 9x9 inch baking dish or in individual gratin dishes. Pour the sauce over the fish. Top with the cheddar cheese.
  5. Mix the cracker crumbs with the olive oil and sprinkle over the cheese. (You can add a little extra savory to the crumbs if you like, about ½ tsp). Bake for 45 minutes to an hour at 350 degrees F until bubbling and the top has evenly browned. Individual gratin dishes should take about 25 -30 minutes, just check the center to see that the fish has fully cooked

Notes

The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by third party software and is meant as a guideline only. Exact accuracy is not guaranteed. For recipes where all ingredients may not be used entirely, such as those with coatings on meats, or with sauces or dressings for example, calorie & nutritional values per serving will likely be somewhat lower than indicated.

Recommended Products

Rock Recipes a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Our product recommendations are almost exclusively for those we currently use or have used in the past.

Nutrition Information

Yield

6

Serving Size

g

Amount Per Serving Calories 573Total Fat 27gSaturated Fat 13gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 11gCholesterol 183mgSodium 818mgCarbohydrates 14gFiber 1gSugar 5gProtein 65g

The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by third party software and is meant as a guideline only. Exact accuracy is not guaranteed. For recipes where all ingredients may not be used entirely, such as those with coatings on meats, or with sauces or dressings for example, calorie & nutritional values per serving will likely be somewhat lower than indicated.

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Tina Spurrell

Friday 30th of September 2022

I've used this recipe several times and its always a hit. My Alberta Newfoundland family use it now and their friends love it. So delicious. We are gluten free so I used Quaker everything rice cakes on top this time. Fingers crossed it will be as good as the cracker crumbs I've used in the past.

Thanks Barry I use your cook book regularly and I'm always happy with the recipes.

Brandi Dedeluk

Friday 3rd of December 2021

Can you use frozen cod? Any tips?

Lynn Parsons

Tuesday 7th of December 2021

Yes- just be sure it thawed and dried with a paper towel to remove excess liquid

Beverly

Friday 5th of November 2021

This is delicious. I've made it twice and both times it was great.

Rosanne Malpage

Wednesday 6th of January 2021

First time making this Cod au gratin and I have to tell you Barry it was delicious! I put two shakes of cayenne pepper in the sauce as well. Not enough for any heat just to give the sauce a little lift with all of the other add-ins. Thank you for a great recipe!

Sallie

Saturday 13th of July 2019

What do you suggest for the cracker crumbs, Saltines or Buttery Crackers like Ritz?

Barry C. Parsons

Saturday 5th of October 2019

Any will do but I like Ritz.

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