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Fish, Italy

Acqua pazza cod with grilled bread

Acqua pazza cod is a Neapolitan dish for 4 people, ready in 35 minutes, very easy to make, for €4.00 per serving. The fish poaches gently in a broth of cherry tomatoes, garlic and white wine. The key is keeping the broth at a bare simmer so the cod stays in whole, intact pieces.

Acqua pazza means crazy water in Naples, a broth of cherry tomatoes, garlic and parsley where the fish cooks slow and gentle.

Acqua pazza cod with grilled bread
Total time
35 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€4.00
Calories per person
460 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer

Acqua pazza takes its name from a light, fragrant broth, barely thickened by crushed cherry tomatoes. The cod cooks gently in it, never drying out, and keeps a pearly texture that flakes apart in big pieces. Garlic and parsley bring clean freshness, while a pinch of chili adds a quiet kick without any real heat.

This is a weeknight dish that asks almost nothing of you technically, perfect for a summer evening when you want something light without giving up flavor. Garlic rubbed grilled bread, set at the bottom of the bowl and soaked with broth, turns the fish into a full meal. Serve it on a random Tuesday or for a relaxed Sunday with friends.

The ingredients

4 people

Fish counter

  • Cod fillets 4

Fruits and vegetables

  • Cherry tomatoes 400 g
  • Garlic 3 cloves
  • Parsley 8 sprigs

Pantry

  • Chilioften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • White wineoften in the pantry 10 cl
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Bakery

  • Country bread 8 slices

Allergens Fish, Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Heat the olive oil with the garlic and chili. 2 min

    Keep the heat low, the oil should flavor the garlic without frying it.

  2. Add the cherry tomatoes, white wine and 300 ml of water, crush the tomatoes lightly. 10 min

    Taste the broth before adding the fish, it should be salty enough to season the cod.

  3. Place the cod in the broth, cover and poach over low heat. 8 min

    The broth should barely simmer, a hard boil will break the fillets apart.

  4. Grill the bread. 3 min

    Rub a garlic clove over the warm bread, it grates onto it on its own.

  5. Serve the fish in the broth with parsley and the grilled bread.

    Set a slice of bread at the bottom of the bowl and pour the broth over it, it soaks right in.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick cod fillets of the same thickness so they all finish cooking at the same time without any drying out.
  • Use a wide skillet rather than a tall pot, the fish needs to cook in a single layer in the broth.
  • If the broth looks too thin at the end, pull the fish out and let it reduce a few minutes over high heat before serving.

The variations

  • Swap the cod for pollock or monkfish, two firm fish that hold up well to gentle poaching.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the fish with chunks of zucchini and chickpeas, poached the same amount of time in the broth.
  • For kids, skip the chili and blend the broth lightly so there are no visible tomato chunks.

What to serve it with

  • A green salad with lemon
  • A glass of dry white wine
  • Grilled seasonal vegetables

Storage

Acqua pazza cod keeps for 1 day in the fridge in a sealed container, the fish loses texture fast after that. It doesn't freeze well, the flesh turns mushy once thawed. Reheat it gently in a skillet or over very low heat so you don't overcook the fish.

Questions about this dish

Can you use canned tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes?

Yes, crushed peeled tomatoes work well if you don't have fresh cherry tomatoes. The broth will be a bit thicker and less sweet, add a pinch of sugar if needed.

How do you know when the cod is done?

The flesh turns opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Count about 8 minutes over low heat for medium sized fillets, check rather than overcook.

Can you make the broth ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the tomato broth a few hours ahead and reheat it gently. Add the fish only right before serving so it cooks just enough.

What kind of white wine should you use?

A simple, dry white wine works fine, whatever you'd pour at the table. Avoid heavily oaked wines, they overpower the tomato flavor.

How long does it take to make an acqua pazza cod with grilled bread?

Count 35 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in an acqua pazza cod with grilled bread?

About 460 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does an acqua pazza cod with grilled bread cost?

About €4.00 per serving, or €16.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains fish, gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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