Baked Cod Fish Fillets Florentine-Style

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

2. Step 2

   Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan. Add the flour, stirring with a wire whisk. Blend well and add the milk and cream, stirring. When thickened and smooth remove from the heat and add the cheese, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper, and blend well. Add the egg, stirring rapidly. Set aside and keep warm.

3. Step 3

   Cut away and discard any tough blemishes on the spinach leaves. Rinse well and drain.

4. Step 4

   Place spinach in a skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spatula. When spinach is wilted, in about 3 minutes, transfer it to a colander and drain, pressing with the back of the spatula to extract liquid. Set aside.

5. Step 5

   With 1 tablespoon butter, grease a baking dish large enough to hold the fish in one layer. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the shallots over the bottom. Add the fish and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add the wine. Bring to a boil on top of the stove, then place in the oven. Bake 10 minutes.

6. Step 6

   Meanwhile, heat the remaining butter in a skillet and add the remaining 1 tablespoon shallots, and the spinach, salt and pepper. Cook and stir for one minute, no longer. Smooth the spinach over the bottom of an oval baking dish. Carefully place the baked codfish pieces over the spinach. Cover and keep warm.

7. Step 7

   Pour the wine liquid from the baking dish into a saucepan. Reduce it quickly by half. Add this to the cheese sauce and stir. Bring to a boil.

8. Step 8

   Spoon the hot sauce evenly over the fish. Sprinkle with cheese and bake, uncovered, until bubbling and the fish is nicely browned on top.