Air Fryer Cod Bento

Another air fryer recipe

For dinner tonight, we’re making cod! This is a traditional Japanese bento with fish, steamed rice, lightly marinated vegetables, and miso soup. These dinners are my favorite because they’re refreshing and don’t leave me feeling too heavy afterward.

Disclaimer: Cod can be trickier to make than salmon, but this recipe is super straightforward and only takes about 20 minutes. One tip: cod is really easy to over-salt. Some grocery stores sell it already salted, so I recommend rinsing it under water and being light-handed with the salt when seasoning.

Notes

• Dry the cod: Pat the fillets dry before seasoning to help the flavors stick better.

• Rinse the cod: If the cod is pre-salted, give it a rinse and pat dry for the best results.

• Be careful with salt: Cod can get too salty quickly, so go easy on it!

Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs cod

• 1 tsp ginger, minced

• 2 Tbsp green onions

• ½ Tbsp garlic salt

• 1 tsp sugar

• 2 tsp cornstarch

• 1 tsp mirin

• 1 Tbsp oil

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, mix together the ginger, green onions, garlic salt, sugar, cornstarch, and mirin.

2. Pat dry the cod and cut it into 5-8 oz fillets.

3. Place the cod fillets in a large pan or bowl, add the seasoning mixture, and use your hands to coat the fillets evenly.

4. Line the air fryer basket with aluminum foil, leaving some gaps along the sides for air circulation. Drizzle about 2 tsp oil on the foil to prevent sticking.

5. Place the cod fillets in the air fryer basket, spacing them out evenly. You may need to cook them in batches.

6. Cook the cod at 375°F for 6 minutes. Then, increase the temperature to 385°F and cook for another 6 minutes to get a crispy exterior.

   

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Quick Cucumber Salad

This is a super simple and refreshing cucumber salad that pairs perfectly with the cod.

Ingredients:

• 1 English cucumber, thinly sliced

• 1 tsp salt

• 3 Tbsp rice vinegar

• 1 Tbsp soy sauce

• 1 tsp sugar

• 2 Tbsp sesame oil

Directions:

1. Sprinkle salt over the sliced cucumbers to draw out moisture. Let them sit for about 5 minutes.

2. While the cucumbers sit, mix the rice vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, and sesame oil in a small bowl.

3. Toss the cucumbers in the dressing. Garnish with sesame seeds and set aside.

Build Your Bento:

1. Carb: Steamed rice

2. Protein: Air fryer cod

3. Vegetable: Quick cucumber salad

4. Soup: Miso soup (find the recipe here)

   

Enjoy your light and refreshing bento!