Cod with Red Pepper-Chorizo Ragout

Prep / Total time : 50 minutes             Serves  4

1                tablespoon olive oil
1/2             pound fresh Mexican chorizo (about 1 link), casing removed
2                large red peppers, cut into 1/8-in.-thick strips 
6                cloves garlic, thinly sliced 
1/2             cup dry white wine 
1                can (15 oz.) white beans, such as cannellini or navy, drained and rinsed
1/2            cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
1               teaspoon salt
1/2            teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3               tablespoons unsalted butter
1-1/2         pounds cod fillet, cut into 4 even pieces (each about 1 in. thick)
1/2             cup flour

1.           Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add chorizo and cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add peppers and garlic and cook until peppers are soft, about 5 minutes. Pour in wine, reduce heat to medium, and, using a wooden spoon, scrape any browned bits from bottom of pan.
2.           Stir in beans, parsley, and half the salt and pepper. Cook until beans are heated through, about 2 minutes. Transfer ragout to a dish, tent with foil, and set aside.
3.           Return pan to medium-high heat and add butter. Season cod with remaining salt and pepper and dredge in flour. Add fish to pan (do not crowd) and cook, turning once, until golden brown and cooked through, about 6 minutes total.
4.           Divide ragout among 4 plates and top each with a piece of fish. Serve immediately.
TIP:
Cod and chorizo are a classic pairing in Spain and Portugal that infuses the mild but meaty fish with the warmth of spicy sausage. Red peppers add a hint of sweetness. Prep and Cook Time: 35 minutes. Notes: Buy the best-quality chorizo you can find, preferably from a butcher or Mexican market. Avoid the kind that is very soft and sold in plastic casings--it tends to break down too much in cooking. (If you can't find good chorizo, substitute with another spicy uncooked sausage). Ask your fishmonger for cod from the thickest part of the fish so that the fillets cook evenly.