This is a dish that is almost too simple to believe, one that combines wonderful textures and flavors with a minimum of ingredients, no added fat, and almost no preparation or cooking time. Like the best minimalist dishes, everything counts here: the fish, the leeks—which remain crisp and assertive thanks to the quick cooking time—and even the wine or stock. The Dijon mustard provides a bit of a kick. You need a tightly covered container to preserve all the liquid and flavors inherent in this dish, but that can be as simple as a pot with a good-fitting lid or a heatproof glass casserole—anything that prevents moisture from escaping.

　　

Ingredients

makes 4 servings

　　1 1/2 pounds leeks

　　1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken or fish stock

　　Salt and freshly ground black pepper

　　1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

　　About 1 1/2 pounds cod, salmon, or other fish fillet, about 1 inch thick

　　

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Trim about 1/2 inch from the root ends of the leeks, then trim off all the tough green leaves. Cut the rest in half lengthwise and chop; then wash well in a colander, being sure to rinse between all the layers.

　　

Step 2

Scatter the washed leeks over the bottom of an ovenproof casserole. Mix with the wine or stock, salt, pepper, and mustard. Top with the fish; sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper. Cover the casserole and put it in the oven.

　　

Step 3

Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until a thin-bladed knife meets little or no resistance when inserted into the thickest part of the fish. Uncover and serve the fish with the leeks and pan juices spooned over it.

　　From Mark Bittman's Quick and Easy Recipes From the New York Times by Mark Bittman Copyright (c) 2007 by Mark Bittman Published by Broadway Books.Mark Bittman is the author of the blockbuster Best Recipes in the World (Broadway, 2005) and the classic bestseller How to Cook Everything, which has sold more than one million copies. He is also the coauthor, with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, of Simple to Spectacular and Jean-Georges: Cooking at Home with a Four-Star Chef. Mr. Bittman is a prolific writer, makes frequent appearances on radio and television, and is the host of The Best Recipes in the World, a 13-part series on public television. He lives in New York and Connecticut.