Because blackening produces such a highly flavored dish, I like to keep the sides simple. Cheese Grits, Southern Cheese Grits Casserole, Southern Spicy Tomato-Cheese Grits, or Crockpot Cheesy Grits pair beautifully with fish and are a must-have. Southern Hush Puppies would round things out nicely. If you really want to kick things up a notch, top the Blackened Cod with Mango Salsa or Peach Salsa!