Description
Home cooks adore this garlic butter cod fillets recipe for its rich, succulent flavors. Mediterranean-inspired seafood preparation brings delightful simplicity to dinner plates you’ll savor completely.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cod fillets (about 6 oz / 170 g each, 1 inch thick)
- 4 tbsps (60 g) butter, cut into half-inch pieces
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) olive oil
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) lemon juice, for serving
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preparation: Pat cod fillets dry with paper towels, then season thoroughly with salt and black pepper to enhance natural flavors.
- Skillet Heating: Warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, ensuring an even and consistent temperature for optimal searing.
- Initial Cooking: Place cod fillets skin-side down, applying gentle pressure with a spatula to maximize contact with the hot surface and create a golden-brown crust, cooking for approximately 4 minutes.
- Butter Infusion: Carefully flip fillets, add butter pieces, and continue cooking for 3-4 minutes, consistently basting the fish with browning butter to intensify flavor and maintain moisture.
- Garlic Enhancement: Remove cooked cod to a warm plate, then quickly sauté minced garlic in the remaining butter until its aromatic essence fills the kitchen.
- Sauce Finalization: Introduce freshly chopped parsley and a splash of lemon juice to the pan, creating a vibrant, zesty butter sauce that complements the delicate fish.
- Plating: Verify fish has reached 145°F (62°C), then generously drizzle the garlic-herb butter sauce over the cod fillets, adjusting seasoning if needed before serving.
Notes
- Pat Dry for Crispy Texture: Removing excess moisture ensures a golden-brown, crispy exterior when searing cod fillets.
- Master the Heat Control: Maintain medium-high heat to achieve perfect caramelization without burning the delicate fish.
- Spatula Technique Matters: Applying gentle pressure helps create an even, golden crust and promotes consistent cooking.
- Butter Basting Boosts Flavor: Continuously spooning browning butter over the fish adds richness and keeps the cod moist and tender.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg